The 2011 chairpersons:

At the start of the meeting, the Council observed one minute of silence for the victims of the natural disaster in Japan.
  

EU tariff preferences for Pakistan

The European Union said that it had been consulting with delegations that had expressed difficulties with the EU request for a waiver on its tariff preferences for Pakistan. It believed it had eased some of the concerns, and intended to continue these consultations but stressed that further delays would defeat the purpose of providing immediate help to Pakistan's economy affected by the floods. The European Union said it saw the General Council meeting in May 2011 as the last real chance to resolve the issue.

The Chair said that as the consideration of the EU waiver request had exceeded 90 days, the Goods Council must provide a factual report on this situation to the May General Council.

India and Bangladesh confirmed they were consulting with the EU. Peru said it would welcome further consultations with the EU on this matter.
  

Waiver to Cape Verde approved

Cape Verde reiterated its request for a waiver to extend its implementation period of the Customs Valuation Agreement.  It reported it had had a positive exchange of views with delegations that requested more information on its request at the previous meeting, adding that it had updated its action plan to implement the Customs Valuation Agreement.

The United States requested that the draft waiver decision include a provision that Cape Verde would provide an interim progress report to the Customs Valuation Council by 30 September 2011. The European Union supported this proposal. Cape Verde fully agreed with the proposal.

The Council then approved Cape Verde's request and forwarded it to the General Council for adoption.

  
Trade concerns

The Council discussed trade concerns raised at previous meetings.

The European Union, also on behalf of Norway, said they were pleased with indications from Ukraine in recent consultations that it would be changing the customs valuation procedures they have questioned at the previous meeting. However, it stressed there must be real progress on the ground.

Switzerland and the United States said their exporters have also met customs valuation problems in Ukraine.

Ukraine said it was in the process of implementing major administrative reforms, including that of the customs service. It said it would welcome further meetings on this matter with interested delegations.

The European Union, the United States, Peru, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Turkey and Switzerland said that the situation regarding delays in the issuance of non-automatic import licences in Argentina had worsened and now covered more than 600 products, including automobiles and mobile phones.

Argentina maintained its measures are in line with the WTO, noting that it has held informal meetings with delegations on this matter. It said that on 15 March 2011 it had inaugurated online processing of import licensing applications, and welcomed further consultations on this issue.

Regarding Ecuador's mixed tariff system, the United States thanked Ecuador for its responses to questions but it continued to be concerned that the new system would exceed Ecuador's bound tariff of 30 per cent on textile, apparel and footwear. The European Union, Japan and Canada shared this concern.

Ecuador maintained that its new tariff structure is consistent with the WTO, adding that it had been pursuing the holding of consultations with interested delegations on this matter. Venezuela commended the transparency shown by Ecuador.
  

Regional trade agreements

The Chair informed the Council that the following free trade agreements had been notified:

• Between EFTA and Serbia
• Between Hong Kong, China, and New Zealand
• Between EFTA and Albania
• Between Turkey and Chile
• Between Turkey and Jordan.

He announced that the next meeting is scheduled for 1 July 2011.