1 November 1995

ON TARIFFS AND TRADE Limited Distribution

1. This report outlines developments in the work of the Committee between its report of 30 November 1994 (L/7564) and its meeting of 25 October 1995. It is submitted to the GATT CONTRACTING PARTIES in pursuance of Article IX:6(a) of the Agreement and represents the fifteenth annual review of the implementation and operation of the Agreement.

2. The following are members of the Committee: Canada, the European Communities, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States.

3. The following thirty-four contracting parties have observer status: Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Gabon, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Republic of Korea (which is a Party to the new Agreement on Government Procurement), Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Zaire and Zimbabwe. Three non-contracting parties, the People's Republic of China, Ecuador and Chinese Taipei, are also observers. The IMF and UNCTAD have attended the meetings of the Committee as observers.

4. Chairman: Mr. Harald Ernst (Switzerland)

5. During the review period, the Committee held three meetings: on 4 April, 19 June and on 25 October 1995. The minutes are contained in GPR/M/54, GPR/M/55 and GPR/M/56 (to be issued).

6. The Committee concluded its review of the 1990 statistics and derestricted them as of 4 April 1995. The 1990 statistics are contained in document GPR/60 and addenda. All Parties have submitted their statistics for 1991 and 1992, albeit some in provisional form, while most Parties have submitted them for 1993 and some for 1994 or are in the process of doing so, for review by the Committee. The 1991 statistics are contained in document GPR/70 and addenda; the 1992 statistics in document GPR/72 and addenda; the 1993 statistics in document GPR/75 and addenda; and the 1994 statistics in document GPR/78 and addenda. Certain questions have been asked on the statistics notified and clarifications provided.

7. Rectifications of a purely formal nature pursuant to Article IX:5(a) were notified to the Committee by Finland (GPR/W/140). They became effective on 13 February 1995.

8. The Committee, at its meeting of 4 April, considered a notification from Sweden, based on Article IX:5(b), informing it of changes to its entity list (GPR/W/133 and GPR/W/139). It took note of the European Communities' statement that, in view of the European Communities' enlargement to include Austria, Finland and Sweden from 1 January 1995, the Annexes of these three countries needed to be folded into those of the European Communities and that, in that framework, Sweden's changes to its entity list would be reflected.

9. On 24 August 1994, the Committee adopted a decision on the terms on which the Kingdom of the Netherlands with respect to Aruba might accede to the Agreement on Government Procurement (document GPR/77, dated 24 August 1994). The Agreement on Government Procurement will enter into force for the Kingdom of the Netherlands with respect to Aruba thirty days following the date on which its instrument of accession will have been received by the Director-General.