RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/IT/SPEC/Q2/8
24 September 2001
(01-4521)
Committee of Participants on the Expansion of
Trade in Information Technology ProductsOriginal:  English
SUBMISSION FOR THE NON-TARIFF MEASURES WORK PROGRAMME
Communication from Chinese Taipei
The following communication, dated 21 September 2001, has been received from the
Permanent Mission of Chinese Taipei.
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A. ISSUE
. Information regarding technical regulations on IT products should be posted on the Internet to
ensure it is readily available.
B. PRODUCTS INVOLVED
All types of IT products.
C. IMPACT ON TRADE
. Since most countries require that many IT products meet certain technical regulations before
they are allowed to be imported, it is crucial to make information regarding those regulations readily
available.  Notwithstanding transparency requirements provided for in Article X of GATT 1994 and
Article X of Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, often it is the case that extra resources need to
be committed just to gather all information needed  to make IT products in conformity with the
technical regulations of some countries.  The lack  of ready access to technical regulation information
can become a non-tariff measure in certain instances.
The ultimate goal of eliminating technical barriers for trade in IT products can best be
achieved by harmonizing standards and establishing the mutual recognition arrangements.  However,
the first step towards that goal ought to be making all technical regulations of each country readilyand easily available to the business sector.  With the popularity, as well as the easy access of the
Internet nowadays, the best way to accomplish this is simply posting this information on the Internet.
Chinese Taipei would like, therefore, to suggest that ITA Participants post their technical
regulations on the Internet to facilitate trade on IT products.  We also suggest the Secretariat proposea standard format for each posting for the benefit of  comparability.  If it is so agreed, such a format
can be discussed and endorsed at the next meeting.
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