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WTO: 2007 NEWS ITEMS

Goods Council agrees on chairpersons of subsidiary bodies

The Council for Trade in Goods, on 19 March 2007, elected by acclamation Amb. Karsten Vagn Nielsen of Denmark as its new chairman. It agreed on a slate of chairpersons of its subsidiary bodies for this year.

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The new chairpersons are:

Committee on Market Access: Dr. Mohammad SAEED (Pakistan)
Committee on Agriculture: Ms. Valeria CSUKASI (Uruguay)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures: Mr. Marnius HUIGE (Netherlands)
Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices: Mr.Gareth MAYER (Australia)
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures: Mr. Pablo KLEIN (Mexico)
Committee on Safeguards: Ms. Jo McKEAGG (New Zealand)
Committee on Import Licensing: Mr. Marco J. KASSAJA (Tanzania)
Committee on Rules of Origin: Ms. Vera THORSTENSEN (Brazil)
Committee on Customs Valuation: Mr. Joe MCCLINTOCK (United Kingdom)
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade: Mr.R. S. SIDHU (India)
Committee on TRIMs: Mr. Mathias BOGAERT (Belgium)
Working Party on State Trading Enterprises: Mr. Pornvit SILA-ON (Thailand)
ITA Committee: Mr. Amr ALJOWAILY (Egypt)

  
On textiles, Turkey introduced a communication setting out more details for its proposed work programme under which the WTO Secretariat would prepare a study on the textiles and clothing sector after the end of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing. It said that the study would provide Members with data demonstrating the effects of the quota phase-out on production, consumption, market shares, technology and innovation, as well as trade in this sector, and indicate the adjustment challenges and bottlenecks certain developing Members would face. A number of delegations expressed support for Turkey's proposal.

China reiterated its systemic concern that textiles should not be treated differently from other sectors. It said it would maintain its opposition against any work programme that would run the risk of leading the textile sector out of the GATT, adding it was too early to draw conclusions from the end of the quota arrangements. Some delegations supported China's statement.

The Chairman, Amb. Yonov Frederick Agah (Nigeria), said that from the interventions, it seemed clear that there remains no common understanding among members on Turkey's proposal. He proposed, and the Goods Council agreed, to revert to this item at the next meeting. Amb. Agah suggested that Amb. Nielsen continue consultations on this issue.

On bananas, the European Communities proposed that in the light of concerns expressed by certain Latin American delegations and the panel request made by Ecuador, the Goods Council continue to suspend discussions on its request for the extension of the GATT XIII waiver on its tariff rate quotas on bananas of ACP (Africa, Caribbean and Pacific). The Council agreed to suspend discussions on this item until further notice.

Regarding United States' requests for waivers for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act (CBERA) and that Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), the United States said it will circulate new requests for waivers to take into account recent legislative changes to these programmes. The US said the changes included the extension until 2012 of AGOA provisions related to third-party provision of yarns and fabrics; under CBERA, duty-free treatment for apparel imports from Haiti under certain conditions; and for ATPA, extension by a further six months for certain beneficiaries. The United States said it would be willing to consult with members on these changes. Paraguay said it would like to participate in these consultations.

The United States requested the extension — until 31 December 2016 — of the waiver on its preferential tariff treatment of eligible products from the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of Palau). Argentina said it needed more time to examine the US request. The Council agreed to revert to this item at the next meeting.

The Philippines complained about what it called discriminatory practices by Thailand in customs valuation and domestic tax on imports of Philippine cigarettes. It urged Thailand to adjust its practices in line with the WTO Agreements. Thailand said it was willing to discuss this matter with the Philippines in any appropriate forum, including the ASEAN, to find a mutually-satisfactory solution.

The Goods Council agreed to a recommendation from the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements for a common and simplified format for the notification of regional trade agreements to WTO bodies. The Chairman said this format, which would facilitate the task of parties to comply with the requirement to notify such agreements, was in line with the General Council decision on a Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements.

At the end of the meeting, Amb. Nielsen and delegations commended Amb. Agah for his leadership during the past year.

The next meeting of the Goods Council is scheduled for 21 May 2007.

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