   
  
WT/L/1069  
 
17 October  2019 
(19-6766) Page: 1/1 
   
 
PREFERENTIAL TARIFF TREATMENT FOR  LEAST DEVELOPED COUN TRIES  
DECISION ON EXTENSIO N OF WAIVER  
Adopted on 16 October 20191 
The General Council,  
 
 Having regard  to paragraphs  3 and 4 of Article  IX of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing 
the World Trade Organization (the "WTO  Agreement"), the Understanding in Respect of Waivers of 
Obligations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade  1994, and the Guiding Principles to 
Be Followed in Considering Applications for Waivers adopted on 1  November  19562; 
 
 Conducting  the function of the Ministerial Conference in the interval between meetings 
pursuant to paragraph  2 of Article  IV of the WTO  Agreement;  
 
 Considering  the decision adopted on 15  June 1999 granting a waiver of paragraph  1 of 
Article  I of the GA TT 1994 to the extent necessary to allow developing country Members to provide 
preferential tariff treatment to products of least developed countries, designated as such by the 
United Nations, without being required to extend the same tariff rates to like products of any other 
Member3; 
 
Considering  the decision adopted on 27  May 2009 extending the aforementioned waiver until 
30 June 20194; 
 
 Noting  that the exceptional circumstances that justified the initial granting of the 
aforementioned waiver continue t o exist;  
 
 Decides  as follows:  
 
The waiver contained in the decision of 15  June 1999 (WT/L/304) is hereby extended from 
1 July 2019 until 30  June 2029.  
 
__________  
                                                
1 Adopted in accordance with the Decision -Making Procedures under Articles  IX and XII of the 
WTO Agreement agreed by the General Council (WT/L/93).  
2 L/532 (BISD 5S/25).  
3 WT/L/304.  
4 WT/L/759.  