RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/C/W/121
21 September 1998
(98-3649)
Council for Trade in Goods
1 October 1998Original:  English
ZAMBIA – RENEGOTIATION OF SCHEDULE LXXVIII
Draft Decision on Extension of Time-Limit
Considering that the CONTRACTING PA RTIES to GATT 1947, by their Decision of
26 November 19931, suspended the application of the provisions of Article II of GATT 1947 to the
extent necessary to enable the Government of  Zambia to implement the Harmonized Commodity
Description and Coding System  (Harmonized System) on 1 January 1988 and carry out negotiations
subsequently;
Taking into account that by successive Decisions, the time-limit of the waiver has been
extended until 31 October 19982;
Considering that by a Decision of 31 January 19953 the General Council established a list of
waivers existing at the time of entry into for ce of the WTO Agreement, which included the waiver
granted to Zambia for the renegotiation of its Schedule LXXVIII;
Taking into account that the relevant documentation necessary for renegotiations under
Article XXVIII was circulated in document G/SECRET/HS/8 on 12 March 1996;
Considering that the Government of Zambia has initiated negotiations with three trading
partners and has concluded negotiations with one of them;
Noting that the Government of Zambia is pursu ing consultations with two trading partners;
Considering that the Government of Zambia, ha ving fulfilled the requirements of paragraph 1 of
the Understanding in Respect of Waivers of Ob ligations under the GATT 1994, has requested a further
extension of the exemption of its obligations under Article II of GATT 19944;
The General Council, acting pursuant to the prov isions of Article IX of the WTO Agreement,
Decides, in view of the exceptional circumstances outlined above, to extend the waiver granted
to Zambia by the Decision of 26 November 1993, until 30 April 1999.
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     1BISD, 40S/102.
     2WT/L/267.
     3WT/L/3 +Corr.1.
     4G/L/258.