GENERAL AGREEMENT on COM TD/W/LLDC/3 TARIFFS and TRADE Limited Distribution
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RESTRICTED GENERAL AGREEMENT ON COM TD/W/LLDC/3 TARIFFS AND TRADE Limited Distribution Sub-Committee on Trade of Least-Developed Countries 13 July 1981 EXPORT INTERESTS OF LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (Tariffs, Non-Tariff Measures and Trade Flows) Prepared by the Secretariat 1. As indicated in the Annex to the note on proceedings of the first meeting of the Sub-Committee (COMTD/LLDC/1), point (iii) of the Sub-Committee's future work is concerned with the identification of the export interests of least-developed countries and the commercial policy measures applied to the products of such countries in major markets. In this respect, the Sub-Committee noted that consideration of this matter could be based on a secretariat background note providing statistical as well as tariff and trade information on selected items exported by individual least-developed countries and showing developed country markets and the commerciaL policy applied. 2. The Annex indicates further that least-developed countries could be invited to notify additional products of export interest. In addition, particular points relating to the application of the non-tariff measures agreements could be raised. 3. The Annex also states that the object wouLd be to identify continuing barriers to the exports of least-developed countries for discussion, comment and suggestions in the Sub-Committee, as a contribution to work on the possibilities for further trade liberalization in the Sub-Committee itself or in other contexts. A summary of the views and comments put forward on this matter at the Sub-Committee's first meeting may be found in paragraphs 6-11 of COM.TD/LLDC/1. 4. In the first part of this note(pages 3-101), the data on trade flows and applicable tariffs at the tariff-line level contained in COM.TD/W/LLDC/1l/Add.1 are updated wherever possible. The second part of the note (pages 102-124) assembles, on a preliminary basis, certain information at the four-digit CCCN Level on non-tariff measures applied by the main importing countries. Because available information on product classifications and descriptions relating to certain non- tariff measures do not coincide with those for tariffs, it was mot possible to amalgamate the two sections with a view to providing a composite picture of the situation. 5. As a practical approach, tariff and trade data have been extracted basically from the tariff study files which are expected to be updated later in the year in the light of the availability of more recent material on trade flows. COM.TD/W/LLDC/3 Page 2 6. Details concerning non-tariff measures have been extracted in the main from the revised Joint Working Group document (L/5090), secretariat notes on the post-Tokyo Round situation for tropical products prepared for the Committee on Trade and DeveLopment and other information available in the secretariat. It might be noted that in some cases non-tariff measures have been identified even though the country applying the measure has not recorded imports for the year covered from the least-developed country or countries which are exporters of the products concerned. Details of certain other trade measures, e.g. those in the field of textiles covered by the Textiles Arrangement may be found in the relevant documentation. 7. The inclusion of specific non-tariff measures in the tabulations is not intended to imply any judgement by the secretariat regarding the rights of contracting parties under the General Agreement or regarding the actual or potential trade effects of any measure. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, the tabulations should not be considered as containing a comprehensive and exhaustive list of aIl non-tariff measures applying to items of interest to least-developed countries. It is in this context that such material has been provided on a preliminary basis and is subject to amendment, deletion, addition, etc., in order to obtain a more precise picture of the application of non-tariff measures to products of export interest to least-developed countries. 8. For further details concerning the tabulations shown in parts I and II which follow, delegations are invited to refer to the explanatory notes pertaining to them. COM.TD/W/LLDC/3 Page 3 I. IMPORTS FROM LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES BY SOME INDUSTRIAL COUNTRIES AND TARIFF TREATMENT 1. The attached tabLes provide details in respect of imports from least- developed countries into eleven developed country marketsi, which were dutiable on an m.f.n. basis at the beginning of tLe MTN, and applicable pre- and post-MTN, m.f.n. and GSP duty rates. Delegations are invited to inform the secretariat of any amendments and additions, etc., that might be required. 2. For convenience, trade data in the third and fourth columns have been extracted from Tariff Study files and relate generally to the year 1977.2/ In the third column, total imports from all sources are shown, with imports from developing countries in parenthesis. Column 4 shows the value of imports of the product concerned from least-developed countries, and column 5 identifies the main least-developed country suppliers. 3. The other columns gve the pre-MTN and post-MTN tariff rates. A small dash (-) in the GSP columns means that the item is not covered by GSP. The word "Free" in the m.f.n.. or GSP columns indicates that there is no duty on the item either on an m.f.n. basis or under the GSP as applicable. 4. Where there is special tariff treatment for least-developed countries, it is shown either by a footnote to the appropriate country table or in parenthesis in the m.f.n. or GSP columns by the symbol "LLDC Free", indicating that no duty is chargeable when the item is imported from least-developed countries. - Australia, Austria, Canada, EEC, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and United States -/Data for Australia, Austria, Canada and Norway cover the previous year, and for New Zealand 1978. COM.TD/W/LLDC/3 Page 4 LIST OF COUNTRY ABBREVIATIONS AND NAMES LLDC DC AFG - AFGHANISTAN ALA - AUSTRALIA BGD - BANGLADESH AUT - AUSTRIA BPR - BENIN (Dahomey) CAN - CANADA BTN - BHUTAN EEC - EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY BWA - BOTSWANA i .e. BLX - BELGIUM-LUXEMBOURG BDI - BURUNDI BEL - BELGIUM CPV - CAPE VERDE ISLANDS DNK - DENMARK CAF - CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC FRA - FRANCE TCD - CHAD DEU - GERMANY FED. REP. COM - COMOROS IRL - IRELAND ETH - ETHIOPIA ITA - ITALY GMB - GAMBIA NLD - NETHERLANDS GIN - GUINEA GBR - UNITED KINGDOM GNB - GUINEA-BISSAU FIN - FINLAND HTI - HAITI JPN - JAPAN LAO - LAO PEOPLE'S DEM. REP. NZL - NEW ZEALAND LSO - LESOTHO NOR - NORWAY MWI - MALAWI SWE - SWEDEN MDV - MALDIVES SWZ - SWITZERLAND MLI MALI USA - UNITED STATES NPL NEPAL NER NIGER RWA RWANDA WSM SAMOA SOM SOMALIA SDN SUDAN UGA UGANDA TZA UNITED REP. OF TANZANIA HVO UPPER VOLTA YEM YEMEN, ARAB REP. YMD YEMEN, DEMOCRATIC COM. TD/W/LLDC/3 Page 5 AUSTRALIA: IMPORTS FROM LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES. 1979 .(US$'000) and applicable pre- and post-MTN m.f.n. and GSP duty rates (The column headings are translated into French and Spanish on this page only, :as indicated below) Total imported Imports from Main least Pre-MTN Post-MTN CCCN Tariff line and description (from develop- least developed developed base rate final rate ing countries) countries country suppliers MFN GSP MFN GSP ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- W- l 09.1r 300 Dry ginger, unground n.e.s, 12 3 BGD t08kg $0. 58/kg (12) less 46% less 46. of value of value. or if or i. higher higher 10% *$0.77/kg less 62.5% of value or if higher 12.5% 16.0O 900 ;Freserved mea'crmeant 5083 ETH 7.5% and Free 7.5% and Free offal, other than brains, (388) o ri/k $r,.o/kgi jellies and the like *10% and $0. 11/kg 24.01 210 Tobacco for manufacturing I9512 I 390) MWI $a.18/kg $0.96/kg $0 7/kgs $0. 38/kg cigaites or fine Cletobacco (`9() that vllacontain Australian *$. jk grown tobacco, by by-law 220 Tobacco for manufacturing 1422 127 WI $0 662/kg $0. /g -'~ .265/l'g tobacco that will contain ((1) Australian grov tobacco by .10/kg by-lR 27.10 30 gaolinee and other oils 10716 15( YMD $0.04900! $0. 051,/ for use as fuel in ai rcraft, (10710) litre litre by by-law *$0.173/ gallon 42.02 900 Other travel goods 2217 3 NPL, TZA, BWA 34%. (lr, 25% cr 6% or 10% (13926) (leather) 30% (leather' *45% 21i 15% or 2% (or) (other) 6% or 151 (handbags snd purses 43.03 000 lods made of furskin 825 1 BWA 39% 49% primaer 3; (245) 7% . primage: 7% Disae: 7% *65% and primage lû 14.05 920 Other wood sawn 28275 3 WSM $7. 32/m3 $6.88/m3 Free- lengthwise less than 112 cm (27398) 5% or 10%4/Free or cross-section *$5.75,'m3 l:-5$0. /m 4/ L4. 13 900 Other wood, planed, tongued 7846 6 WSM Various : j$lû7/m3 22.5% Free 5/ grooved, r'ailed, chambered (6537) In the pre-MTN column, iTn addition to the 1976 rates, MN rates as of 1 January 1973 have been indicated with an asterisk For fro n cooked t.rk- roll and canne$d poultry the rate is 32 and Q;.032/kg 2/The Government of Australia has entered into a commitment that ntmhe level of the statutory miium content of Ausrtrnlian-grown len required to qualify for by-lav treatment under these items will not be increased above 50% 4'For teak, mahogany and ebony, implemented as ot' 1.1.8O F/For other l'For balsam Douglas fir.