RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/C/M/5
11September 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-2596)
COUNCIL FOR TRADE INGOODS
31July1995
MINUTES OFMEETING
Held intheCentre William Rappard
on31July1995
Chairman: Mr.M.Endo (Japan)
Subject Discussed Page
1. Harmonized System -requests forextensions ofwaivers under
Article IXoftheWTO Agreement 2
I. Guatemala 2
II. Jamaica 2
III. Pakistan 2
IV. Trinidad andTobago 7
2. Rules ofProcedure oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods 8
3. Approval oftheGoods Schedule ofQatar 8
4. Textiles Monitoring Body 8
- Status ofMembers 8
_________________
TheChairman welcomed delegations tothefifthmeeting oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods
which wasconvened byWTO/AIR/140. Henoted thatinaccordance withtheagreement reached at
thelastmeeting oftheCouncil which tookplace on3July1995, thefollowing Organizations hadbeen
invited tothismeeting oftheCouncil, namely: UN,UNCTAD, IMF, World Bank, FAO, OECD,
International Textiles andClothing Bureau andtheWorld Customs Organization. Heproposed that
pending theadoption ofcriteria andconditions forobserver status forInternational Intergovernmental
Organizations intheWTO andunless adelegation raised anobjection, those Organizations invited
tothismeeting oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods beinvited alsotoitsnextmeeting.
TheCouncil forTrade inGoods soagreed.G/C/M/5
Page2
1. Harmonized System -requests forextensions ofwaivers under Article IXoftheWTO
Agreement
I. Guatemala
1.1 TheChairman recalled thatatitslastmeeting theCouncil hadbefore itarequest fromGuatemala
foranextension ofitswaiver. However, since Guatemala hadratified theWTO Agreement on21June
1995anditsWTO membership hadnotyettaken effect atthetimeofthatmeeting, itwasagreed that
thematter should bepostponed tothenextmeeting oftheCouncil. Guatemala 'sWTO membership
tookeffect on21July1995andtheCouncil hadbefore itGuatemala 'srequest which hadbeencirculated
indocument G/L/12 andadraftdecision indocument G/C/W/13/Rev.1.
1.2 There wasnodiscussion onGuatemala 'srequest.
1.3 TheCouncil approved Guatemala 'srequest forasix-month waiver extension.
1.4 TheChairman recalled thatatthelastmeeting oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods on3July
1995, requests from eight countries forextensions ofwaivers forthepurpose oftransposing their
schedules intotheHarmonized System hadbeenconsidered. Atthatmeeting, itwasagreed thatfor
fivecountries (i.e.Bangladesh, Israel, Morocco, Senegal andSriLanka) there wasnoproblem in
granting extensions ofwaivers forsixmonths. Inthisconnection, henoted thathewould report orally
tothiseffect attheGeneral Council meeting which wasconvening immediately afterthismeeting of
theCouncil. However, withrespect torequests from Jamaica, Trinidad andTobago andPakistan a
consensus could notbereached regarding thetime-period forthese extensions. Asaresult, itwas
agreed thatconsideration ofthewaiver requests ofJamaica, Pakistan andTrinidad andTobago should
bepostponed inorder toenable himtoholdinformal consultations insofarastheextensions ofwaivers
forthose three countries were concerned. Thedraft decisions hadbeen revised inlightofthose
consultations.
II. Jamaica
1.5 TheChairman stated thattherequest foranextension hadbeencirculated indocument G/L/9
andarevised decision indocument G/C/W/10/Rev.1.
1.6 There wasnodiscussion onJamaica 'srequest.
1.7 TheCouncil approved Jamaica 'srequest forasix-month waiver extension.
III. Pakistan
1.8 TheChairman stated thattherequest foranextension hadbeencirculated indocument G/L/6
andarevised decision indocument G/C/W/7/Rev.1.
1.9 Therepresentative oftheEuropean Communities recalled thatatthelastmeeting oftheCouncil
forTrade inGoods on3July1994, hisdelegation hadraised aconcern withregard toPakistan 'srequest
forasix-month extension ofthewaiver. Hisdelegation 'sconcern regarding thisrequest stemmed
fromthefactthatPakistan hadbeenunder waiver foraverylongperiod oftime, andthatithadshown
nosigns ofprogress. Atthatmeeting, hisdelegation hadindicated thatitwould besufficient and
appropriate togrant awaiver foraduration offourmonths, andhisdelegation maintained thisposition
since nosteps hadbeentaken byPakistan toaddress hisdelegation 'sconcerns which related tothe
schedule ofPakistan. Hisdelegation wasnotobjecting tothegranting ofanextension ofthewaiver
because itrecognized thatPakistan might needsome more timeandbecause Pakistan hadannouncedG/C/M/5
Page3
thatitwould usethattimetocome forward withnewproposals. However, hisdelegation feltthat
aperiod offourmonths wassufficient, given theverylongtimethatPakistan hadalready benefited
from awaiver.
1.10 Therepresentative ofPakistan regretted thefactthattheCouncil forTrade inGoods hadto
revert toPakistan 'srequest forasix-month extension ofitswaiver atthismeeting. Hedidnotwish
torepeat whathisdelegation hadsaidatthelastmeeting oftheCouncil, butwasrather disappointed
withtheunrealistic anddiscriminatory position taken bysome Members, especially asthecurrent and
immediate trade interest ofPakistan 'strading partners would notbeaffected bytheextension ofthe
waiver. Infact,Pakistan hadcontinued, autonomously, toundertake fundamental liberalization ofits
trade regime including thesubstantial lowering ofitstariffs. Tariff bindings hadbeensignificantly
increased asaresult oftheUruguay Round, andaspartoftheRound, Pakistan hadalsotriedtoconclude
thenegotiations inthecontext oftheoutstanding waiver. Butforreasons known toPakistan 'smain
trading partners, itcould notcomplete thisexercise.
1.11 Hewished tore-assure Members thatPakistan remained conscious ofitsobligation tocomplete
thepending negotiations pursuant tothewaiver. Accordingly Pakistan hadbeeninclose touch with
thenegotiating partners concerned. Indeed, since thelastmeeting oftheCouncil, Pakistan hadmade
further offers forcompensatory adjustments including totheEuropean Communities. Hisdelegation
waspleased thattheUnited States hadreceived Pakistan 'sproposals inapositive lightandhadsince
indicated thatitwould accept anextension ofsixmonths forPakistan aswell. Pakistan was,however,
dismayed thatanother negotiating partner seemed nottobewilling togoalong withtherestofthe
Members oftheCouncil.
1.12 Pakistan continued tomake maximum efforts toarrive atasatisfactory conclusion tothis
outstanding problem. Pakistan hadrequested asix-month extension ofthewaiver tohelpconclude
theexercise. Themonth ofJulyhadalready passed, andtheWTO would beclosed forwork inthe
month ofAugust. Anextension oflessthansixmonths would hardly besufficient toconclude the
work, tothesatisfaction ofallconcerned. Finally, ashorter extension forPakistan would beperceived
asunequal treatment foracountry which hadalways contributed tothework oftheGATT/WTO
constructively, andwhich waswilling tomake maximum efforts soastotakeonboard therequests
made byitsnegotiating partners.
1.13 TheWTO wasaneworganization. Inaspirit ofpragmatism which hadbeenthehallmark
oftheGATT, theimplementation ofnewconcepts beckoned agradual approach. Inaddition tocreating
confidence inthenewsystem, agradual approach wasalsodesirable tomaintain domestic support
fortheliberalization efforts being undertaken bydeveloping countries, likePakistan. Before concluding,
hewished toassure Members thatPakistan stood ready tomake maximum efforts andtomake further
proposals toseekasatisfactory resolution ofthenegotiations. Inthemeantime, Pakistan wished to
count onMembers 'understanding forarealistic time-frame and,consequently, forawaiver extension
ofsixmonths.
1.14 Therepresentative oftheEuropean Communities stated thathisdelegation waspleased tohear
thatPakistan wasgoing tomake maximum efforts inorder toaddress theconcern ofitstrading partners.
Hisdelegation would bewilling toreconsider itsposition when ithadreceived anofferforcompensation
which addressed suchconcerns. But,thathadnotbeenthecaseuntiltoday andforthatreason his
delegation could notchange itsposition atthismeeting. Asstated earlier, there wasnoobjection
togranting thewaiver, onlytothetime-period ofextension requested. Fourmonths would giveample
timetodiscuss thismatter further.
1.15 Therepresentative ofMalaysia, speaking onbehalf oftheASEAN countries, stated that,as
indicated atthelastmeeting ofthisCouncil on3July1995, hisdelegation continued torequest thatG/C/M/5
Page4
equal treatment begiven toPakistan. Hisdelegation hoped thattheEuropean Communities would
reconsider theirposition andapprove asixmonths instead ofafourmonths extension. Thisshould
notbeabargaining point, andacountry should notbemade topaytoomuch fortheextratwomonths.
Having saidthat,hisdelegation hoped thatPakistan would dothesame interms offulfilling any
commitments ithadmade.
1.16 Therepresentative ofIndia recalled thathisdelegation, atthelastmeeting oftheCouncil, had
requested theCouncil toconsider positively Pakistan 'srequest forasix-month extension ofthewaiver.
Inlightofthestatement made bytherepresentative ofPakistan, hisdelegation requested theEuropean
Communities toreconsider theirposition andagree toanextension ofsixmonths. Therepresentative
ofPakistan hadstated thatPakistan hadmade anoffertotheEuropean Communities justasithaddone
toanothermajordelegation,andthatPakistanwouldprobablybemakingotherproposalstotheEuropean
Communities. Therepresentative oftheEuropean Communities hadstated thathisdelegation could
consider Pakistan 'srequest forasix-month extension oncehisdelegation hadseentheproposal. Since
therepresentative ofPakistan hadmade aclearstatement thathisdelegation would make amaximum
effort tofinalize thenegotiations andcome toanunderstanding withmajor trading partners, itwould
bereasonable thattheCouncil accept therequest ofPakistan forasix-month waiver extension. Another
important point raised bytherepresentative ofMalaysia andworth repeating wasthatitwasnotproper
fortheCouncil togiveanimpression thatPakistan wasbeing singled outforadifferent typeoftreatment.
Even conceding thefactthatPakistan might haveenjoyed awaiver foralonger duration thanmany
othercountries, anadditional twomonths wasnotexcessive, andwould alsoensure equality oftreatment
forallcountries concerned.
1.17 Therepresentative ofEgypt stated thatforthereasons putforward bytherepresentative of
Pakistan, hisdelegation supported Pakistan 'srequest thatitswaiver beextended totheendofthisyear.
Hewanted todraw attention tothefactthat,fromapractical perspective, anextension ofthewaiver
forfourmonths would bethesame asaccording anextension untiltheendoftheyear. Thereasoning
wasasfollows, themonth ofAugust wasnormally reserved forholidays, which meant thatthetime
remaining untiltheendoftheyearwould befourmonths. Itwasalsoworth pointing outthattheusual
practice intheGATT hadbeentoaccord waiver extensions ofsixmonths. Pakistan should notbe
singled outforseparate treatment. Hisdelegation supported thatrequest andappealed totheEuropean
Communities toreconsider theirposition.
1.18 Therepresentative ofCosta Ricastated thathisdelegation supported Pakistan 'srequest for
asix-month waiver extension. Hisdelegation hoped thatthisextension would begiven inafairand
transparent manner inaccordance withthegoverning principles oftheWTO.
1.19 Therepresentative ofHong Kong stated thathisdelegation, asalready indicated atthelast
meeting oftheCouncil, shared thesystemic concerns which existed about thelength ofwaivers. But,
itwasclearthatPakistan wasmaking serious efforts toconclude anyoutstanding negotiations. Inlight
ofthatandtheother arguments putforward bytherepresentative ofPakistan, hisdelegation hadsome
sympathy forPakistan 'sposition, andhoped thattheEuropean Communities would reconsider thecase
atthepresent timeandagree immediately toawaiver ofsixmonths inorder toavoid anyelement
ofdifferential treatment.
1.20 TherepresentativeofTrinidadandTobagostatedthathisdelegationsupportedPakistan'srequest
foranextension ofitswaiver bysixmonths. Hisdelegation stated thatthemechanism suggested by
therepresentative ofEgypt whereby inthedrafting ofthedecision, anextension would begranted
totheendoftheyearwithout aspecific reference toasix-month extension might beauseful oneto
consider. Thiswould enable Pakistan tohaveanextension ofitswaiver untiltheendofDecember 1995
andmight satisfy bothparties concerned. Healsowished tomention something which hadbeenof
great concern tohimsince thismatter ofwaiver extensions hadarisen, namely, theprice ofprincipleG/C/M/5
Page5
inthese matters. Ontheonehand, there wasequality oftreatment andnon-discrimination, andon
theother there wasthedifferential oftwomonths. Onbuilding anewculture fortheWTO, such
elements should betaken intoconsideration toensure thattherewastransparency, thatcountries were
treated equally, andthatthegranting ofawaiver wasnotpartofthenegotiating process.
1.21 Therepresentative ofMexico stated thatthisdiscussion wasofasymbolic rather thana
substantive nature. Theissue inquestion wasthetwomonths ofwhich oneandahalfmonths, ifnot
thetwomonths wereusually usedforvacations. Inlightofthissituation andthestatement made by
therepresentative ofPakistan totheeffect thatPakistan would make amaximum effort toterminate
thisprocess during thetime-period ofextension, hisdelegation supported Pakistan 'srequest forawaiver
extension ofsixmonths. Inthisconnection, hisdelegation alsourged theEuropean Communities to
agree toasix-month waiver extension forPakistan. Otherwise, itwasquitepossible thatthetimespent
debating theadditional twomonths would exceed thetwomonths themselves.
1.22 Therepresentative ofColombia supported Pakistan 'srequest because herdelegation feltthat
Pakistanwouldotherwisebeseriouslycompromisedinitseffortstoconcludeitsnegotiations.Moreover,
herdelegation considered arequest fortwoadditional months reasonable. Asituation where thesix
months werenotgranted would setaprecedent ofdiscrimination which would seem togoagainst the
spirit ofthisforum, andinthisconnection herdelegation requested theEuropean Communities to
demonstrate alittlemore flexibility.
1.23 Therepresentative ofPeru stated thathisdelegation wanted toexpress sympathy and
understanding forPakistan anditsposition. More particularly, hisdelegation wanted tounderscore
thepoint made bytherepresentative ofTrinidad andTobago totheeffect thatitwasnotdesirable,
when anOrganization wasbeginning itsproceedings, toestablish precedents ofdifferential treatment
forcountries.
1.24 Therepresentative ofArgentina stated thathisdelegation supported thestatements made by
theprevious speakers based onthreeprinciples. Thesystemic principle asitwerecaused hisdelegation
tobelieve thattheEuropean Communities hadreasonable grounds forbeing impatient. Butatthesame
timethere weretwoother principles which hadtobeborne inmind when adecision ofthiskindwas
being taken. "Special anddifferential treatment" should notbeusedtoimpose aspecial condition to
penalize aMember, especially when thatMember wasmaking every effort tosolve theproblem. The
thirdandlastprinciple wascommon sense andasense ofproportion andbalance. Because, inspite
ofthefactthatfromthesystemic point ofview, Members didnotwantatariff tobefirstapplied and
negotiations tobeconducted subsequently, thiswaswhatwashappening inthecontext ofintegration,
aprocess which theEuropean Communities wasinvolved in.Hisdelegation believed thattheEuropean
Communities musthavethesame understanding foradeveloping country which, atthepresent time,
wasdemonstrating thesame commitment astheEuropean Communities toresolve thisproblem. In
viewofthis,hisdelegation requested theEuropean Communities tomake anadditional effort toshow
some understanding andtosupport theextension ofPakistan 'swaiver forafurther sixmonths.
1.25 Therepresentative ofUruguay stated thatasindicated atthelastCouncil meeting, hisdelegation
wasinfavour ofequal treatment forallcountries asking forsuchanextension ofawaiver, particularly
withregard totheterms andtime-periods ofsuchwaiver extensions. Hisdelegation subscribed to
thestatement made bytherepresentative ofTrinidad andTobago, andrequested theEuropean
Communities toreconsider itsposition, without prejudice totheobjections theyhadmade orstill
harboured.
1.26 Therepresentative ofJamaica joined other speakers insupporting Pakistan 'srequest forasix-
month extension ofthewaiver. Asprevious speakers hadpointed out,August wasaholiday month,
andtherefore anynegotiations towards aresolution ofthematter would really onlystartfromSeptember.G/C/M/5
Page6
1.27 Therepresentative ofNicaragua joined other speakers insupporting Pakistan 'srequest fora
six-month extension ofthewaiver. Hisdelegation 'sargument wasbased onthree reasons: firstly
Pakistan hadcommitted itself tomaking every effort tomeetitsobligations; secondly, Pakistan had
already putforward proposals, including totheEuropean Communities; andthirdly Members should
notbegin apractice inthisOrganization whereby different treatment wasmeted outtocountries. This
would betantamount toa"àlacarte" treatment, andwasapractice which should notbeenvisaged
inthisinstitution.
1.28 Therepresentative ofBangladesh joined previous speakers insupporting Pakistan 'srequest
forsix-month extension ofitswaiver, andappealed totheEuropean Communities tobemore flexible.
1.29 Therepresentative ofBrazil joined previous speakers insupporting Pakistan 'srequest fora
six-month extension ofitswaiver.
1.30 Therepresentative ofDominica requested theEuropean Communities toreconsider itsposition
andapprove asix-month extension ofPakistan 'swaiver.
1.31 Therepresentative oftheEuropean Communities stated thathisdelegation hadheard theappeals
made andwould welcome thepossibility ofbeing abletogoalong withwhatseemed tobetheposition
ofalarge majority ofMembers present attheCouncil meeting. But,itwasafactthattheEuropean
Communities hadbeenflexible, andwerenottrying todiscriminate atall.Hisdelegation wasaddressing
asituation where acountry hadbeenunder waiver foraperiod which exceeded 17years. Thiswas
anabnormal situation which explained hisdelegation 'sunderstandable impatience, asindicated bythe
representative ofArgentina. Pakistan hadmade anoffertoitstrading partners, butthisofferdidnot
address anyoftheconcerns oftheEuropean Communities anddidnotprovide thenecessary basis
toenable hisdelegation tochange itsposition atthismeeting. Therepresentative ofPakistan hadalso
stated thatPakistan wasready toimprove itsoffer; hisdelegation wasimpatient toseethat
improvement. TheEuropean Communities would bewilling onthebasis ofsuchanimprovement
toreconsider theirposition, butsince itwasmade cleartohisdelegation thatsuchanoffercould not
bemade before September, hisdelegation could notseehowitcould change itsposition today. If
theofferwasmade, aspromised, inSeptember, thentherewould benodifficulty extending thewaiver
further, ifthatwerenecessary, toconclude thenegotiations. Butitwasnecessary toseethisimproved
offerfirst. ThiswasanOrganization ofgiveandtakeandinthisinstance there wasaneedtoknow
whatwasbeing given. Hisdelegation wasnotconvinced thatthiswasadiscriminatory position because
there waswillingness togrant awaiver, thequestion waswithrespect totheduration. From his
delegation 'sperspective theduration oftheextension ofthewaiver began asof1July1995. Ifthe
Council could agree toafour-month waiver extension, thenthere would beaconsensus toendthat
waiver presently on31October 1995, which would givesufficient timetostudy whatever improved
offerPakistan might beabletotableinSeptember 1995. Forthatreason, hisdelegation didnotfeel
thatitwasdoing anyharm toPakistan; itwastrying toachieve whatwasneeded inorder togetthis
abnormal situation backontrack.
1.32 Therepresentative ofSingapore stated thathisdelegation associated itself withthestatement
made bytherepresentative ofMalaysia whohadspoken onbehalf oftheASEAN countries. Herecalled
thatafewweeks agoMembers hadconfronted aproblem which hadbeenresolved onthebasis of
good willandunderstanding. Theleadership onthatoccasion hadbeendisplayed bytheEuropean
Communities. Hewasreferring tothequestion oftheFinancial Services Package. Alldeveloping
countries, including Pakistan, hadagreed togoalong withtheproposal suggested bytheEuropean
Communities. Today, inareversal ofrolestheotherMembers wereasking theEuropean Communities
togoalong withthegeneral sentiments expressed. Hecould understand theposition oftheEuropean
Communities,butatthesametimeifanoverwhelmingnumberofMemberswishedtogiveagrace-period
thataMember hadrequested, itshould beconsidered. Taking bothview points intoaccount, heG/C/M/5
Page7
proposed thatonthequestion ofPakistan 'srequest, theCouncil takeanadreferendum decision to
grant asix-month waiver extension toPakistan subject to,inSeptember, bothsides agreeing tothe
waiver definitively. Thiswasabasisbeing proposed byhisdelegation tobridge thedifferences between
boththetwosides.
1.33 Therepresentative oftheEuropean Communities stated thathecould notjoinaconsensus on
aperiod which exceeded three months from 31July1995.
1.34 Therepresentative ofPakistan stated thathisdelegation hadhoped thatthediscussion could
leadtoanamicable consensus based ontheoverwhelming sentiment which hadbeenexpressed inthe
Council. Hethanked allthose Members whohadsupported Pakistan 'srequest forasix-month extension
ofthewaiver asamatter ofprinciple. Itwasthisissue ofprinciple which hewished toaddress. It
wastruethatPakistan hadtorequest anextended period ofwaiver, buttherewerespecial circumstances.
Hiscountry wasnottheonlyonetobeunder waiver foraperiod oftime. Other countries hadbeen
inthesame situation, buthadnevertheless beengranted asixmonths extension withsupport from
theEuropean Communities. Inthenegotiations tosettle thismatter, Pakistan hadmade substantial
progress, andnegotiations remained outstanding withonlytwoofitstrading partners. Other countries
hadbeengranted thesix-month waiver extension inspiteofthefactthattheirnegotiations remained
outstanding withalarger number oftrading partners. Pakistan hadalsomade anhonest effort toreach
anamicable settlement withboththeremaining trading partners. TheEuropean Communities hadstated
thattheywished toseeafurther offerbefore theycould agree toasix-month extension inthewaiver,
butthiswasafundamental misreading oftheofferwhich Pakistan hadmade. Theofferhadbeenmade
ingood faithandinorder toconclude negotiations withthetworemaining partners. Inthenormal
process ofnegotiations Pakistan hadalsosaidthatitwasconsidering tomake afurther offer in
September, perhaps evenearlier. ButfortheEuropean Communities toholdoutontherequest for
asix-month waiver extension inorder toseewhatoffer Pakistan would tableandthentodecide on
another waiver extension wasinconsistent withthespirit ofthenegotiations thatPakistan hadbeen
havingwiththeEuropeanCommunitiesandtherelationshipthatPakistanhadenjoyedwiththatdelegation
intheGATT andtheWTO. Inconclusion, Pakistan would notaccept afour-month extension ona
discriminatory basis. Pakistan would continue consultations andhopefully would beabletoconvince
theEuropean Communities toagree toasix-month waiver extension.
1.35 TheChairman noted thatconsensus hadnotbeenreached onthequestion ofPakistan 'srequest
forasix-month waiver extension. Heproposed thattheCouncil takenoteofstatements made and
alsothattheCouncil authorize himtoundertake further consultations onPakistan 'srequest andtoreport
ontheresult ofconsultations atthenextmeeting oftheCouncil.
1.36 TheCouncil forTrade inGoods soagreed.
IV. Trinidad andTobago
1.37 TheChairman stated thattherequest foranextension hadbeencirculated indocument G/L/13
andarevised decision indocument G/C/W/14/Rev.1.
1.38 There wasnodiscussion onTrinidad andTobago 'srequest.
1.39 TheCouncil approved Trinidad andTobago 'srequest forasix-month waiver extension.
1.40 TheChairman proposed thatinhisreport totheGeneral Council hewould indicate thatthe
Council forTrade inGoods hadapproved therequested waiver extensions fromBangladesh, Guatemala,
Israel, Jamaica, Morocco, Senegal, SriLanka andTrinidad andTobago andwould recommend that
theGeneral Council adopt thedecisions granting thewaiver extensions contained indocumentsG/C/M/5
Page8
G/C/W/9/Rev.1, G/C/W/13/Rev.1, G/C/W/15/Rev.1, G/C/W/10/Rev.1, G/C/W/12/Rev.1,
G/C/W/8/Rev.1, G/C/W/11/Rev.1 andG/C/W/14/Rev.1 respectively. Itwasalsohisintention to
inform theGeneral Council onthesituation concerning Pakistan.
1.41 TheCouncil forTrade inGoods soagreed .
2. Rules ofProcedure oftheCouncil forTrade inGoods
2.1 TheChairman recalled thattherules ofprocedure forthemeetings oftheCouncil forTrade
inGoods, ascontained indocument G/C/W/2, hadbeenadopted bytheCouncil atitssecond meeting
on3April 1995. However, aquestion hadarisen withregard toRule33ofthose Rules ofProcedure
which wasalsoahorizontal issue covering theother sectoral Councils. Consultations onthismatter
which were heldbyAmbassador Kesavapany hadresulted inthefootnote contained indocument
G/C/W/2/Add.1. Heproposed thattheCouncil adopt thisaddition totheCouncil 'sRules ofProcedure
andsubmit therulesofprocedure ascontained indocument G/C/W/2 anditsaddendum totheGeneral
Council forapproval. Thiswaspursuant toparagraph 5ofArticle IVoftheWTO Agreement which
stated that"theCouncils shallestablish theirrespective rules ofprocedure subject totheapproval of
theGeneral Council."
2.2 TheCouncil forTrade inGoods soagreed .
3. Approval oftheGoods Schedule ofQatar
3.1 TheChairman recalled thatcountries covered bytheDecision onFinalization ofNegotiations
onSchedules onGoods andServices (WT/L/30), which included Qatar, hadbeengiven additional
timetofinalize theirnegotiations. Aninformal meeting oftheMarket Access Committee hadbeen
heldon24April 1995 withthepurpose ofverifying draft finalschedules ofconcessions ofleast
developed countries andcountries covered bytheDecision onFinalization ofNegotiations onSchedules
onGoods andServices. Atthatmeeting, theCommittee hadagreed thattheverification ofQatar's
second revised draft schedule would beleftpending subject totheconclusion ofnegotiations, the
circulation ofarevised schedule andtechnical verification. Technical verification meant thatMembers
hadseven days, following thedateofcirculation oftherevised draftschedule, toverify thatnegotiated
results wereaccurately reflected. Intheabsence ofcomments within thatperiod oftime, theschedule
could bedeemed verified. Athirdrevision ofQatar'sdraftschedule wascirculated on24May1995,
butinlightofcomments made within theseven-day period, itcould notbedeemed verified. Afourth
revision ofQatar'sdraftschedule wascirculated on13July1995, andasnocomments werereceived
during theseven-day period, theschedule wasconsidered verified. Heproposed thattheCouncil approve
theSchedule ofConcessions onGoods ofQatar andforward itforapproval totheGeneral Council.
3.2 TheCouncil forTrade inGoods soagreed.
4. Textiles Monitoring Body
- Status ofMembers
4.1 TheChairman speaking under "Other Business" stated theChairman oftheTextiles Monitoring
Body, onbehalf oftheBody, hadinformed himofdiscussions ithadheldwhen developing andadopting
itsownworking procedures, withrespect totheperceived needoftheBody tore-assert thefactthat
theTMB members discharge theirfunctions onanadpersonam basis. Hewished tonote thathe
would beconsulting withMembers onthismatter, onthebasis ofaproposal provided bytheTMB,
afterthesummer break andhopefully would beinaposition tocome backtoitattheCouncil 'snext
meeting.