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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