. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/L/421
24 November 2000
(00-5024)
COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS
Chairman's factual progress report to the General Council on the
Work Programme on Electronic Commerce
1. Following the General Council decision on 17 July 2000 “to invite the four subsidiary bodies,
i.e. the Goods, Services and TRIPS Councils and the Committee on Trade and Development, to pick
up where they left off in their work on electronic commerce within their respective spheres of
competence, identify cross-sectoral issues, and re port back to the General Council at its regular
meeting in December this year,” the Council for Trade in Goods discussed electronic commerceissues under its purview during two informal meetings, on 4 October and 8 November 2000.
2. Upon request by delegations, the Secretariat updated its background note on work carried out
by other intergovernmental organizations on subjects that relate to the work programme of the CTG
(document G/C/W/128/Add.1).  The update provides  a broad overview of work by the OECD,
UNCITRAL, UNCTAD, the World Bank, and the WCO on issues related to those under examination
in the CTG.
3. Members reaffirmed the continuing relevance of the earlier contribution of the Council for
Trade in Goods to the General Council which was submitted by the Chairman of the CTG in July
1999 (document G/C/W/158).  According to the mandate contained in document WT/L/274 (Work
Programme on Electronic Commerce), that contribution pr ovides an overview on the discussion of the
following issues:
- market access for and  access to products related to  electronic commerce;
- valuation issues arising from the application of the Agreement on Implementation of
Article VII of the GATT 1994;
- issues arising from the application of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures;- customs duties and other duties and charge s as defined under Article II of GATT
1994;
- standards in relation to electronic commerce;- rules of origin issues;- classification issues.
4. Some Members recalled that the General Council had invited the subsidiary bodies to identify
cross-sectoral issues, and indicated that the earlie r contribution of the Council for Trade in Goods had
in particular identified the issue of classification of the content of certain electronic transmissions.G/L/421
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5. The Council for Trade in Goods stands ready to continue its work on any of the issues within
its spheres of competence in light of the discussions in the General Council.
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