WORLD TRADE G/L/164
3April 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-1360)
Original: English Council forTrade inGoods
14April 1997
SRILANKA -ESTABLISHMENT OFANEW SCHEDULE VI
Request forExtension ofTime-Limit
Thefollowing communication, dated 20March 1997, hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent
Mission ofSriLanka.
_______________
Irefer toyour faxof14March 1997 ontheabove subject. Ifurnish below thefactual
information being requested withregard toSriLanka 'srequest foranextension ofthetime-limit for
thecurrent waiver.
1. Dateoforiginal waiver: 8November 19881.
2. Dateofsubmission ofdocuments relevant totheHSimplementation: 12January 19902.
3. Number ofextensions anddates when granted: fourteen extensions, asfollows: 24/07/89;
16/07/90; 07/12/90; 01/07/91; 04/12/91; 20/07/92; 03/12/92; 19/07/93; 17/01/94;
21/07/94; 09/12/94; 31/08/95; 13/12/95 and18/07/96.
4. Number ofcountries withwhich Article XXVIII negotiations have been initiated: four
(Australia, European Union, NewZealand andUnited States).
5. Number ofcountries withwhich Article XXVIII negotiations havebeenconcluded: none.
6. Status ofoutstanding Article XXVIII negotiations aswellasageneral outline ofrelevant
problems: Thepresent position isthatalthough, acounter offerwasreceived recently from
onecountry, afurther fewrounds ofnegotiations willberequired tofinalize negotiations with
theremaining countries withwhich Article XXVIII negotiations havebeeninitiated. While
every effort isbeing made toconclude negotiations asearlyaspossible, itisunlikely thatthey
willbeconcluded by30April 1997.
1BISD, 35S/22.
2SECRET/HS/26.
./.G/L/164
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7. Outlook forconcluding theprocess: although theauthorities inSriLanka werecontinuing the
preparatory work forfurther negotiations, thesecurity situation coupled withtheholding of
island-wide localgovernment elections inthemonth ofMarch 1997, hasplaced constraints
oncompleting thepreparatory work forthenegotiations tobeheld. Furthermore, thecounter
offer received from oneoftheparties needs tobestudied indepth inview ofitsextremely
highpolitical sensitivity. Therefore, theGovernment ofSriLanka willrequire more timeto
complete these studies. Astheprocess ofpreparatory work isalready inprogress, thiswork
isalsoexpected tobecompleted inafewmonths time.
Inviewoftheabove circumstances, SriLanka willrequire afurther extension ofsixmonths
from 1May1997, toconclude thenegotiations. SriLanka wishes toextend itsappreciation tothe
countries concerned fortheunderstanding shown andwishes toassure them thatthese negotiations
willbefinalized tothesatisfaction ofallparties concerned within thestipulated time.