. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/C/W/454
13 March 2003
(03-1471)
Council for Trade in Goods
INTRODUCTION OF HARMONIZED SYSTEM 1996 CHANGES
INTO WTO SCHEDULES OF TARIFF CONCESSIONS
El Salvador – Schedule LXXXVII
Draft Waiver Decision
The General Council,
Considering  that the Members of the WTO, by their Decisions of 13 December 1995,
18 July 1996, 24 April 1997, 22 October 1997, 24 April 1998, 14 October 1998, 15 June 1999,
4 November 1999, 3 May 2000, 8 December 2000, 8 May 2001, 13 May 2002 and 15 October 20021,
acting pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article IX of the WTO Agreement, suspended the
application of the provisions of Article II of the GATT 1994 until 30 April 2003, for the purpose of
enabling the Members listed in the Annexes to those decisions to implement the recommendedamendments to the Harmonized System nomenclature;
Noting  that El Salvador has requested a waiver extension for the reasons explained in its
request
2;
Considering  that El Salvador proposes to introduce Harmonized System changes into
schedules of tariff concessions and would need more time to proceed with the ongoing consultationsor possible Article XXVIII negotiations, particularly in the light of the general reservations made by
other Members;
Acting  pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article IX of the WTO Agreement;
Decides , in view of the exceptional circumstances, to suspend the application of the
provisions of Article II of the GATT 1994 until 31 October 2003, for the purpose of enabling
El Salvador to implement the recommended amendments to the Harmonized System nomenclature,
subject to the following conditions:
(i) Where necessary, the Member proposing the introduction of changes shall promptly
enter into negotiations and consultations with interested Members, pursuant to
paragraphs 1-3 of Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994;
(ii) the negotiations and consultations mentioned above shall be completed no later than
31 October 2003;
                                                     
1 WT/L/124 + Corr.1, WT/L/173, WT/L/216, WT/L/243, WT/L/268, WT/L/281, WT/L/303,
WT/L/338, WT/L/351, WT/L/379, WT/L/400, WT/L/456 and WT/L/486.
2 G/L/608.G/C/W/454
Page 2
(iii) pending the entry into force of the results of the negotiations or consultations
mentioned above, the other Members will be free to suspend concessions initially
negotiated with the Member proposing to introduce changes, to the extent that they
consider that adequate compensation is not offered by that Member.
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