. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/L/608
13 March 2003
(03-1462)
Original:  Spanish
INTRODUCTION OF HARMONIZED SYSTEM 1996 CHANGES
INTO WTO SCHEDULES OF TARIFF CONCESSIONS
El Salvador – Schedule LXXXVII
Request for a Waiver
The following communication, dated 10 March 2003, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of El Salvador.
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The Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the World Trade Organization presents its
compliments to the Market Access Division and wishes to inform that its Government has decided torequest a waiver, for a period of six months, of Ar ticle II of the GATT 1994 concerning the schedules
of concessions.  The purpose of this request is to complete the consultations that are still under way
and that El Salvador hopes to be able to conclude shortly, as it is negotiating with only one country.
This request is being made pursuant to the provisions of Article IX:3 of the WTO Agreement,
in connection with the introduction of Harmonized System changes into the schedules of tariff
concessions.
Attached is the factual information requested by the Secretariat and the corresponding draft
decision.
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1 G/C/W/454.G/L/608
Page 2
Date of original waiver Decision of 18 July 1996
(WT/L/173)
Date of submission of documents relevant to the
HS implementation1 May 2000
 (G/SECRET/HS96/44)
12 February 2002(G/SECRET/HS96/44/Corr.1)
Number of extensions and dates when granted 1.     Decision of 24 April 1997 (WT/L/216)2.     Decision of 22 October 1997 (WT/L/243)
3.     Decision of 24 April 1998 (WT/L/268)
4.     Decision of 14 October 1998 (WT/L/281)
5.     Decision of 15 June 1999 (WT/L/303)
6.     Decision of 4 November 1999 (WT/L/338)7.     Decision of 3 May 2000 (WT/L/351)
8.     Decision of 8 December 2000 (WT/L/379)
9.     Decision of 8 May 2001 (WT/L/400)
10.   Decision of 13 May 2002 (WT/L/456)
11.   Decision of 15 October 2002 (WT/L/486)
Number of countries with which Article XXVIII
negotiations have been initiatedThree – Australia, Canada, United States
Number of countries with which Article XXVIII
negotiations have been concludedTwo – Australia (25 June 2001) and Canada(18 February 2002)
Status of outstanding Article XXVIII
negotiations and general outline of relevant
problemsThe United States owes El Salvador a reply on
whether it will withdraw its reservation, as a
response was given to its inquiries.
Outlook for concluding the process The consultations should be completed before the
extension deadline specified in this request.
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