REPORT (2025) OF THE COMMITTEE ON MARKET ACCESS
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS[1]
1._
Since the last
review[2], the Committee on Market
Access held three formal meetings (13‑14 May, 13 October, and 15-16 October)
and two informal meetings (4 March, 19 June). The
annotated agendas of the formal meetings were circulated in documents JOB/MA/181 and _JOB/MA/185,
and the minutes are contained in documents _G/MA/M/82,
_G/MA/M/83, and _G/MA/M/84 (to be
issued). In addition, the Committee organized two thematic sessions, one
on supply chain resilience, and one on Greening the Harmonized System (HS) and
the linkages to the WTO. A third informal meeting is scheduled to take place on
9 December.
2._ At its formal meeting of 13-14 May, 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 2 June, the
Secretariat informed Members that Mr Ninad Deshpande (India) had been
appointed as Chairperson. Following his reassignment and consultations held by
the Chairperson of the Council for Trade in Goods, on 13 October 2025
Mr Gaurav Gupta (India) was elected as the new Chairperson for the
remainder of the period. At its meeting of 15-16 October, the Committee
took note that the Chairperson would continue consultations on the appointment
of a vice-chairperson and would update the Committee as appropriate.
1 HS related waivers
3._ At its formal meeting of 15-16 October, the Committee approved the
extension of the HS2002 "collective" waiver (_G/C/W/875), the HS2007 "collective" waiver (_G/C/W/876), the HS2012 "collective" waiver (_G/C/W/877), the HS2017 "collective" waiver (G/C/W/878/Rev.1), and the HS2022 "collective"
waiver (G/C/W/879/Rev.1). The Committee agreed to forward the draft
waiver decisions to the General Council, through the Council for Trade in
Goods, for appropriate action.
2 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.10
and _G/MA/W/158/REV.11)
which provided a broad overview of all HS transposition exercises.[3]
2.1 Introduction of Harmonized System 1996 (HS1996) changes to Schedules
of concessions
5._ At its meetings in 2025, the Committee took note of the status of
work concerning the introduction of HS96 changes to Schedules of
concessions. The Secretariat reported that the technical work under the
previous transposition procedures (GATT document L/6905) remained
pending for one Member.
2.2 Introduction of Harmonized System 2002 (HS2002) Changes to Schedules
of concessions
6._ At its meetings in 2025, 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 15-16 October, the Secretariat reported that
116 Schedules of concessions had been transposed into HS2002 and
circulated for certification. Technical work remained pending for one Member.[4]
2.3 Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 (HS2007) changes to Schedules
of concessions
7._ At its meetings in 2025, 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.[5]
At the formal meeting of 15-16 October, the Secretariat reported that 114 Schedules
of concessions had been transposed into HS2007 and circulated for
certification.
2.4 Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 (HS2012) changes to Schedules
of concessions
8._ At its meetings in 2025, 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.[6]
At the formal meeting of 15‑16 October, the Secretariat reported that 106 Schedules
of concessions had been transposed into HS2012 and circulated for
certification.
2.5 Introduction of Harmonized System 2017 (HS2017) changes to Schedules
of concessions
9._ At its meetings in 2025, 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.[7]
At the formal meeting of 15‑16 October, the Secretariat reported that 100 Schedules
of concessions had been transposed into HS2017 and circulated for
certification.
2.6 Introduction of Harmonized System 2022 (HS2022) changes to Schedules
of concessions
10._ At its meetings in 2025, the Committee took note of the status of
work concerning the introduction of HS2022 changes to Schedules of
concessions using the CTS database (_WT/L/1123),
as well as the outcomes of the informal dedicated sessions of the Committee
during which the files containing the HS2022 changes of Members had been
examined.[8]
At the formal meeting of 15‑16 October, the Secretariat reported that 50 Schedules
of concessions had been transposed into HS2022 and circulated to other Members in
view of the next multilateral review scheduled for 9 December.
2.7 Harmonized System "multiple transposition" procedures
11._ At the formal meeting of 15‑16 October, the Secretariat
reported that two Members were in the process of using the "Procedure for
the introduction of multiple changes to the Harmonized System to Schedules of
concessions using the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database" (WT/L/1200).
3 Decision on notification procedures for quantitative restrictions
("QR Decision")
12._ At its meetings in 2025, the Committee examined quantitative
restrictions (QR) notifications which had been submitted by 20 Members:
Australia; Cambodia; Colombia; Cuba; European Union; Hong Kong, China; Israel;
Kazakhstan; Kyrgyz Republic; Mauritius; Mongolia; New Zealand; Nicaragua;
Norway; Philippines; the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen
and Matsu; Thailand; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United States.
13._ Most of these notifications were complete notifications of all QRs
in force for the biennial period 2024-2026, some of which were submitted
through the new online system for QR notifications.[9]
The Committee also took note of the Secretariat's factual analysis of all
notified QRs (_G/MA/W/114/REV.7)
that were recorded in the QR database[10] and of the report with the status of QR notifications (_G/MA/QR/15).
4 Databases
14._ At its formal meetings in 2025, 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.61,
and _G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.62).
15._ At its meetings of 2025, the Committee took note of a revised 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.12
and _G/MA/IDB/W/13/Rev.13).[11]
16._ The information of the IDB and CTS databases, in addition with other
data, are made available for download in the new WTO Tariff & Trade Data online
portal (https://ttd.wto.org/en), which was
launched in March 2025 following consultations with Members and a demonstration
that took place on 4 March.
5 Thematic sessions
17._ In 2025, the Committee continued its thematic sessions on supply
chain resilience, based on a proposal from the delegation of the United Kingdom,
and initiated separate thematic sessions on Greening the Harmonised System,
based on a proposal by the delegation of Ecuador. A thematic session on supply
chain resilience took place on 17 January.[12]
At the formal meeting on 13-14 May, the Committee adopted a summary report
of the four thematic sessions in supply chain resilience G/MA/436.
A second thematic session on Greening the HS and the linkages with the WTO is
scheduled to take place on 9 December. At the informal meeting of 14 October,
the delegation of Canada provided information about recent discussions in the
Informal Working Group on MSMEs on menstrual health products, related trade,
and links to the current Harmonized System.[13]
At its formal meeting of 15-16 October, the Committee took note of a report by
the Chairperson on the thematic sessions.
6 Other activities
18._ On 13 May 2025, the Committee held a special session to commemorate
its 30th anniversary, which included a panel discussion of former
Chairpersons. CMA
delegates were invited to a guided tour of an exhibition organized by the
Secretariat, which showed key milestones of the
Committee's work and how technology had shaped the preparation of Goods
Schedules, the development of trade and tariff databases, and the broader work
of the Secretariat of making trade information accessible to the Members and
the public.
19._ At its formal meetings in 2025, 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.[14]
At its formal meeting on 15–16 October 2025, the Committee heard a
report from a representative of the World Customs Organization (WCO) on the
restructuring of the WCO Secretariat, under which two Directorates had been
established: the Policy and Standards Directorate and the Implementation and
Capacity Development Directorate. She further informed the Committee that the
recommendation for HS 2028 had been transmitted to the WCO Council and was
expected to be adopted in January, and that preparatory work on the HS 2033
amendment had already commenced. Finally, she noted that, following the
adoption of a memorandum of understanding in January 2025, the WCO would,
in the coming months, work to further strengthen collaboration with the WTO.
7 Trade concerns
20._ At its formal meetings in 2025, the Committee took note of the
following 36 trade concerns[15]:
|
No.
|
ID[16]
|
Title
|
Member(s) raising
the concern[17]
|
|
1._
|
ID 46
|
Angola – Import Restricting Practices
|
European Union
|
|
2._
|
ID 142
|
Canada – Tariff Rate Quota for Certain Steel Products
|
Chinese Taipei
|
|
3._
|
ID 126
|
Canada – Tariff Rate Quota for Cheeses of All
Types
|
United Kingdom
|
|
4._
|
ID 81
|
China – Draft Revision of Chinese Government Procurement Law
|
Japan
|
|
5._
|
ID 107
|
China – Export Control Law and Restrictions on
Trade in Strategic Products
|
European Union
Japan
|
|
6._
|
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
|
|
7._
|
ID 134
|
China – Uncertainty Over Coffee Beans and
Macadamia Nut Exports to the People's Republic of China
|
Guatemala
|
|
8._
|
ID 140
|
Costa Rica;
Iceland; New Zealand; Switzerland – Treatment of Like Products Under the
Trade and Environmental Agreement (ACCTS)
|
Russian
Federation
|
|
9._
|
ID 82
|
Dominican Republic – Discriminatory Taxation on
Some Food Imported Products
|
European Union
United Kingdom
|
|
10._
|
ID 69
|
European Union – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
|
China,
Russian Federation
|
|
11._
|
ID 84
|
European Union – Deforestation-Free Commodities
(DFC)
|
Brazil
Colombia
Indonesia
Paraguay
Russian
Federation
Thailand
|
|
12._
|
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
|
|
13._
|
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
|
|
14._
|
ID 61
|
India – Import Policies on Tyres
|
European Union Indonesia
Chinese Taipei
Thailand
|
|
15._
|
ID 141
|
India
– Importing Restrictive Measures Upon Pocket Lighters
|
China
|
|
16._
|
ID 62
|
India – Import Restriction on Air Conditioners
|
Japan
Thailand
|
|
17._
|
ID 143
|
Indonesia
- Measures Affecting the Importation of Pharmaceutical Products
|
Thailand
|
|
18._
|
ID 136
|
India –
Measures That May Have Unintended Results Equivalent to Quantitative
Restrictions on the Import of Wooden Boards and Viscose Staple Fibre
|
Thailand
|
|
19._
|
ID 133
|
India – Quality
Control Order
|
Indonesia
|
|
20._
|
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
|
|
21._
|
ID 99
|
Indonesia –
Commodity Balance Mechanism and Other Import Measures
|
European Union
United Kingdom
|
|
22._
|
ID 42
|
Indonesia - Customs Duties on Certain Telecommunication Products
|
United States
|
|
23._
|
ID 135
|
Philippines – Bill in the Senate Imposing Export
Restrictions on Raw Minerals
|
Japan
|
|
24._
|
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
|
|
25._
|
ID 64
|
Mexico – Import Quota on Glyphosate
|
United States
|
|
26._
|
ID 127
|
Mongolia –
Amendment to the Excise Tax Law on Spirits
|
United Kingdom
|
|
27._
|
ID 110
|
Pakistan – Automobile industry Development Policy
|
Japan
|
|
28._
|
ID 104
|
Thailand- Licensing Regime for Wheat
|
European Union
|
|
29._
|
ID
138
|
Thailand – Market Access for Agricultural
Commodities and Food Products
|
India
|
|
30._
|
ID 137
|
Thailand -
Market Access Issues Faced by Pharma Sector
|
India
|
|
31._
|
ID 144
|
Trinidad and Tobago - Tariff Rates Applied to
Alcoholic Products
|
United Kingdom
|
|
32._
|
ID 103
|
United States – A Series of Disruptive Policy Measures on the Global
Semiconductor industry Chain and Supply Chain
|
China
|
|
33._
|
ID 101
|
United States – Disruptive and Restrictive
Measures in the Name of National Security
|
China
|
|
34._
|
ID 139
|
United States – Reciprocal Tariffs and Other Tariff Measures
|
China
|
|
35._
|
ID 129
|
United States - New Section 301 Tariffs on
Certain Goods from China and Final Measures on Maritime, Logistics, and
Shipbuilding industry of China
|
China
|
|
36._
|
ID 91
|
United States – Quantitative Restrictions on Imports of Sturgeon
|
European Union
|
__________
[1] As agreed by the Committee at its formal meeting of 15-16 October 2025,
a revised draft was circulated to delegations in document G/MA/SPEC/65/Rev.1,
with a deadline for comments until close of business of
27 October 2025. Since no comment was submitted, the report was
adopted on 27 October 2025.
[12] See document _JOB/MA/173/Add.3/Rev.1.
[13] See room document RD/MA/132.
[14] _G/MA/406
of 30 May 2022.
[15] The concerns are listed in alphabetical order.
[17] The column lists the Member(s) that raised the issue in any or all
the formal meetings that are covered by this report.