WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/L/379
13 December 2000
(00-5409)
INTRODUCTION OF HARMONIZED SYSTEM CHANGES INTO WTO
SCHEDULES OF TARIFF CONCESSIONS ON 1 JANUARY 1996
Extension of Time-Limit
Decision of 8 December 20001
The General Council,
Considering  that the Members of the WTO, by their Decisions of 13 December 1995,
18 July 1996, 24 April 1997,  22 October 1997, 24 April 1998, 14 October 1998, 15 June 1999,
4 November 1999 and 3 May 20002, acting pursuant to the provisions of  paragraph 3 of Article IX of the
WTO Agreement, suspended the application of the provisions of Article II of GATT 1994 until
31 October 2000, for the purpose of enabling the Me mbers listed in the Annex to implement the
recommended amendments to the Harmonized System nomenclature;
Noting  that the Members listed in the Annex have requested an extension of the waiver for
reasons explained in their requests;
Considering  that the Members concerned would need more time to proceed with consultations
or possible Article XXVIII negotiations, in particular also in light of general reservations made by the
other Members;
Acting  pursuant to the provisions of paragra ph 3 of Article IX of the WTO Agreement;
Decides, in view of the exceptional circumstances, to  suspend the application of the provisions
of Article II of GATT 1994, until 30 April 2001, for the purpose of enabling the Members listed in theAnnex to implement the recommended amendments to  the Harmonized System nomenclature, subject to
the following conditions:
1. The Member concerned shall have submitted the documentation required under paragraph 2
of the simplified procedures adopted by the GATT 1947 Committee on Tariff Concessions toimplement changes in the Harmonized System
3; or if special circumstances apply, the Member
concerned shall have requested technical assistance from the Secretariat for the completion of such
documentation.
2. The Member concerned shall, where necessary, promptly enter into negotiations and
consultations with interested Members pursuant to paragraphs 1-3 of Article XXVIII of GATT 1994.
                                                     
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 WT/L/124 + Corr.1, WT/L/173, WT/L/216, WT/L /243, WT/L/268, WT/L/281, WT/L/303, WT/L/338,
WT/L/351.
3BISD 39S/300.WT/L/379
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3. The negotiations and consultations mentioned above shall be completed not later than
30 April 2001.
4. Pending the entry into force of the results of the negotiations or consultations mentioned
above, the other Members will be free to suspend concessions initially negotiated with the Member
concerned to the extent that they consider that adequate compensation is not offered by the Memberconcerned.WT/L/379
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ANNEX
Argentina Mexico
Brazil Morocco
Brunei Darussalam New Zealand
Bulgaria Norway
Egypt Pakistan
El Salvador Panama
Guatemala ParaguayHonduras Switzerland
Iceland Thailand
Israel Uruguay
Malaysia Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
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