GATT/AIR/2640 14 JULY 1988

SUBJECT: TECHNICAL GROUP ON QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS AND OTHER NON-TARIFF

MEASURES

1. GATT/AIR/2566 CALLED FOR THE BIENNIAL COMPLETE NOTIFICATIONS BY ALL

CONTRACTING PARTIES OF THE QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS WHICH THEY MAINTAIN BY

30 APRIL 1988. GATT/AIR/2610 ALSO RELATED TO THIS SUBJECT AND, INTER ALIA.

NOTED THAT SOME CONTRACTING PARTIES WOULD BE BASING THEIR NOTIFICATIONS ON

THE HARMONIZED SYSTEM.

2. IT IS NOW CLEAR BOTH THAT SOME DELEGATIONS NEED MORE TIME TO COMPLETE THEIR NOTIFICATIONS AND THAT THE TECHNICAL GROUP WILL HAVE TO MEET EARLIER THAN HAD BEEN FORESEEN BECAUSE THE SESSION OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD. THE SECRETARIAT WILL THEREFORE NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT TIME TO PUT TOGETHER AND PROCESS A NEW SET OF BASIC DOCUMENTS AND ANALYSES. IT THEREFORE PROPOSES TO ISSUE ALL NOTIFICATIONS MADE BY 31 JULY 1988 IN THE FORM IN WHICH THEY ARE MADE AND NOTIFICATIONS MADE AFTER THAT DATE AS AND WHEN RECEIVED. THESE WOULD BE USED BY THE TECHNICAL GROUP FOR ITS MULTILATERAL REVIEW.

3. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE MEETING OF THE TECHNICAL GROUP BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER, TO CARRY OUT ITS MULTILATERAL REVIEW AND TO PREPARE ITS REPORT TO THE CONTRACTING PARTIES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE TECHNICAL GROUP MEET FOR THIS PURPOSE ON 14 SEPTEMBER 1988, DATE TO BE CONFIRMED AFTER CONSULTATION WITH DELEGATIONS.

88-1070