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G/MA/SPEC/63  
 
3 October  2023 
(23-6623) Page: 1/5 
Committee on Market Access  Original: English  
 
REPORT (202 3) OF THE COMMITTEE ON MARKET ACCESS  
TO THE COUNCIL FOR TRADE IN GOODS  
DRAFT  
 Since the last review1, the Committee on Market Access held two formal meetings ( 26-27 April 
and 1 6-17 October ) and four informal meetings ( 21 February , 3 July , 18 September , and 
21 November ). The annotated agendas of the formal meetings were circulated in documents 
JOB/MA/159  and [JOB/MA/169 ], and t he minutes are contained in documents  G/MA/M/7 8 and 
[G/MA/M/7 9 (to be issu ed)]. In addition, the Committee organised an experience -sharing session 
on trade in COVID -19 related goods , a capacity building workshop  on the notification of quantitative 
restrictions , and two informal open -ended consultations on thematic sessions  (see below) . 
 At its formal meeting of 26-27 April , the Committee took note that the consultations in the 
Council for Trade in Goods concerning th e election of th e 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 5 June , the Secretariat informed Members 
that Ms. Renata  Cristaldo  Oviedo  (Paraguay)  had been nominated, and on 8 June  a second 
communication confirmed that she had b een elected. At its meeting of 16-17 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 .] 
HS RELATED WAIVERS  
 At its formal meeting of 16-17 October , the Committee [approved the extension of the 
HS2002  "collective" waiver ( G/C/W/ 831), the HS2007 "collective" waiver ( G/C/W/ 832), the HS2012 
"collective" waiver ( G/C/W/ 833), the HS2017 "collective" waiver ( G/C/W/ 834), and the HS2022 
"collective" waiver ( G/C/W/835 ). 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  
 At its formal  meeting s, the Committee took note of a revised r eport by the Secretariat 
(G/MA/W/158/Rev. 6 and [G/MA/W/158/Rev.7 ]) with a broad overview of all HS transposition 
exercises .2 
Introduction of Harmonized System 1996 (HS1996) changes to Schedule s of concessions  
 At its meetings in 202 3, the Committee took note of the status of work concerning the 
introductio n of HS96  changes to Schedule s 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 Schedule s of concessions  
 At its meetings in 202 3, the Committee took note of the status of work concerning the 
introduction of HS2002  changes to Schedule s 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 
 
1 G/L/1 439, dated 1 November  2022. 
2 See also Goods Schedules e -Library https://goods -schedules.wto.org/ . G/MA/SPEC/63  
 
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  which the files containing the HS2002  changes of Members had been examined. A t the formal 
meeting of 16-17 October , 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 Schedule s of concessions  
 At its meetings in 202 3, the Committee took note of the status of work concerning the 
introduction of HS2007 changes to Schedule s of concessions using the CTS database ( WT/L/673  and 
WT/L/830 ), as well as the outcomes of the informal dedicated se ssions of the Committee during 
which the files containing the HS2007  changes of Members had been examined. At the formal 
meeting of 16-17 October , the Chairperson announced that [113] Schedules of concessions had 
been transposed into HS2007 and circulated for certification.  
Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 (HS2012) changes to Schedule s of concessions  
 At its meetings in 202 3, the Committee took note of the status of work concerning the 
introduction of HS2012  changes to Schedule s of concessions using th e 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 
16 - 17 October , 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 Schedule s of concessions  
 At its meetings in 202 3, the Committee took note of the status of work concerning the 
introduc tion of HS2017  changes to Schedule s 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 
16-17 October , the Chair person announced that [85] Schedules of concessions had been transposed 
into HS2017 and circulated for certification.  
Introduction of Harmonized System 20 22 (HS20 22) changes to Schedules of concessions  
 At its formal meeting of 16-17 October , [the Committee  took note that work concerning the 
introduction of HS20 22 changes to Schedules of concessions using the CTS  database ( WT/L/1123 ) 
has started  with the development of the programs to prepare the draft HS2022 transposition files . 
Harmonized System "multiple transposition" procedures  
 At its informal meetings of 21 February and 3 July , the Committee discussed Japan's proposal 
for a multiple transposition of Members' Schedules of concessions into the most recent version of 
the HS. Based on this proposal,  the Secretariat prepared a techni cal note in document JOB/MA/164  
explaining  the technical aspect of such a  potential process . The Committee will continue to discuss 
this proposal at its next informal meeting in November . 
DECISION ON NOTIFICATION PROCEDURES FOR QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS 
("QR  DECISION")  
 At its meetings in 202 3, the Committee examined quantitative restrictions ( QR) notifications 
which had been submitted by 21 Members: Australia; Costa Rica; The Gambia; Georgia, Hong Kong, 
China; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyz Republic; Ma laysia;  Myanmar ; New Zealand; Nicaragua; 
Philippines ; Singapore ; Thailand; Trinidad and Tobago; Türkiye ; Ukraine; United Kingdom; the 
United States ; and Ur uguay. Most of these notifications were complete notifications of all QRs in 
force for the biennial period s 2020-2022 and 2022 -2024. The Committee  also took note of the 
Secretariat's factual analysis of all notified QRs ( G/MA/W/114/Rev.5 ) that were recorded in the QR 
database3 [and of the report with the status of QR notification s (G/MA/QR/1 3)]. 
 
3 https://QR.wto.org/ . G/MA/SPEC/63  
 
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  COMMITTEE WORK ON TRA DE IN COVID -19 RELATED GOODS  
 On 24 March 2023 , the Committee organize d the sixth experience -sharing session on trade in 
COVID -19 related goods .4 In the first part  of the session , least developed countries (LDC) shared 
their experiences and practices on tr ade-related measures and challenges faced during the 
COVID -19 pandemic.5 In the second part of the session, Members shared  their reflections across the 
entire series of experience -sharing sessions organized by the CMA on trade in COVID -19 related 
goods.  
 Based on Members' discussions and presentations during  the entire series of experience -
sharing sessions which took place in 2022 and 2023,  and at Members' request,  the Secretariat 
prepared a document summarizing  the main  lessons learned from the COVID -19 pandemic.  On 
31 March 2023, the lesson learned document was submitted for review and adoption  by the Members 
and was circulat ed in document in G/MA/409  on 20 Apri l 2023, as agreed by the Members.  
 At the meeting of 26 -27 April,  the Committee took note of an updated report by the Secretariat 
summarising export restrictions and trade easing  measures relating to the COVID -19 pandemic 
(G/MA/W/168/Rev.4 ). In addition, the Committee took note of an updated  document listing all 
notifications which had been submitted by Members to the Committee on Market Access relating to 
COVID -19 (G/MA/W/157/Rev.6 ). It was agreed that these documents would only be updated if the 
Secretariat received additional information from Members abo ut these measures.  
 At the meeting s of 26-27 April  and 16 -17 October , the Committee took note of the statement s 
by a representative of the World Customs Organization (WCO) on the  71st and 72nd  sessions of the 
Harmonized System  Committee (HSC)  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 .6 
MC12 IMPLEMENTATION MATTERS  – IMPROVING THE FUNCTIONING OF THE COMMITTEE  
 At its informal meetings  of 21 February, 3 July and 18 September , the Committee conducted 
discussions on how to improve its functioning, following instructions by the Chairperson of the 
Council for Trade in Goo ds. Three main documents were prepared under the Chairperson's 
responsibility to compile Members' submissions and inform the Committee's discussions: (i) the 
preliminary list of issues for discussions ( JOB/MA/162 ); (ii) the table with the current status of work 
by the Committee after its in formal meeting of 3 July 2023 ( JOB/MA/165 ); and (iii) the proposals 
adopted by the Committee following written procedures ( JOB/MA/166 , JOB/MA/166/Corr.1 , and 
G/MA/411 ). 
 [At its formal meeting of 16 -17 October, the Committee t ook note of the Chairperson's report 
in relation to this work and approved the Committee's report to the Council for Trade in Goods , as 
circulated in document JOB/MA/1 70]. 
THEMATIC SESSIONS  
 On 9 February, the former Chairperson started consultations with Members on whether the 
Committee shou ld engage in a technical dialogue, either through experience sharing sessions or 
other formats, and on which topics (see RD/MA/110 ). At the informal meeting of 3 July, the 
Chairperson invited Members to submit concrete proposals for thematic sessions based on the list 
circulated in RD/MA/110  or other topics of interest. At the informal meeting of 18 September, the 
Committee considered a proposal by the United Kingdom on thematic sessions on supply chain 
resilience ( JOB/MA/167 ). On 2 October, the Chairperson organized informal open -ended 
 
4 The first five experience sharing sessions took place on 4 March 2022, 26 April 2022, 18 July 2022, 
16 September 2022 and 21 November 2022, respectively. The summary reports are available in documents 
JOB/MA/152 , JOB/MA/152/Add.1 , JOB/MA/152/Add.2/Rev.1 , JOB/MA/152/Add.3 , and JOB/MA/152/Add.4 . 
5 The summary report is available in document JOB/MA/152/Add.5 . Representatives from eight LDC 
Members particip ated as speakers: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People 's Democratic Republic, Lesoth o, 
Myanmar, Niger, Togo and Zambia.  
6 G/MA/406  of 30 May 2022 . G/MA/SPEC/63  
 
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  consultations to further discuss the UK prop osal. [ At its formal meeting of 16 -17 October, the 
Committee took note of the Chairperson's report on the informal consultations ].  
DATABASES  
 At its formal meetings in 202 3, 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 softwa re 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.57 , and [G/MA/IDB/2/Rev.58 ]). 
 At its meetings of 202 3, the Committee took note of a report prepared by the Secretariat 
pursuant to paragraph 16 of th e 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.8  and [G/MA/IDB/W/13/Rev.9 ]).7 
OTHER ACTIVITIES  
 On 6 February 202 3, the Secretariat gave a presentation on the work of the CMA to the LDC 
Group.  
 On 24 -26 April, the Secretariat organized a Capacity Building Workshop on the Notification of 
Quantitative Restrictions8. The objective of this workshop was to train capital -based officials in 
charge of the QR notifications to prepare such notifications for the first time, or to improve existing 
ones.  
TRADE CONCERNS  
 At its formal  meetings  in 202 3, the Committee took note of the following trade concerns9: 
ID10 Title Member(s) raising 
the concern11 
ID 46  Angola – Import restriction practices  European Union,  
United States  
ID 94  Australia - Maturation requirements for imported alcohol  Brazil 
ID 39  Australia - Discriminatory market access prohibition on 5 G equipment  China 
ID 79  Canada – Discriminat ory market access prohibition on 5 G equipment  China 
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 measure on gallium and germanium products  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 so me food imported 
products  European Union 
ID 86  European Union - MRL reduction of certain substances to meet 
environmental objectives in third countries12  Australia  
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  
 
7 See also https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/markacc_e/tariffandimpofwebsites_e.htm . 
8 https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/markacc_e/qres_2404202310_e/qres_2404202310_e.htm . 
9 The concerns are listed in alphabetical order.  
10 For m ore information see also  https://tradeconcerns.wto.org/en . 
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 This trade concer n was raised with the title "Draft Commission regulation amending Annexes II and V 
to Regulation (EC) no. 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regard maximum residue 
levels for clothianidin and thiamethoxam in certain products"  in the meeting of 26 -27 April 2023.  G/MA/SPEC/63  
 
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  ID10 Title Member(s) raising 
the concern11 
ID 69  European Union - Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism  China,  
Indonesia,  
Russian Federation  
ID 84  European Union – Deforestation -Free Commodities (DFC)  Indonesia,  
Russian Federation  
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  European Union, 
Switzerland,  
United States  
ID 36   India - Quantitative restrictions on imports of certain pulses   Australia,  
Canada  
ID 98  India - Quality control order for chemical and petrochemical 
substances  Indonesia  
Thailand  
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 99 Indonesia – Commodity balance mechanism  European Union  
ID 42 Indonesia - Customs duties on certain telecommunication products  European Union, United 
States  
ID 64 Mexico – Import quota on glyphosate  United States  
ID 50 Nepal - Import ban on energy drinks  Thailand  
ID 74 Peru – Tax treatment of pisco  United Kingdom  
ID 56 Sri Lanka – Import ban on various products  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 101  United States – Disruptive and restrictive measures in the name of 
national security  China  
ID 90  United State s – Section 301 tariffs on certain goods from China  China 
ID 91  United States – Quantitative restrictions on imports of sturgeon  European Union 
 
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