REPORT (2016) OF THE COMMITTEE ON MARKET ACCESS
 TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS

1.  Since the last review^[1], the Committee on Market Access has held two formal meetings (19 April and 11 October 2016) and three informal meetings (17 March, 16 June, and 28 September 2016). The minutes of the formal meeting are contained in documents G/MA/M/63 and G/MA/M/64 (to be issued). 

2.  At its meeting of 19 April 2016, the Committee took note that the consultations in the Council for Trade in Goods concerning the Chairpersons of the subsidiary bodies remained ongoing, and agreed that, once the issue had been resolved, the Secretariat would send a fax with the proposed candidate and give a one week period for objections.  On 12 May 2016, the Secretariat circulated a fax informing Members that Ms Hanna Olsen BODSBERG (Norway) had been nominated, and she was elected with no objections on 19 May 2016.  At its meeting of 11 October 2016, the Committee elected Dr. Abid Mostafa Khan (Bangladesh) as Vice Chairperson.

1  waivers

3.  At its meeting of 11 October 2016, the Committee approved the extension of the HS2002 "collective" waiver (G/C/W/728), the HS2007 "collective" waiver (G/C/W/729) and the HS2012 "collective" waiver (G/C/W/730).  In addition, it approved a draft HS2017 waiver (G/MA/W/125) and invited Members wishing to be listed in the Annex to contact the Secretariat no later than 27 October 2016, and to provide the dates on which the two sets of HS2017 amendments would be implemented. The Committee agreed to forward a revised version of the draft waiver decision to the Council for Trade in Goods for appropriate action.

2  Introduction of Harmonized System 1996 (HS1996) changes to schedules of concessions

4.  At its meetings in 2016, the Committee took note of the status of the HS1996 transposition work undertaken pursuant to the procedures contained in L/6905 and WT/L/756. 

3  Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 (HS2002) Changes to schedules of concessions

5.  At its meetings in 2016, the Committee took note of the status of work concerning the introduction of HS2002 changes to schedules of concessions using the CTS database (WT/L/605 and WT/L/807), as well as the outcomes of the informal dedicated sessions of the Committee during which the files containing the HS2002 changes of Members were examined. 

4  Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 (HS2007) changes to schedules of concessions

6.  At its meetings in 2016, the Committee took note of the status of work concerning the introduction of HS2007 changes to schedules of concessions using the CTS database (WT/L/673 and WT/L/830), as well as the outcomes of the informal dedicated sessions of the Committee during which the files containing the HS2007 changes of Members were examined. 

5  Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 (HS2012) changes to schedules of concessions

7.  At its meeting of 19 April, the Committee took note that the Secretariat had commenced the technical work for this transposition of schedules.  At its meeting of 11 October, the Committee considered and approved a Note on Methodology prepared by the WTO Secretariat (JOB/MA/126).

6  Introduction of Harmonized System 2017 (HS2017) changes to schedules of concessions

8.  At its meeting of 19 April, the Committee took note of two documents with information from the World Customs Organization (WCO) concerning the amendments that will result from the introduction of HS2017 (G/MA/W/121, G/MA/W/122, and G/MA/W/122/Corr.1).  In addition, the Chairperson instructed the Secretariat to prepare draft HS2017 transposition procedures for the Committee's consideration.

9. At is meeting of 11 October, the Committee discussed and approved a draft entitled "Procedure for the Introduction of Harmonized System 2017 changes to Schedules of Concessions using the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database" (G/MA/W/124 and G/MA/W/124/Corr.1). The Committee agreed to forward the draft decision to the General Council, through the Council for Trade in Goods, for adoption.

7  Decision on notification procedures for quantitative restrictions ("QR Decision")

10.  During its meetings in 2016, the Committee examined the quantitative restriction notifications submitted by several Members and took note of a report by the Secretariat (G/MA/QR/4), which reflected the status of such notifications.  It also requested the Secretariat to update the report on factual information (G/MA/W/114) for consideration at the spring meeting of the Committee.

8  databases

11.  At its formal meetings in 2016, the Secretariat reported on the status of work concerning the Integrated Data Base (IDB) and the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database. The reports provided information on inter alia the use of information in the databases, the status of software development and technical assistance.  The Committee also took note of the documents which reflected the status of submissions to the IDB (G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.43, G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.43/Corr.1, and G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.44).

9  Other Activities

12.  At its meeting of 19 April, the Committee took note of the Secretariat document entitled "Situation of Schedules of WTO Members" (G/MA/W/23/Rev.12), which listed all legal instruments relating to each Member's schedule.  It also took note that the Secretariat was exploring the possibility of changing the format of the document and invited Members to indicate if they had a preference or idea on how best to organize it.

13.  The Committee took note of a notification by the Kyrgyz Republic concerning Article X:1 of the GATT 1994 (G/MA/W/118).

14.  At its meeting of 19 April, the Committee took note of a draft report by the Secretariat on the status of renegotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 (JOB/MA/122).  The draft was adjusted to take account of comments received and a revised report was circulated (G/MA/W/123).

15.  At its 19 April and 11 October meetings, the Committee took note of the following specific concerns raised by Members: 

·       European Union (Argentina – newly adopted law in the auto-part sector);

·       European Union (Russian Federation – export ban on raw hides and skins);

·       European Union, Japan, Korea, and the United States (India – customs duties on telecommunication and other products – statements; GMA/W/120);

·       Japan (India – minimum import prices on iron and steel products);

·       Russian Federation (Croatia – regulations on the import and distribution of certain oil and biodiesel products);

·       Switzerland (Kingdom of Bahrain – customs duties on cigarettes);

·       Switzerland (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – customs duty increase on cigarettes); and

·       Thailand (Korea – modification of schedule of concessions concerning rice products);

·       United States (Oman – customs duties on tobacco).

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