RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/NOP/W/13
10May1996
ORGANIZATION(96-1833)
Working Group onNotification
Obligations andProcedures
Information onDiscussions Being Held inVarious WTO Committees
Related toTopics Under Examination intheWorking Group
Note bytheSecretariat
1. Attherequest oftheWorking Group atitsmeeting heldon16April 1996 (G/NOP/6,
paragraph 16),theSecretariat hasassembled thisnotewhich setsoutextracts fromtheminutes orreports
ofmeetings ofvarious WTO Committees containing references totheirdiscussions onthetopic of
notification obligations andprocedures.
2. Itattempts tobring together these references under three ofthesame subject areas currently
being examined bytheWorking Group; namely: (i)duplication/overlapping ofnotification obligations;
(ii)simplification ofdatarequirements andthestandardization offormats; and(iii)compliance with
notification obligations.
3. Theextracts aregenerally drawn from theminutes andreports ofmeetings heldinthefirst
quarter of1996 andthelasthalfof1995, inthatorder. They arenotintended tobeexhaustive but
focuses ondiscussions ofthebroad aspects ofthese subjects rather thantheoperational details ofthe
specific agreements.
4. Where theextracts contain listsofMembers which hadorhadnotprovided notifications, such
listsarenotreproduced inthisNote, rather thetotalnumber ofMembers involved isshown inbrackets.
*****G/NOP/W/13
Page2
1. Duplication/Overlapping ofNotification Obligations
Committee onAgriculture Meeting of20-21 November 1995
(G/AG/R/4, paragraph 27)
"27. Following thepreliminary exchange ofviews attheSeptember meeting onthepossible
overlap between thenotification requirements under theAgreement onAgriculture andother
WTO multilateral trade agreements, theCommittee reverted tothismatter onthebasis ofa
Secretariat paper examining thenotification requirements oftheAgreement onAgriculture
andtheSubsidies Agreement (G/AG/W/13). TheCommittee tooknotethatinthemeantime
theChairman hadconveyed, onhisownresponsibility asagreed attheSeptember meeting,
thepreliminary views oftheCommittee totheChairman oftheWorking Group onNotification
ObligationsandProcedures(G/AG/R/3,paragraph30,refers).AnumberofMembersexpressed
theview thatthere appeared tobelittle direct overlap between bothAgreements. The
representative ofCanada suggested thattheCommittee consider thepossibility ofaligning the
timing ofnotifications withrespect totheirsubmission andreview intheCommittees concerned.
Therepresentative oftheUnited States suggested forconsideration thepossibility ofmaking
certain adjustments tothenotification requirements under theAgreement onAgriculture with
aview tomeeting theminimum notification requirements under theSubsidies Agreement.
TheCommittee agreed torevert tothematter attheappropriate stage. Inthiscontext, the
representativeofAustraliareiteratedhisGovernment'sinterestinhavingtheCommitteeconsider
anotification requirement fornewormodified measures subject toreduction commitments
(G/AG/R/2, paragraph 23,refers)."
Committee onAgriculture Meeting of28-29 September 1995
(G/AG/R/3, paragraphs 7and30)
"7. Following anintervention bytheUnited States, therepresentative oftheEuropean
CommunitiesraisedtheissueastowhethertheWTOAgreementonImportLicensingProcedures
wasapplicable totariff quotas. Therepresentative noted thatthere were differing views on
whether theprovisions oftheImport Licensing Agreement applied toimport licensing under
atariff quota regime."
"30. TheCommitteehadapreliminaryexchangeofviewsregardingacommunicationreceived
bytheChairman from theChairman oftheWorking Group onNotification Obligations and
Procedures seeking acontribution fromtheCommittee onthematters under consideration in
theWorking Group. Views were expressed byanumber ofMembers concerning theneed
toavoid duplication inWTO notifications. TheCommittee agreed torevert tothematter on
thebasisofafactual Secretariat paper examining thenotification requirements oftheAgreement
onAgriculture andtheAgreement onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures. TheCommittee
agreed that,inthemeantime, theChairman would reply onhisownresponsibility tothe
Chairman oftheWorking Group indicating thatitwasessential thatthere should befull
observance ofthenotification requirements under theAgreement onAgriculture, since these
requirements arespecifically tailored toobligations andcommitments whose implementation
theCommittee ischarged withreviewing; andthat,while respecting notification obligations
tootherWTO bodies, practical arrangements should beexplored under which overlap isavoided
orminimized sofarasthecontent andfollow-up tosuchnotifications areconcerned tothe
extent thattheyrelate toobligations orcommitments within thepurview oftheCommittee on
Agriculture."G/NOP/W/13
Page3
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures, Special JointSPS/TBT Meeting onTransparency
Procedures of6-7November 1995
(G/SPS/W/33, paragraph 5)
"5. Itwasrecognized thatsome regulations might contain elements relevant toboththe
TBT andSPSAgreements. Ifthiswere thecase, itwassuggested thatthere were two
approaches which Members could follow innotifying theproposed regulation. Members could
submit asingle notification totheSecretariat (either forSPSorTBT), tobedistributed asboth
anSPSandTBTnotification, which clearly indicated which elements oftheproposed regulation
were sanitary orphytosanitary measures, andwhich elements were subject totheTBT
Agreement. Alternatively, Members could submit twoseparate notifications, oneunder the
SPSAgreement andanother under theTBTAgreement, eachofwhich would contain only
those elements oftheproposed regulation covered bytherespective Agreement."
Committee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures Meeting of31October 1995
(G/SCM/M/5, paragraph 11)
"11. TheChairman noted thatannual notifications under Article XVI:1 ofGATT 1994and
Article 25oftheAgreement hadbeen received onlyfrom [19Members] .However, the
overwhelmingmajorityofMembershadmadenonotification.Therewerealsoseriousquestions
about thecompleteness ofsome ofthenotifications thathadbeenreceived. Article 25required
notification ofallspecific subsidies. Itimposed nolimitations bysector nordiditrelate only
tosubsidies directly related totrade objections. Inthisrespect, Switzerland hadnotified that
agricultural subsidies would benotified onlytotheCommittee onAgriculture. There hadbeen
substantial discussion intheWorking Group onNotification Obligations andProcedures
regarding whether there wasanoverlap between subsidy notifications tothisCommittee and
totheCommittee onAgriculture, andthere wasroom forreasonable differences ofviewon
thisissue. However, theAgreement atpresent wasclear: thenotification obligation related
toallspecific subsidies without sectoral limitation. Pending adecision tothecontrary bythe
Members, theChairman sawnobasis under which aMember ofthisCommittee could
unilaterally modify itsnotification obligations."
[Seealsoparagraphs 13to32forexchange ofviews onpossible duplication between the
Agriculture andSubsidy Agreements.]
Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade Meeting of1March 1996
(G/TBT/W/24, paragraph 31,draftreport)
"31. She[theChairperson] noted thatfornotifications ofregulations which might contain
elements relevant toboththeTBTandSPSAgreements, ithadbeensuggested thatMembers
could either submit asingle notification, clearly indicating which elements oftheproposed
regulation were sanitary orphytosanitary measures andwhich were subject tothe
TBTAgreement, anditwould becirculated asbothanSPSnotification andaTBTnotification
bytheSecretariat. Alternatively, Members could submit twoseparate notifications, oneunder
theSPSAgreement andtheother under theTBTAgreement, eachofwhich would contain
onlythose elements oftheproposed regulation covered bytherespective Agreements."G/NOP/W/13
Page4
Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade, Special JointMeeting ofTBTandSPSCommittees of6-
7November 1995
(G/TBT/W/16, paragraph 5-seealsoG/SPS/W/33, paragraph 5)
"5. TheSecretariat made apresentation toclarify thedifference incoverage oftheTBT
andSPSAgreements (G/SPS/W/32). Itwasrecognized thatsome regulations might contain
elements relevant toboththeTBTandSPSAgreements. Ifthiswerethecase,itwassuggested
thatMembers could either submit asingle notification, clearly indicating which elements of
theproposed regulation were sanitary orphytosanitary measures andwhich were subject to
theTBTAgreement, anditwould becirculated asbothaSPSnotification andTBTnotification
bytheSecretariat. Alternatively, Members could submit twoseparate notifications, oneunder
theSPSAgreement andanother under theTBTAgreement, eachofwhich would contain only
those elements oftheproposed regulation covered bytherespective Agreement."
Committee onImport Licensing Procedures Meeting of12October 1995
(G/LIC/M/2, paragraph 21)
"21. Onthequestion ofpossible duplication oroverlapping ofnotifications, i.e.whether
import licensing aspects associated withtheadministration oftariff quotas resulting from
"tariffication" inagriculture should benotified totheCommittee onImport Licensing orto
theCommittee onAgriculture, theChairman recalled thatattheinformal meeting ofthe
Committee,somedelegationshadpreferredthatseparatenotificationsbemade,onetotheImport
LicensingCommittee,andonetotheAgricultureCommittee.Intheirview,thetwonotifications
haddifferent purposes andthedetails tobeprovided tothetwoCommittees werenotidentical.
Some otherMembers hadfeltthatcross-references could beusedincaseswhere theinformation
notified totheAgricultural Committee wassufficient tofulfiltherequirements oftheAgreement
onImport Licensing Procedures. Having regard totherequirements ofthisAgreement and
toprovide thenecessary clarity, theChairman proposed thatallimport licensing procedures,
including those dealing withtheadministration oftariffquotas inagriculture, should benotified
totheCommittee onImport Licensing. Anyproblem thatmight ariserelating toduplication
oroverlapping ofnotifications, aswellasrelated questions ofsimplification, could betaken
upasnecessary, attheappropriate body, i.e.theWorking Group onNotification Obligations
andProcedures."
*****G/NOP/W/13
Page5
2. Simplification ofData Requirements andStandardization ofFormats
Committee onAgriculture Meeting of8June1995
(G/AG/R/2, paragraphs 2and4)
"2. TheCommittee adopted, pursuant toArticle 18:2oftheAgreement onAgriculture,
thenotification requirements andformats assetoutintheinformal Secretariat document dated
2June1995 (issued asdocument G/AG/2)."
"4. TheChairman noted thatitwould beopentotheCommittee toreview thenotification
requirements andtheiroperation asandwhen appropriate. ..."
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures Meeting of15-16 November 1995
(G/SPS/R/3, paragraph 16)
"16. AtitsJune1995 meeting, theCommittee approved aseparate format tobeusedfor
thenotification ofemergency measures according toparagraph 6ofAnnex BoftheSPS
Agreement(G/SPS/4).Recommendedproceduresfortheuseofsuchaformatweresubsequently
suggested bytheSecretariat (G/SPS/W/30). TheSecretariat wasrequested torevise the
recommendedprocedurestotakeintoaccountthecommentsandsuggestionsmadebydelegations
forconsideration atthenextmeeting oftheCommittee."
Committee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures Meeting of26-27 June1995
(G/SPS/R/2, paragraph 7)
"7. TheCommittee agreed onclarifications totherecommended notification procedures
(G/SPS/12/Rev.1) andonaformat foremergency measures (G/SPS/4)."
Committee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures Meeting of21July1995
(G/SCM/M/3, paragraphs 3-5)
"QuestionnaireFormatforSubsidyNotificationsunderArticle25oftheAgreementonSubsidies
andCountervailing Measures andArticle XVI:1 ofGATT 1994
3. TheChairman drew theattention oftheCommittee todocument G/SCM/W/8, which
contained theproposed newsubsidy questionnaire developed bytheWorking Party onSubsidy
Notifications, andtodocument G/SCM/W/40, which contained acommunication fromtheEU
suggestingafootnotetobeinsertedintotheproposedformat.AssumingtheCommitteeapproved
theformat, itwould besenttotheCouncil forTrade inGoods forratification, because the
existingquestionnaireformatunderArticleXVIwasadoptedbytheCONTRACTINGPARTIES
totheGATT 1947 andthusrepresented partoftheGATT 1994.
4. ...
5. TheCommittee adopted theformat asmodified."
Committee onAnti-dumping Practices Meeting of30October 1995
(G/ADP/M/4, paragraphs 39and55)
"39. TheChairmanrecalledthatatitslastmeetingtheCommitteehaddiscussedthepossibility
ofadopting updated formats forsemi-annual reports. TheSecretariat hadcirculated toMembers
aproposed format forsemi-annual reports, incorporating relevant changes adopted bytheG/NOP/W/13
Page6
Subsidies Committee, indocument G/ADP/W/136. Heproposed thattheCommittee adopt
theformatforsemi-annualreportscontainedinthatdocument,notingthatitwouldbeunderstood
thatparagraph 19ofthedocument applied onlytocases covered bytheWTO Agreement of
Implementation ofArticle VIoftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994."
"55. TheChairman proposed thattheCommittee issuetheminimum information guidelines
which hasbeenadopted bytheCommittee atitsFebruary special meeting, andwhich hadbeen
circulated indocument G/ADP/W/134, asaCommittee document. TheCommittee could of
course revert totheguidelines atalaterdatetodiscuss anyproposed modifications."
Committee onAnti-Dumping Practices Meeting of12June1995
(G/ADP/M/2, paragraphs 23and42)
"23. TheChairman recalled thatatitsmeeting on21February 1995, theCommittee adopted
theguidelines forsemi-annual reports contained inADP/122 andagreed tocontinue todiscuss
those guidelines. Itwassuggested atthatmeeting thattheCommittee reconsider those formats
inlightofthenewAgreement which mayimpose different oradditional requirements. No
Memberhadmadeanyspecificsuggestionsconcerningsuchdifferentoradditionalrequirements.
TheChairman observed thathewasbringing thismatter totheCommittee 'sattention inorder
toascertain whether infactMembers wished toreconsider theformats forsemi-annual reports
atthisstage, andopened thefloor forcomments."
"42. TheChairman recalled thatitsmeeting of21February, theCommittee adopted the
guidelines adopted bytheTokyo Round Committee onAnti-Dumping Practices andcontained
indocument ADP/124, concerning minimum information tobeprovided innotifications of
preliminary andfinalanti-dumping actions. Itwassuggested atthatmeeting thattheCommittee
might wishtoreview document ADP/124 andifnecessary modify orrevise ittoreflect any
changes thatmight havebeenintroduced bythenewAgreement. Itwasalsosuggested atthat
meeting thattheCommittee might, ifpossible, agree onaformat forthese notifications. No
Member hadmade anyspecific suggestions concerning modifications orrevisions toADP/124
andnosuggestions hadbeenmade concerning formats forsuchnotifications. TheChairman
observed thathebrought thismatter totheCommittee 'sattention merely inorder toascertain
whether infactMembers wished toreconsider theminimum information guidelines orconsider
apossible format forreports ofpreliminary andfinal actions, andopened thefloor for
comments."
Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade Meeting of1March 1996
(G/TBT/W/24, paragraphs 37-43, draftminutes)
"37. The Chairperson recalled that atthat meeting [special joint meeting on
6-7November 1995] ithadalsobeensuggested thatthepossibility ofdeveloping asingle format
forSPSandTBTnotifications should beconsidered.
38. Therepresentative oftheUnited States clarified thatherdelegation hadsuggested in
conjunctionwithCanadathatitmightbeusefultominimizeanyunnecessarydifferencesbetween
thecontents inwording ofSPSandTBTnotification formats toavoid confusion. However,
theproposal wasnottohave asingle notification format forthetwoAgreements. She
nevertheless hoped thatanychange intheTBTnotification format could beadopted alsoby
theSPSCommittee.
39. Therepresentative ofCanada saidthattheaimofthesuggestion wastoreduce any
unnecessary administrative burden andfacilitate theuseoftheformats byenquiry points.G/NOP/W/13
Page7
40. Therepresentative oftheEuropean Communities noted thattheSPSnotification format
wasinitially prepared onthebasis oftheTBTformat, butgradually small changes hadbeen
introduced toaccommodate theSPSnotification system. Heconsidered theproposal
unnecessary.
41. TherepresentativeofAustralianotedthatthetwoAgreementshadsimilarities.Although
asingle format wasanoption forMembers touse,itwasnotamandatory procedure.
42. Therepresentative oftheSecretariat saidthatMembers could design formats fortheir
ownuse,andtheSecretariat would continue toissue SPSandTBTnotifications separately.
43. TheChairperson concluded thattheexisting practice andnotification formats should
bemaintained. TheCommittee tooknoteofthestatements made."
Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade Meeting of1March 1996
(G/TBT/W/24, paragraphs 44-46, draftminutes)
"44. TheChairperson drewattention totheproposal ofdeveloping aformat fornotifications
under Article 10.7oftheAgreement. Shenoted thatnonotification hadbeenreceived from
Members under Article 10.7.
45. Therepresentative oftheUnited States suggested inviting theSecretariat toprepare
adraftnotification format forconsideration atthenextCommittee meeting.
46. TheCommittee agreed tothesuggestion oftheUnited States."
Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade andCommittee onSanitary andPhytosanitary Measures
Special Joint Meeting of6-7November 1995
(G/TBT/W/16, paragraph 6andG/SPS/W/33, paragraph 3)
"6. With respect tothenotification formats under Articles 2,3,5and7oftheTBT
Agreement, thefollowing suggestions were made:
(a) ...
(b) ...
(c) ...
(d) thepossibility ofdeveloping asingle format forbothSPSandTBTnotifications."
Committee onMarket Access Meeting of14March 1996
(G/MA/M/5, paragraph 3.1.1)
"3.1.1 ...Asconcerned apossible format fornotifications under thisDecision [Decision on
Notification Procedures forQuantitative Restrictions] ,hewasprepared tocarry outinformal
consultations, butsuggested thatthisbekeptunder review forthetimebeing untilthere is
more information astothenature ofmeasures tobenotified under thisresidual notification
procedure."
Working Party onState Trading Enterprises Meeting of13November 1995
(G/STR/M/2, paragraphs 69,71and101)
"69. With thestatetrading notifications thathadbeenmade since March 1995, there was
nowabody -ifincomplete -ofinformation which would provide abasis forthereview ofG/NOP/W/13
Page8
theadequacy ofthequestionnaire andthecoverage ofstatetrading enterprises notified under
paragraph 1oftheWTO Understanding. Hesaidthatthereview ofthenotifications justheld
hadshown thatinsome cases, theinformation provided wasnotsufficient topermit an
assessment ofthestatetrading enterprises notified, even where thenotification could be
considered tobeanadequate response tothequestionnaire. Hesuggested thatparticipants
takeuptheelements inthequestionnaire onebyone,keeping inmindtheresults ofthatreview.
Henoted thattheSecretariat background paper contained asection onthe1960questionnaire
which might assist theWorking Party initsconsiderations ofthismatter."
"71. TheChairman saidthatthere werediffering views regarding thequestionnaire. One
wasthatcountries didnotanswer thequestions, andanother wasthatthequestionnaire did
notgofarenough. TheWorking Party would havetodetermine whether thequestionnaire
mettheperceived requirements oftransparency orwhether further information wasneeded."
"101. TheChairman saidthattheWorking Party hadhadauseful firstdiscussion ofthe
adequacy ofthequestionnaire. Henoted thatthequestionnaire hadbeeninusesince 1960,
andthatthere hadbeenconsiderable change during thepast35years inthewaytrade took
place. Inparticular, therehadbeenconsiderable privatization inbothdeveloping anddeveloped
countries. Heinvited those delegations wishing todosotosubmit written proposals regarding
therevision ofthequestionnaire forcirculation toMembers andconsideration atthenext
meeting."
Working Party onState Trading Enterprises Meeting of6April 1995
(G/STR/M/1, paragraph 24)
"24. TheWorking Party tooknoteofthestatements anddecided thatallnewandfull
notifications should besubmitted notlaterthan30Juneinevery third yearafter1995, and
thattheupdating notifications dueineachofthetwointervening years should besubmitted
notlaterthan30Juneoftherespective year,itbeing understood thatthesedatescould bealtered
byadecision oftheWorking Party."
Committee onTrade Related Investment Measures Meeting of19October 1995
G/TRIMS/M/3, paragraphs 24-25)
"24. TheChairman recalled that,atitsmeeting inJune, theCommittee haddiscussed a
Secretariat proposal foraformat fornotifications under Article 5.5.Itwasgenerally agreed
thatthisproposal wasagood basis fordeveloping astandard format. TheCommittee had
decided toholdfurther informal consultations onthisproposed format ifnecessary inlight
ofspecific drafting proposals bydelegations. Such proposals hadnotbeen made, which
suggested thattheproposed format wasacceptable toMembers. TheChairman therefore
proposed thattheCommittee adopt thedraftformat proposed intheSecretariat Non-Paper.
25. Itwassodecided."
Committee onTrade andDevelopment Meeting of17November 1995
(WT/COMTD/M/4, paragraph 55)
"55. TheChairman thenrecalled thattheCTD wasresponsible forthenotification
requirements ofArticle XVIII: A,CandD,PartIVandtheEnabling Clause. TheSecretariat
hadresponded toarequest made attheSecond Session thatrelevant documents containing
notification obligations relating todevelopment issues andpastdecisions oftheCTD onthe
subject becirculated toMembers. These documents wereavailable intheroom. Suggesting
thattheCTD address thenotification requirements atitsfirstmeeting in1996, hehoped theG/NOP/W/13
Page9
discussion would clarify which notification obligations wererelevant totheCTD, andwhether
there wastheneedtohavestandard formats fornotifications."
Committee onTrade andDevelopment Meeting of14September 1995
(WT/COMTD/M/3, paragraph 7)
"7. Onthequestion ofnotification requirements, theChairman indicated thattheseminar
onnotificationobligationshadbeenveryusefulandinstructive.HerecalledthattheGATT1947
Committee onTrade andDevelopment dealtwithnotification requirements in1965, 1966and
1980; however, notalldecisions taken onthose occasions, werestrictly followed andanumber
ofpoints remained unsettled. Hewasoftheviewthatgiven theimportance theWTO attaches
tonotification obligations asexemplified bytheestablishment ofaWorking Group on
Notification Obligations andProcedures, theCommittee should devote some timetoreviewing
thenotification requirements ofthetexts ithadbeen given responsibility for-i.e.
Article XVIII:A, CandD,PartIV,andtheEnabling Clause. Heasked delegations toreflect
onthismatter soastoallow afirstexchange ofviews attheCommittee onTrade and
Development 'sNovember meeting. Following arequest made bytherepresentative of
Argentina, theChairman indicated thattheSecretariat would circulate documents containing
notification obligations related todevelopment issues aswellaspastdecisions oftheCommittee
onTrade andDevelopment onthismatter. TheCommittee tooknoteofthecomments made."
*****G/NOP/W/13
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3. Compliance withNotification Obligations
Committee onAgriculture Meeting of20-21 November 1995
(G/AG/R/4, paragraphs 15-16)
"15. Therepresentative ofCanada noted withconcern thatanumber ofMembers hadnot
yetimplemented orcomplied withtheirmarket access notification requirements. Hesought
anindication from theMembers concerned astowhen theyintended tocomply withtheir
commitments andnotification requirements andwhattheyenvisaged doing inorder toensure
thatmarket access opportunities for1995 werefullyprovided toMembers. Itwassuggested
thatMembersconcernedconsiderpracticalstepstocompensateforlateimplementation,including
implementation ofthesecond stageoftariffreductions atthebeginning of1996andanadditional
allowance interms oftariff quota access opportunities inthesecond yearofimplementation
tocompensate forlateornon-implementation oftariffquotas inthefirstyearofimplementation.
...
16. TheCommittee took note oftheresults offurther work oftheSecretariat on
implementation dates foreachtypeofcommitment (G/AG/W/2/Rev.3). TheCommittee took
notethatmost Members withTotal AMS reduction commitments hadyettonotify their
respective applicable starting dateinterms ofthedomestic support notification requirements.
...Anumber ofMembers expressed theview thatachange oftheimplementation dateof
commitments constituted achange incommitment."
Committee onAgriculture Meeting of28-29 September 1995
(G/AG/R/3, paragraph 21)
"21. TheCommittee took noteoftheresults offurther work oftheSecretariat on
implementation dates foreachtypeofcommitment (G/AG/W/2/Rev.2). Several Members
expressed concerns regarding thefailure ofcertain Members tofulfilnotification requirements
concerning market access andurged Members concerned todulysubmit theirnotifications.
They were concerned thatonlyafewmonths remained in1995 toimplement market access
commitments duein1995."
Committee onAnti-Dumping Practices Meeting of30October 1995
(G/ADP/M/4, paragraphs 17and30)
"17. TheChairman reminded Members thatthedeadline forfiling semi-annual reports was
31August 1995. Withfewexceptions, reports werenotreceived bythatdeadline. Heregretted
thatsuchalarge number ofMembers hadasyetnotfiledtheirreports, particularly those
Members whohadinthepastfiledsuchreports, indicating thattheyhadundertaken actions
whose status should bereported totheCommittee. IfaMember hadtaken noactions, asimple
onesentence notification tothateffect would suffice. TheChairman observed thatthefailure
ofMembers tosubmit semi-annual reports inatimely fashion limited theCommittee 'sability
toconsider thesubstance ofthenotifications, oneofitsmostimportant tasks ofsurveillance
andmonitoring. Moreover thesemi-annual reports submitted wereoften incomplete, lacking
important required information suchasthelistofmeasures inforce attheendofthereporting
period. Heurged Members totaketheirobligations withregard tonotifications seriously and
make efforts toimprove theircompliance."
"30. TheChairman noted thatlistsofthesenotifications [preliminary andfinalanti-dumping
actions] were circulated totheCommittee indocuments G/ADP/N/5 andCorr.1, and
G/ADP/N/6. Copies oftheofficial notices ofsuchactions taken by[nine Members] hadbeen
made available intheSecretariat forreview. TheChairman considered thatcompliance withG/NOP/W/13
Page11
thisnotification requirement hadnotbeenadequate, assome Members whosubmitted semi-
annual reports indicating actions inprogress hadnotsubmitted anyreports ofpreliminary or
finalactions taken. Hereiterated thatthesenotifications wereanessential element inpermitting
theCommittee toperform itstaskofmonitoring anddiscussing actions taken byMembers.
Thefailure ofsome Members tonotify impeded theCommittee fromaccomplishing itsgoal
ofconsidering Members 'compliance withtherequirements oftheAgreement."
Committee onAnti-Dumping Practices andCommittee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures Joint
Special Meeting of23-26 October 1995
(G/ADP/M/5 andG/SCM/M/6, paragraph 22)
"22. TheChairman briefly reviewed thestatus ofnotifications oflegislation. Heobserved
that,although theChairmen oftheCommittees had,on4September 1995, sentaletter toall
Members whohadnotyetnotified theiranti-dumping and/or countervailing dutylegislation,
38Members hadnotyetsubmitted anotification totheCommittee. Those Members were:
[listofMembers] .TheChairman observed that,asthefirstanniversary ofthecoming into
forceoftheWTO Agreement approached, hefound thissituation distressing, particularly since,
forthose Members whohavenolegislation, notification wasasimple matter."
Committee onAnti-Dumping Practices andCommittee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures Joint
Special Meeting of17-21 July1995
(G/ADP/M/3 andG/SCM/M/4, paragraphs 15-16)
"15. TheChairman briefly reviewed thestatus ofnotifications oflegislation. Inaddition
totheMembers whose legislation hadalready beenscheduled forreview, notifications had
beenreceived from [31Members] .Nonotification hadbeenreceived from [43Members] .
16. TheChairman tooktheopportunity toconsider what hadbeenaccomplished inthe
areaofnotifications oflegislation, andwhatremained tobedone. Ontheonehand, itwas
noteworthy thatmostalbeit notalloftheWTO Members whowereknown tohaveimposed
anti-dumping and/or countervailing measures inthepasthadnotified theirlegislation tothe
Committees. Ontheother hand, 43members hadnotyetnotified theCommittees regarding
thestatus oftheirlegislation, ifany. Ifthese Members didnothaveanyrelevant legislation,
itshould beeasyforthemtonotify theCommittees ofthefact.Iftheydidhavesuchlegislation,
itwasimportant thatitbenotified, orifitwasnotpossible tonotify immediately, notify the
Committees ofthereason andprovide anindicative datewhen notification would bemade."
Committee onAnti-Dumping Practices Meeting on12June1995
(G/ADP/M/2, paragraphs 10,34and46)
"10. TheChairman recalled thatatitsmeeting of21February 1995, theCommittee had
decided thatallMembers would notify thefullandintegrated textofallrelevant lawsand
regulations regarding anti-dumping duties totheCommittee by15March 1995. Ifsuch
legislation and/or regulations didnotexistorifMembers werenotabletonotify theirlegislation
orregulations theywere toprovide areason totheCommittee astowhynotification could
notbemade. Todate,of97Members and22countries eligible tobecome original Members,
45hadeither notified thetextoflegislation andregulations orhadindicated whysucha
notification hadnotyetbeenmade, andinmostcases provided anindication astowhen such
notification canbemade. Those countries are:[listofmembers] ...."
"34. TheChairman recalled thatarequest forsemi-annual reports forthesecond halfof
1994wascirculatedtomembersindocumentG/ADP/N/2dated30January1995.[24Members]G/NOP/W/13
Page12
hadnotified totheCommittee thattheytooknoactions during theperiod. Noreports had
beenreceived from thefollowing Members: [48Members] ."
"46. TheChairman observed thatalistofthenotifications ofpreliminary andfinalanti-
dumping actions received bytheCommittee wascirculated totheCommittee inG/ADP/N/3.
Copies oftheofficial notices ofsuchactions taken by[6Members] hadbeenmade available
intheSecretariat forreview. Since thattime, further notifications hadbeenreceived from
[4Members] .Adocument identifying these notifications would becirculated shortly. The
Chairman reminded Members thatpursuant totheCommittee 'sdecision of21February 1995,
allpreliminary andfinalactions taken afterthedateofentry intoforceoftheWTO Agreement 's
should benotified tothisCommittee. Members could indicate intheirreports whether intheir
viewactions weretaken under theTokyo Round Agreement ortheUruguay Round Agreement.
Some Members didthiswhile others didnot.Totheextent thatanaction reported wastaken
under theTokyo Round Agreement, theChairman noted thatitmight bemore appropriately
discussed during themeeting oftheTokyo Round Anti-Dumping Committee which would be
heldlaterthatday."
Committee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measure Meeting of6March 1996
(G/SCM/M/8, paragraphs 15and21)
"15. TheChairman drew theattention oftheCommittee toG/SCM/N/3/Add.1, which
indicated thestatus ofnotifications pursuant toArticle XVI:1 oftheGATT 1994andArticle 25
oftheSubsidies Agreement. Since thatdocument hadbeencirculated, anadditional notification
ofsubsidies hasbeenreceived fromArgentina anda"nil" notification fromSwaziland. The
status ofnotifications inthisareawasprobably theworst ofanyintheWTO system. Thirty-two
Members hadnotified subsidies andthirteen Members hadnotified thattheyhadnonotifiable
subsidies.Seventy-fourMembershadmadenonotificationwhatsoever.TheChairmanrequested
eachMember present toinform theCommittee ofthestatus ofitsnotification andwhen it
expected toprovide ittotheCommittee."
"21. TheChairman considered thesituation regarding notifications tobecompletely
unacceptable, andsought theguidance ofdelegations onhowtheCommittee should proceed.
Hestated hisintention thattheCommittee fixatitsnextregular meeting adateforaspecial
meeting toreview notifications andaprocedure forconducting thatspecial meeting. Unless
thestatus ofnotifications improved substantially before thattime, suchadiscussion could prove
difficult."
Committee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures Meeting of31October 1995
(G/SCM/M/5, paragraphs 7and11)
"C. Preliminaryandfinalcountervailingdutyactionsnotifications(G/SCM/N/8,10and11)
7. TheChairman noted thatlistsofthese notifications werecirculated totheCommittee
indocuments G/SCM/N/8, 10and11.Since thelastregular meeting, [4Members] hadnotified
actions. TheChairman considered thatcompliance withthisnotification requirement hadnot
beenadequate.MemberswererequiredbyArticle25.11oftheAgreementtoreportsuchactions
"without delay" totheCommittee. These notifications wereanessential element inpermitting
theCommittee toperform itstaskofsurveillance oftheimplementation oftheAgreement.
Thus thefailure ofsome Members tonotify theiractions wasamatter ofgrave concern."G/NOP/W/13
Page13
"D. Subsidy notifications
11. The Chairman noted thatannual notifications under Article XVI:1 ofGATT 1994
andArticle 25oftheAgreement hadbeenreceived onlyfrom [19Members] .However, the
overwhelmingmajorityofMembershadmadenonotification.Therewerealsoseriousquestions
about thecompleteness ofsome ofthenotifications thathadbeenreceived. Article 25required
notification ofallspecific subsidies. Itimposed nolimitations bysector nordiditrelate only
tosubsidies directly related totrade objectives. ..."
[Seealsoparagraphs13-32ofG/SCM/M/5forexchangeofviewsonpossibleduplicationbetween
Agriculture andSubsidy Agreements.]
Committee onSubsidies andCountervailing Measures Meeting of21July1995
(G/SCM/M/3, paragraphs 6-8)
"B. Current Status ofSubsidy Notifications under SCM Agreement Article 25andGATT
Article XVI
6. TheChairman saidthatthestatus ofsubsidy notifications wasverypoor. Although
thedeadline forsubmission ofthese questionnaires was30June, theSecretariat hadreceived
subsidies notifications todateonlyfromthefollowing twelve Members: ....Thefailure to
notify subsidies cutacross allcategories ofMember: major developed country Members,
developing country Members, andcountries intransformation.
7. TheChairman alsonoted anoverly-narrow viewamong certain Members ofwhatis
notifiable. Allspecific subsidies, regardless oftradeeffects andregardless ofhowstructured,
hadtobenotified. Also tobenotified were allother subsidies totheextent theycaused
increased exports ordecreased imports asprovided forinGATT Article XVI. Where
notifications wererestricted tosubsidies tooneorahandful ofproducts ortosubsidies provided
through formal programmes totheexclusion ofadhocsubsidies, theintent ofthebasic
notification obligation wasill-served. Moreover, bothagricultural andindustrial subsidies
hadtobenotified tothisCommittee.
8. TheChairman stated thatthecurrent lowdegree ofcompliance setaverybadprecedent.
Timelyandsubstantivelyadequatenotificationssetthestageforsubstantivereviewanddiscussion
intheCommittee. Thisprocess allowed allMembers theopportunity tobring upanyconcerns
regarding another Member 'snotified subsidies. Thiswasanefficient means toidentify
inconsistencies andambiguities andtosettle disagreements without resort toformal dispute
settlement. When, asnow, most Members were outofcompliance withtheirnotification
obligations, suchasystem broke down. Virtually noMember wasinthemoral position to
question other Members because ofthewidespread failure tonotify."
Committee onSafeguards Meeting of13-14 July1995
(G/SG/M/2, paragraph 15)
"15. TheChairmantookadvantageoftheopportunitytoconsiderwhathadbeenaccomplished
intheareaofnotifications oflegislation, andwhatremained tobedone. Ontheonehand,
itwasnoteworthy thatmostoftheWTO Members whohadbeenknown toimpose safeguard
measures inthepasthadnotified theirlegislation totheCommittee. Infact,most ofthese
Members respected the15March indicative datesetbytheCommittee. Ontheother hand,
52Members hadnotyetnotified theCommittee regarding thestatus oftheirlegislation, if
any. Ifthese Members didnothaveanyrelevant legislation, itshould beeasyforthem to
notify theCommittee ofthatfact. Iftheydidhavesuchlegislation, itwasimportant thatitG/NOP/W/13
Page14
benotified, orifitwasnotpossible tonotify immediately, notify theCommittee ofanindicative
datewhen notification willbemade. TheChairman urged Members thathadnotyetdone
sotonotify theCommittee concerning theirlegislation attheearliest possible date. Heobserved
thatthenotification oflegislation isofvitalimportance totheCommittee 'sability tocarry
outitsresponsibilities under theAgreement, andreminded Members that,under Article 3of
theAgreement, untillegislation orregulations establishing theprocedures forimposition of
asafeguard measure have been published, nosafeguard actions canbetaken under the
Agreement."
Committee onTechnical Barriers toTrade Meeting of1March 1996
(G/TBT/W/24, paragraphs 23and29)
"23. TheChairperson reminded Members thatunder Article 15.2oftheTBTAgreement,
eachMember should promptly inform theCommittee inwriting ofmeasures inexistence or
taken toensure theimplementation andadministration oftheAgreement. Shedrew attention
todocument G/TBT/1/Rev.1 containing decisions adopted bytheCommittee concerning the
contents ofwritten statements. Shesaidthatuptothepresent onlyfourMembers hadsubmitted
theirstatements (G/TBT/2 andaddenda). Sheurged Members tosubmit their statements
promptly, since thiswasoneofthemain indicators ofimplementation oftheAgreement by
Members andalsooneofthemain elements tobereported totheSingapore Ministerial
Conference inDecember 1996."
"29. TheChairperson drewattention tothereport ontheSpecial JointMeeting onProcedures
forInformation Exchange oftheCommittees onTechnical Barriers toTrade andSanitary and
Phytosanitary Measures (G/TBT/W/16) which contained suggestions andproposals made at
thatmeeting."
Committee onCustoms Valuation Meeting of24October 1995
(G/VAL/M/2, paragraphs 4.1-4.2 and4.7-4.8)
"4.1 TheChairmanrecalledthatArticle22oftheAgreementrequiredeachMembertoinform
theCommittee ofanychanges initslawsandregulations relevant totheAgreement andany
changes intheadministration ofsuchlawsandregulations. ...
4.2 TheChairman informed theCommittee that,todate, onlyeight Members hadmade
notifications.[7Members]hadsubmittedcommunicationsindicatingthattheirlegislationnotified
undertheTokyoRoundCustomsValuationAgreementremainedvalidundertheWTOCustoms
Valuation Agreement. ..."
"4.7 TheChairman recalled thattheCommittee, atitslastmeeting, hadagreed onprocedures
forthesubmission ofthechecklist ofissues (G/VAL/M/1, paragraphs 36-39); todate,only
twoMembers [listofMembers] hadmade notifications. ...
4.8 TheChairman drewattention tothefactthatmany Members hadnotmade notifications.
Heurged Members whohadnotdonesotosubmit therequired notification assoonaspossible."
Committee onImport Licensing Meeting of8March 1996
(G/LIC/M/3, paragraph 11)
"11. TheChairmanrecalledinthisconnection[notificationspursuanttoArticles1.4(a)and/or
8.2(b) (publications and/or legislation)] theagreement reached bytheCommittee atitslast
meetingthatthefirstnotificationsunderthesetwoprovisionsshouldbemadeby12January1996
andexpressed concern thatavastmajority ofMembers hadnotyetcomplied withthisG/NOP/W/13
Page15
requirement. Healsourged Members which didnotapply import licensing procedures orhad
nosuchlawsandregulations tonotify theCommittee ofthisfactsothatacomplete picture
could beobtained."
Committee onRules ofOrigin Meeting of1February 1996
(G/RO/M/5, paragraph 1.1)
"1.1 TheChairman recalled thatsince thelastmeeting, theSecretariat hadcirculated a
document informing delegations ofthenotifications received [notifications under Article 5and
paragraph 4ofAnnex II](G/RO/N/6). Heinformed theCommittee thatsinceG/RO/N/6 was
circulated, sixadditional Members hadmade notifications [listofMembers] Todate,
38Members hadmade notifications ofnon-preferential rules oforigin and36Members had
made notifications ofpreferential rules oforigin. Heexpressed concern thatanumber of
Members hadnotyetcomplied withthenotification requirements. Healsourged Members
which didnotapply rulesoforigin, non-preferential orpreferential, tonotify theSecretariat
sothatacomplete picture could beobtained."
Committee onRules ofOrigin Meeting on16November 1995
(G/RO/M/3, paragraph 2.1)
"2.1 TheChairman expressed concern thatdespite thefactthattheSecretariat hadsent,
asrequested bytheCommittee atitslastmeeting (G/RO/M/2, paragraphs 17-18), reminders
tothose Members thathadnotyetcomplied withtheirnotification obligations (telefax toHeads
ofDelegations dated 28June1995), many Members hadnotmade anynotification. Healso
urged Members whodonotapply rules oforigin tonotify thisfacttotheSecretariat."
Committee onMarket Access Meeting of14March 1996
(G/MA/M/5, paragraph 3.1.1)
"3.1.1 TheChairman recalled thattheDecision onNotification Procedures forQuantitative
Restrictions, contained indocument G/L/59, hadbeenadopted bytheCouncil forTrade in
Goods on1December 1995. Inaccordance withthisDecision, Members weretosubmit to
theSecretariat by31January 1996complete notifications oftheQRswhich theymaintained.
On7February 1996, theSecretariat hadissued areminder toMembers, indocument
WTO/AIR/266, tonotify under thisDecision. Henoted thatonly8notifications hadbeen
received, aslisted indocument G/MA/NTM/QR/1. Heurged Members tonotify andnoted
that,ifrequired, technical assistance could beprovided bytheSecretariat. ..."
Working Party onState Trading Enterprises Meeting of20February 1996
(G/STR/M/3, paragraphs 2-4)
"2. TheChairman recalled thataccording toparagraph 5oftheUnderstanding onthe
Interpretation ofArticle XVII (the"Understanding"), theWorking Party wastasked toreview
thenotifications andcounter-notifications onstatetrading submitted byMembers, andthat
inthelightofthisreview, theCouncil forTrade inGoods could make recommendations with
regard totheadequacy ofnotifications andtheneedforfurther information. TheCouncil for
Trade inGoods, atitsmeeting on20February 1995, hadestablished adeadline of30June1995
fornewandfullnotifications byMembers ontheirstatetrading enterprises ("STEs"), anda
formal request forsuchnotifications hadbeencirculated inG/STR/N/1 of13March 1995.
3. Hesaidthatheregretted toreport thatcompliance withthisobligation -leaving aside
theissue ofthe30Junedeadline -hadbeenfarfromcomplete. Asofthedateofcirculation
oftheairgram convening thepresent meeting (5February), atotalofonly34Members -G/NOP/W/13
Page16
counting the15ECMember states asone-hadsubmitted anotification inresponse tothe
March 1995request. Thissituation wasofserious concern, given thatasof22February there
would be119Members oftheWTO, andinlight oftheneed, expressed repeatedly by
delegations inthepast, forgreater transparency inthetrade conducted bystate trading
enterprises.
4. Henoted thattheWTO Understanding provided forthesubmission ofcounter-
notifications where aMember feltthatanotification byanother waseither incomplete or
incorrect. Thus far,nocounter-notifications hadbeenreceived; however, inhisviewsome
ofthequestions thathadbeensubmitted could almost qualify ascounter-notifications."
Working Party onState Trading Enterprises Meeting of13November 1995
(G/STR/M/2, paragraphs 3and6)
"B. Review ofthenotifications submitted byMembers in1995pursuant totherequest for
notifications inG/STR/N/1
3. Hereported withsome regret thatcompliance withthisobligation -leaving aside the
issue ofthe30Junedeadline -hadbeenfarfromcomplete. Asof24October 1995 (thedate
oftheairgram forthemeeting), atotalof25Members hadsubmitted anotification under Article
XVII in1995. Anotification fromoneofthelargest trading partners hadbeenreceived only
threedaysearlier, andinlightofthedelay initssubmission wassurprisingly thinandapparently
incomplete. Several other Members -whose recent GATT Trade Policy Reviews indicated
statetrading activities -hadfailed tomake anynotification. At13November 1995, atotal
of28notifications hadbeenreceived, fourofwhich hadbeensubmitted toolateforcirculation
inadvance ofthemeeting. Thissituation wasverydisappointing, particularly inlightofthe
needexpressed atthelastmeeting forgreater transparency inthetradeconducted bystatetrading
enterprises."
"6. Healsorecalled thatatitsfirstmeeting, theWorking Party haddiscussed theproblem
ofnon-notifiers andthepossibility ofrequesting awritten explanation forthefailure tonotify.
While thisapproach hadnotbeenfeltnecessary, hesaidthatitwould seem appropriate, in
lightoftheseriousness ofthisproblem, toaskthose delegations present which hadnotsubmitted
anotification toprovide some oralexplanation."
Working Party onState Trading Enterprises Meeting of6April 1995
(G/STR/M/1, paragraph 14)
"14. TheChairman recalled thattheUnderstanding provided forthesubmission ofcounter-
notifications where aMember feltthatanotification byanother Member wasincomplete,
incorrect orwhere nonotification hadbeenmade, including incases where nilresponses were
required. Inviewofthelackofconsensus ontheneedforawritten explanation ofafailure
tonotify, hesuggested asacompromise thatatthepresent stage written explanations notbe
considered compulsory, butthatsoonafterthe30June1995deadline, ameeting might becalled
todiscuss theissue ofnon-notification."