|
|
The
Committee approved its report on the consultations with Ecuador. The
conclusions of the report included the following:
The trade measures applied by Ecuador
covered about 8.7% of all tariff lines, affecting a volume of trade
equivalent to some 23% of its total 2008 imports;
Ecuador will replace most of the
quantitative restrictions for price-based measures no later than 1
September 2009;
Ecuador will progressively modify the level
and scope of the measures as its balance-of-payments situation improves;
and
The Committee welcomed Ecuador's commitment
to remove all trade measures for balance-of-payments purposes no later
than 22 January 2010.
Ecuador thanked the efforts of the Chair (Amb.
Darlington Mwape of Zambia) and the WTO Secretariat, and the flexibility of
members in the consultations. It said the decision showed that WTO members
are willing to negotiate pragmatic solutions, and that this sends a good
signal for the day-to-day work of the organization. It promised to continue
to be transparent, and to listen to concerns from members.
Many delegations welcomed the report, and
commended Ecuador's constructive engagement in the consultations.
The Chair informed the Committee that Ukraine had
notified that it had eliminated its 13% import surcharge measures taken for
balance-of-payments purposes, except for those imposed on imports of
refrigerators and motor vehicles. The surcharge on these two items is
expected to remain until 7 September 2009.
The Chair proposed, and the Committee agreed, to
hold consultations with Ukraine regarding its restrictions on the two
products on 23 and 25 June 2009.
On another matter, the Committee approved a draft
decision that would automatically make any WTO member a member of the BOP
Committee (under current procedures, a WTO member has to notify its interest
to become a member of the Committee before it can participate in the
Committee's work), and forwarded it to the General Council for adoption.
|
> Problems viewing this page?
Please contact webmaster@wto.org giving details of the operating system and web browser you are using.
|
