RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONGPA/W/258
19 March 2003
(03-1597)
Committee on Government Procurement Original:  English
NOTIFICATION FROM THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA UNDER ARTICLE XXIV:6
OF THE AGREEMENT ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT (GPA/W/250)
Communication from the United States
The following communication, dated 15 March 2003, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of the United States with the request that it be circulated to the Committee on Government
Procurement.
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The Republic of Korea has notified three proposed modifications to Annex 3 of Appendix I of
the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA).   This notification was circulated by the
Secretariat on 17 February 2003 (GPA/W/250), providing 30 days for other Parties to object prior to
the modifications becoming effective.
The United States has no objection to the proposed deletion of the Housing & Commercial
Bank, based on its merger with the Kookmin Bank, wh ich is listed in Annex 3 of Appendix I of the
GPA, and the representation of the Government of Korea that it will have an "inconsequential" effect
on GPA coverage.  However, the United States requires additional time to study and to seekclarification through consultations with the Government of Korea in order to determine whether,
pursuant to Article XXIV:6(b), "government contro l or influence" over Korea Tobacco & Ginseng
Corporation (KT&G) and Daehan Printing and Publis hing Co. Ltd "has been effectively eliminated".
For these reasons, the United States objects to these two proposed modifications taking effect upon
expiration of the 30-day review period.  The United States will endeavour to conduct the necessarystudy and consultations as expeditiously as possible, and will keep the Committee advised of the
progress and outcome of this review.
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