. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/L/514
1 March 2002
(02-1051)
Original: Spanish
INTRODUCTION OF HARMONIZED SYSTEM 1996 CHANGES INTO
WTO SCHEDULES OF TARIFF CONCESSIONS
EL SALVADOR – SCHEDULE LXXXVII
Request for Waiver
The following communication, dated 19 February 2002, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of El Salvador.
_______________
The Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the World Trade Organization has the honour to
inform you that its Government has decided to request a waiver, for a period of six months, of
Article 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 which
El Salvador hopes to be able to conclude shortly, as it is negotiating with only one country.
The request is being made pursuant to Article IX:3 of the WTO Agreement in connection
with the introduction of Harmonized System changes into the schedules of tariff concessions.
Attached hereto, as requested by the Secretariat, is the factual information mentioned in your
fax of 5 February as well as the relevant draft decision agreed at the meeting of the Committee onMarket Access of 18 February 2002.G/L/514
Page 2
Date of original waiver:   Decision of 18 July 1996 (WT/L/173)
Date of submission of documents relevant to the HS implementation:
1 May 2000 (G/SECRET/HS96/44) and 12 Fe bruary 2002 (G/SECRET/HS96/44/Corr.1)
Number of extensions and dates when granted
Decision of 24 April 1997 (WT/L/216)
Decision of 22 October 1997 (WT/L/243)Decision of 24 April 1998 (WT/L/268)
Decision of 14 October 1998 (WT/L/281)
Decision of 15 June 1999 (WT/L/303)
Decision of 4 November 1999 (WT/L/338)
Decision of 3 May 2000 (WT/L/351)Decision of 8 December 2000 (WT/L/379)
Decision of 8 May 2001 (WT/L/400)
Number of countries with which Article XXVIII negotiations have been initiated
Three – Australia, Canada, United States
Number of countries with which Article  XXVIII negotiations have been concluded
Two – Australia (25 June 2001) and Canada (18 February 2002)
Status of outstanding Article XXVIII negotiations as well as a general outline of relevant problems
El Salvador currently owes the United States a reply with respect to certain tariff headings
that were restructured as part of the transposition process.
Outlook for concluding the process
The consultations should be completed before end date of the extension mentioned in this
request.
__________