   
  
WT/L/1132  
 
31 March  2022 
(22-2626) Page: 1/2 
   
 
 
REVIEW OF THE OPERATION OF THE BALI DECISION ON TRQ ADMINISTRATION  
DECISION OF 31 MARCH 2022  
The General Council,  
 
Having  regard to paragraph 1 of Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade 
Organization (the "WTO Agreement");  
 
Noting  the Ministerial Decision of 7 December 2013 on Understanding on Tariff Rate Quota 
Administration Provisions of Agricult ural Products, as Defined in Article 2 of the Agreement on 
Agriculture  (WT/MIN(13)/39 -WT/L/914) dated 11 December 2013 (hereinafter referred to as the 
"Bali Decision on TRQ Administration");  
 
Recalling  the recommendations of the Review of the operation of the Bali Decision on 
TRQ Administration in Annex  2 to G/AG/29 approved by the General Council at its meeting 
on 9-10 December 2019;  
 
Recognizing  that paragraph  1 of the aforementioned recommendations and the subsequent 
extension approved by the General  Council at its special meeting on 15 December 2021  set the 
deadline of 31 March  2022 for a decision on the future operation of paragraph 4 of Annex A of the 
Bali Decision on TRQ Administration;  
 
Conducting  the functions of the Ministerial Conference in the interval between meetings pursuant to 
paragraph  2 of Article IV of the WTO Agreement;  
  
Decides  that: 
 
1.  Paragraph  4 of Annex A of the Bali Decision on TRQ Administration shall be read as follows:  
4.a. The importing Member shall then promptly provide unencumbered access via one of the 
following tariff quota administration methods5, 6: a first -come, first -served only basis (at the 
border); or an automatic, unconditional license on demand system within the tariff quota. 
In taking a decision on which of these two options to implement, the importing Member will 
consult with interested exp orting Members. The method selected shall be maintained by the 
importing Member for a minimum of two years, after which time – provided that timely 
notifications for the two years have been submitted – it will be noted on the Secretariat's 
tracking registe r and the concern marked "closed".  
4.b. Developing country Members may choose an alternative tariff quota administration 
method or maintain the current method in place. This choice of an alternative tariff quota 
administration method shall be notified to the Committee on Agriculture under the provisions 
of this mechanism. The method selected shall be maintained by the importing Member for a 
minimum of two years, after which time, if the fill rate has increased by two -thirds of the 
annual increments describ ed in paragraph 3(b), it will be noted on the Secretariat's tracking 
register and the concern marked "closed". At the request of an interested Member, the 
 
5 The actions and remedies taken by the importing Member shall not modify or impede the rights of a 
Member holding a country -specific allocation for that tariff quota with respect to their country -specific 
allocation . 
6 In the event of a conflict, the specific provisions on tariff quota import arrangements specified in the 
importing Member 's Schedule of Concessions shall prevail to the extent of the conflict.  WT/L/1132  
 
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  provisions under paragraph 4(a) shall apply if after the two years the fill rate has not increased 
at least by two -thirds of the annual increments described in paragraph 3(b). If no request is 
made, the concern shall be marked as "closed" . 
2.  Henceforth, paragraphs 13 -15 of the Bali Decision on TRQ Administration, along with Annex  B, 
are rendered non -operational.  
 
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