WORLD TRADE WT/TPR/M/15/Add.1
4December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5092)
Trade Policy Review Body
11-12 June 1996
TRADE POLICY REVIEW
NORWAY
MINUTES OFTHE MEETING
Addendum
Written Answers toQuestions Raised during theMeeting
During theTrade Policy Review ofNorway on11-12 June1996, Norway undertook toelaborate
onsome oftheanswers given during thereview.
Question: Inparagraph 142oftheMinutes oftheMeeting (WT/TPR/M/15) itisreflected thatthe
representative ofIndia requested details ontheschedule forthepossible five-year phase-out ofthe
quantitative restrictions ontextiles andthatamore precise timetable would bemade available.
Answer: Inrecent years Norway hasactively pursued apolicy ofgradual liberalization ofimports
oftextiles andclothing products. Themost recent liberalization ofquotas wasimplemented on
1January 1996. Thiswasaunilateral concession inaddition totheobligations setoutintheWTO
Agreement onTextiles andClothing. Further liberalization ofquotas willbeundertaken from
1January 1998, alsotothebenefit ofdeveloping countries. Thescope andnature oftheliberalization
steps tobetaken arepresently being discussed, andtheyareexpected toresult intheelimination of
arelatively large number ofremaining restraints. Aformal notification willbemade induecourse
totherelevant WTO body, inaccordance withtherequired procedures.
Question. Inparagraph 206oftheMinutes oftheMeeting further information wasrequested onthe
relationship between Articles 22,23and24oftheTRIPS Agreement andtheNorwegian Marketing
Control Act.
Answer: Parliament iscurrently considering aproposal bytheGovernment toaddnewprovisions
totheTrademarks ActandtheMarketing Control Act,inorder toensure explicit compliance ofthese
actswiththerequirements ofArticle 23oftheTRIPS Agreement. Theoutcome isexpected shortly.
Norevision ofNorwegian legislation isnecessary inorder tocomply withArticles 22and24ofthe
TRIPS Agreement.