report (2024) of the committee on market
Access
to the council for trade in goods
1._
Since the last review[1],
the Committee on Market Access held two formal meetings (25‑26 March and 19-20
November) and four informal meetings (25 January, 18 March, 11 June, and 9
December). The annotated agendas of the formal meetings were circulated in
documents _JOB/MA/175
and _JOB/MA/177,
and the minutes are contained in documents _G/MA/M/80
and _G/MA/M/81 (to be
issued). In addition, the Committee organised two thematic sessions on
supply chain resilience, one thematic session on visualising a greener
Harmonized System (HS), and the third feedback session on WTO publications and
online tools to disseminate tariff and import data (see below).
2._ At its formal meeting of 25-26 March, the Committee took note that
the consultations in the Council for Trade in Goods concerning the election of
the Chairpersons of the subsidiary bodies remained ongoing and agreed that the
Secretariat would send a written communication with the proposed candidate and
set a deadline for objections. On 29 May, the Secretariat informed Members that
Ms. Nicola Waterfield (Canada) had been appointed as Interim Chairperson. At
its meeting of 19-20 November, the Committee took note that the Chairperson would
continue consultations on the appointment of a vice-chairperson and would
update the Committee as appropriate.
hs related waivers
3._ At its formal meeting of 19-20 November, the Committee approved the
extension of the HS2002 "collective" waiver (_G/C/W/849),
the HS2007 "collective" waiver (_G/C/W/850),
the HS2012 "collective" waiver (_G/C/W/851),
the HS2017 "collective" waiver (_G/C/W/852),
and the HS2022 "collective" waiver (_G/C/W/853).
The Committee agreed to forward the draft waiver decisions to the General
Council, through the Council for Trade in Goods, for appropriate action.
Introduction of
Harmonized System changes to schedules of concessions
4._ At its formal meetings, the Committee took note of a revised report
by the Secretariat (_G/MA/W/158/Rev.8 and _G/MA/W/158/Rev.9)
with a broad overview of all HS transposition exercises.[2]
Introduction of
Harmonized System 1996 (HS1996) changes to Schedules of concessions
5._ At its meetings in 2024, the Committee took note of the status of
work concerning the introduction of HS96 changes to Schedules of
concessions. The Chairperson informed that the technical work under the
previous transposition procedures (GATT document _L/6905)
remained pending for one Member.
Introduction of
Harmonized System 2002 (HS2002) Changes to Schedules of concessions
6._ At its meetings in 2024, 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 had been
examined. At the formal meeting of 19-20 November, the Chairperson announced
that 116 Schedules of concessions had been transposed into HS2002 and
circulated for certification. Technical work remained pending for
one Member.
Introduction of Harmonized System 2007
(HS2007) changes to Schedules of concessions
7._ At its meetings in 2024, 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 had been
examined. At the formal meeting of 19-20 November, the Chairperson announced that
112 Schedules of concessions had been transposed into HS2007 and
circulated for certification.
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012
(HS2012) changes to Schedules of concessions
8._ At its meetings in 2024, the Committee took note of the status of
work concerning the introduction of HS2012 changes to Schedules of
concessions using the CTS database (_WT/L/831),
as well as the outcomes of the informal dedicated sessions of the Committee
during which the files containing the HS2012 changes of Members had been
examined. At the formal meeting of 19-20 November, the Chairperson announced that
104 Schedules of concessions had been transposed into HS2012 and
circulated for certification.
Introduction of Harmonized System 2017
(HS2017) changes to Schedules of concessions
9._ At its meetings in 2024, the Committee took note of the status of
work concerning the introduction of HS2017 changes to Schedules of
concessions using the CTS database (_WT/L/995),
as well as the outcomes of the informal dedicated sessions of the Committee
during which the files containing the HS2017 changes of Members had been
examined. At the formal meeting of 19-20 November, the Chairperson announced that
89 Schedules of concessions had been transposed into HS2017 and circulated
for certification.
Introduction of Harmonized System 2022 (HS2022)
changes to Schedules of concessions
10._ At its formal meeting of 19-20 November, the Committee took note
that work concerning the introduction of HS2022 changes to Schedules of
concessions using the CTS database (_WT/L/1123)
had started with the preparation of draft HS2022 transposition files.
Harmonized System "multiple
transposition" procedures
11._ At its formal meeting of 25-26 March, the Committee approved ad referendum the draft decision on the
"Procedure for the introduction of multiple changes to the Harmonized
System to Schedules of concessions using the Consolidated Tariff Schedules
(CTS) database" (_JOB/MA/172/Rev.2), and
agreed to forward it to the General Council, through the Council for Trade in
Goods, for adoption.[3]
Decision on notification procedures for
quantitative restrictions ("QR Decision")
12._ At its meetings in 2024, the Committee examined quantitative
restrictions (QR) notifications which had been submitted by 26 Members: Argentina;
Australia; Cambodia; Canada; China; Cuba; Ecuador; European Union; Japan;
Kazakhstan; Korea; Kyrgyz Republic; Macao, China; Malaysia; Mauritius; Moldova;
Mongolia; Morocco; Montenegro; Philippines; Saudi Arabia; Singapore; Thailand;
Ukraine; United Kingdom; and United States. Most of these notifications were complete
notifications of all QRs in force for the biennial period 2024-2026, and some
of them were submitted for the first time through the new online system for QR
notifications.[4]
The Committee also took note of the Secretariat's factual analysis of all
notified QRs (_G/MA/W/114/Rev.6)
that were recorded in the QR database[5] and of the report with the status of QR notifications (_G/MA/QR/14).
databases
13._ At its formal meetings in 2024, 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 Members that have concluded an
agreement for the automatic transmission of data; 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.59,
and _G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.60).
14._ At its meetings of 2024, the Committee took note of a report
prepared by the Secretariat pursuant to paragraph 16 of the IDB Decision (_G/MA/367),
which requires the Secretariat to maintain a list of Members' official websites
in which tariff information or import data are publicly available (_G/MA/IDB/W/13/Rev.10
and _G/MA/IDB/W/13/Rev.11).[6]
15._ In 2024, the Secretariat released a new database that allows Members
to submit QR notifications online (https://qr-notification.wto.org/en).
thematic sessions
16._ At its formal meeting of 25-26 March 2024, the Committee agreed on a
workplan of thematic sessions for 2024. Two thematic sessions on supply chain
resilience took place on 6 May and 18 October, based on a proposal from the
delegation of the United Kingdom. A first exploratory thematic session on
visualising a greener HS and the linkages with the WTO took place on 11 June,
in collaboration with the World Customs Organization, based on a proposal by
the delegation of Ecuador. At its formal meeting of 19-20 November, the
Committee took note of a report by the interim Chairperson and agreed on a
workplan for future sessions.
MC12 implementation matters – updates on improving
the functioning of the committee
17._ At its formal meeting of 19-20 November, the
Committee took note of the interim Chairperson's report (_JOB/MA/176)
on the most recent improvements to the functioning of
the Committee that were implemented by the Secretariat in 2024, based on
proposals by Members.
Other activities
18._ On 9 October 2024, the Committee held the third feedback session on
WTO publications and online tools to disseminate tariff and import data,
pursuant to paragraph 15 and paragraph 14 of Annex 4 of the "Decision on
Modalities and Operation of the Integrated Database (IDB)" (_G/MA/367). At
the session, the Secretariat presented the main
publications and tools used to disseminate IDB and CTS Data, including their main features and collected feedback
from Members on these areas.[7]
19._ At its formal meetings in 2024, the Committee took note of the
statements by a representative of the World Customs Organization (WCO) on the meetings
of the Harmonized System Committee (HSC) and the HS Review Sub-Committee where
negotiations were ongoing with respect to the classification proposals of
certain COVID-19 essential goods based on the communication sent by the CMA to
the HSC.[8]
Trade concerns
20._ At its formal meetings in 2024, the Committee took note of the
following trade concerns[9]:
|
ID[10]
|
Title
|
Member(s) raising
the concern[11]
|
|
ID 46
|
Angola – Import restricting practices
|
European Union
|
|
ID 94
|
Australia – Maturation requirements for imported alcohol[12]
|
Brazil
|
|
ID 39
|
Australia - Discriminatory market access
prohibition on 5G equipment
|
China
|
|
ID 79
|
Canada – Discriminatory market access prohibition on 5G equipment
|
China
|
|
[tbd]*
|
Canada - New tariffs on certain goods from China
|
China
|
|
[tbd]*
|
Canada – Tariff Rate Quota for Cheeses of All Types
|
United Kingdom
|
|
ID 58
|
China — Trade disruptive and restrictive measures
|
Australia
|
|
ID 80
|
China — Draft of Chinese recommended national standards (GB/T) for office
devices (information security technology-security specification for office
devices)
|
Japan
|
|
ID 81
|
China — Draft revision of Chinese government
procurement law
|
Japan
|
|
ID 107
|
China – Export control law and restrictions on trade in strategic
products
|
European Union,
Japan
|
|
ID 106
|
China; Hong Kong, China; Macao, China -
Restriction on imports of aquatic products from Japan after the discharge of
ALPS treated water into the sea
|
Japan
|
|
ID 82
|
Dominican Republic – Discriminatory taxation on some food imported
products
|
European Union
United Kingdom
|
|
ID 69
|
European Union - Carbon Border Adjustment
Mechanism
|
China,
Russian Federation
|
|
ID 84
|
European Union – Deforestation-Free Commodities (DFC)
|
Brazil
Colombia
Indonesia
Panama
Paraguay
Russian Federation
|
|
ID 86
|
European Union - MRL reduction of certain
substances to meet environmental objectives in third countries (_G/TBT/N/EU/908)
|
Australia
Colombia
Indonesia
Paraguay
|
|
ID 96
|
European Union – Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament
and of the Council on shipments of waste and amending Regulation (EU) No.
1257/2013 and (EU) No. 2020/1056
|
Indonesia
|
|
|
European Union - Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the
European Parliament and of the Council on the making available on the Union
market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products
associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation
No 995/2010[13]
|
Indonesia
|
|
ID 36
|
India - Quantitative restrictions on imports of certain pulses (_G/MA/QR/N/IND/2, _G/MA/QR/N/IND/2/Add.1)
|
Australia
Canada
European Union
|
|
ID 87
|
India – Basic Customs Duty (BCD)
on solar photovoltaic cells and modules
|
China
|
|
ID 88
|
India – Approved list of models and manufacturers (ALMM) of solar
photovoltaic modules
|
China
|
|
ID 61
|
India – Import policies on tyres
|
European Union Indonesia
Chinese Taipei
Thailand
|
|
ID 62
|
India – Import restriction on air conditioners
|
Japan
Thailand
|
|
ID 105
|
India – Import restrictions on
pcs, tablets, and other electronic products
|
China
|
|
ID 98
|
India - Quality Control Order for chemical and petrochemical substances
|
Indonesia
|
|
|
India - Medical Textiles (Quality
Control) Order, 2023[14]
|
Indonesia
|
|
|
India - Viscose Staple Fibres (Quality Control) Order,
202214
|
Indonesia
|
|
|
India - Plywood and Wooden flush
door shutters (Quality Control) Order, 202314
|
Indonesia
|
|
|
India - Footwear made from Leather and other materials
(Quality Control) Amendment Order, 202414
|
Indonesia
|
|
|
India - Viscose Rayon Cut Staple
Spun Yarn (Quality Control) Order, 202414
|
Indonesia
|
|
|
India - Dyed knitted or crochet fabric made from
synthetic fibres (Quality Control) Order, 202414
|
Indonesia
|
|
[tbd]*
|
India - Measures that may have
unintended results equivalent to quantitative restrictions on the import of
copper, wooden boards, and tyres
|
Thailand
|
|
ID 99
|
Indonesia – Commodity balance mechanism and other import measures
|
European Union
|
|
ID 42
|
Indonesia - Customs duties on certain
telecommunication products
|
United States
|
|
[tbd]*
|
Kazakhstan - Quantitative restrictions on imports of apples
|
European Union
|
|
ID 35
|
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Bahrain, the
United Arab Emirates, the State of Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar - Selective tax on
certain imported products (_G/MA/W/140, _G/MA/W/169)
|
European Union, Switzerland
United States
|
|
ID 64
|
Mexico – Import quota on glyphosate
|
United States
|
|
|
Mongolia
– Amendment to the Excise Tax Law on Spirits
|
United Kingdom
|
|
ID 50
|
Nepal - Import ban on energy drinks
|
Thailand
|
|
ID110
|
Pakistan – Automobile industry development policy
|
Japan
|
|
ID 111
|
Panama - Quantitative restrictions on imports of pork
|
Canada
|
|
ID 108
|
The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu,
Kinmen and Matsu– Industrial relevance policies in the offshore wind sector
|
European Union
|
|
ID 104
|
Thailand- Licensing regime for wheat
|
European Union
|
|
ID 100
|
Türkiye – Discriminatory additional tariffs on
electric vehicles
|
China
|
|
ID 101
|
United States – Disruptive and restrictive measures in the name of
national security
|
China
|
|
ID 102
|
United States, Japan, Netherlands -
US-Japan-Netherlands agreement on chip export restrictions
|
China
|
|
ID 103
|
United States – A series of disruptive policy measures on the global
semiconductor industry chain and supply chain
|
China
|
|
ID 90
|
United States – Section 301 tariffs on certain
goods from China
|
China
|
|
[tbd]*
|
United States - New Section 301 Tariffs on Certain Goods from China and
New Investigation on Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Industry of China
|
China
|
|
ID 91
|
United States – Quantitative restrictions on
imports of sturgeon
|
European Union
|
|
ID 109
|
Viet Nam – Marketing authorization for pharmaceutical products
|
Thailand
|
* ID to be defined.
__________
[1] _G/L/1507,
dated 30 October 2023.
[3] The draft decision was adopted by the General Council on
22 July 2024 and circulated in document _WT/L/1200.
[7] See document _G/MA/W/144/Add.2,
to be issued.
[8] _G/MA/406
of 30 May 2022.
[9] The concerns are listed in alphabetical order.
[11] The column lists the Member(s) that raised the issue in any or all
the formal meetings that are covered by this report.
[12] At the formal meeting of 25-26 March, Brazil requested to withdraw
this item from the agenda as the concern had been resolved.
[13] At the formal meeting of 19-20 November, Indonesia requested to
withdraw this item from the agenda.
[14] At the formal meeting of 19-20 November, Indonesia requested to
withdraw these items from the agenda and merge them into a single new trade
concern entitled "India – Quality Control Order".