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Terms I  |
 Back to Home Page Foreword to the 2007 Ed. Preface to the First Ed. International Trade and WTO Terms A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z Index International Organisations, Agreements and Groups A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z Index Acronyms |
IDB / CTS Database (Integrated Data Base and Consolidated Database) IDB is a comprehensive database, administered by the WTO Secretariat, combining trade flow and import-export prices data with tariff information for WTO members. The CTS database covers consolidated WTO tariff schedules and agricultural commitments. [Market Access; GATT]
WTO panels and the Appellate Body can recommend that a party to a dispute bring a trade measure into conformity with the obligations of a covered agreement (DSU Article 19). Surveillance over implementation is governed by DSU Article 21 which establishes a procedure with the goal of assuring prompt compliance within a reasonable time (usually 15 months from the date that the relevant panel or Appellate Body Report was adopted). [Dispute Settlement]
Administrative procedures to monitor imports or to restrain imports subject to quantitative restrictions and other measures. Under provisions set out in the WTO Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, a licensing authority will normally require an application or other documentation—in addition to that required for customs purposes—as a prior condition for importation. [Market Access; Trade in Goods]
An approach to trade policy that focuses on the replacement of imports by domestically produced goods and services. It involved restrictions on imports or domestic subsidies. It was justified either by the infant industry protection argument or by the need to reduce current account deficits. Popular among developing countries during the 1960s and 1970s, these policies have largely been replaced by market opening measures aimed at stimulating competition and exports. [Trade and Development]
A universally recognised set of definitions of international trade terms, such as FOB, CFR (cost and freight) and CIF, developed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). It defines the trade contract responsibilities and liabilities between buyer and seller.
Part of the dispute settlement procedure in the field of pre-shipment inspection (PSI). The IE was established in December 1995 by the General Council under Article 4 of the WTO Agreement on Pre-shipment Inspection. The independent review procedure resolves disputes between an exporter and a pre-shipment inspection agency. The IE establishes panels which are required to make a decision, by a majority vote, within eight working days from the filing of the dispute. [Dispute Settlement]
The appearance or ornamental features of products including shapes, lines, motifs and colours. Industrial designs are protected mainly in consumer articles, like textiles, leather products and motorcars. The TRIPS Agreement (Articles 25 and 26) imposes an obligation on WTO countries to protect industrial designs that are new or original, thereby giving the owner exclusive rights to exploit the design. (See also: copyright) [Intellectual Property]
Protection by import restrictions or other means to enable a new industry to be established in a developing country. Article XVIII of GATT 1947 included provisions to allow withdrawal of concessions for this purpose. [Trade and Development]
A Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products aimed at the elimination of customs duties by January 2000 was agreed to by 29 members of the WTO at the Singapore Ministerial Conference in 1996. Implementation was contingent on expanding participation to cover approximately 90 per cent of world trade in IT products. By 1 April 1997, the criterion was met and it entered into force in 1997 with 40 participants. The ITA is applied on a multilateral basis (MFN - most-favoured-nation). [Market Access; Trade in Goods]
Liberalising commitments in trade in services made at the conclusion of the Uruguay Round. The term, which is no longer in use, referred to the first round of liberalisation undertaken by participants negotiating the GATS. These commitments were set out in Uruguay Round national services schedules. (See also: specific commitments) [GATS]
Initial negotiating rights are normally acquired when a WTO member participates in the initial negotiations on a bound tariff commitment made by another member. This may be during a trade round or an accession process. INRs become important if a member seeks to modify a scheduled commitment under Article XXVIII of GATT. (See also: modification of schedule) [Accession; Negotiations]
Written submission by a party to a dispute to the first meeting of the panel. According to DSU Article 12.6, the complaining party must present its initial submission before the responding party does so, unless the panel decides that both parties shall submit their initial submissions simultaneously. [Dispute Settlement] Damage to an industry caused by dumped, subsidised or rapidly increasing imports. The concept governs the imposition of anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard measures under the respective WTO Agreements. (See also: countervailing duties; determination of injury; dumping) [Anti-dumping; Safeguards; Subsidies]
(See: tariff quota)
The “topographies” of integrated circuits. The WTO TRIPS Agreement includes provisions for the protection of such designs. These are based on, but supplement, standards of protection in the Washington Treaty on Intellectual Property in Respect of Integrated Circuits, negotiated under the World Intellectual Property Organization. The TRIPS Agreement adds a minimum duration of protection of 10 years. [Intellectual Property]
The combination of resources from six agencies to provide trade-related technical assistance to least-developed countries. Launched in 1997, the programmes involve: the WTO, UNCTAD, ITC, the IMF, the World Bank and UNDP. The principal mechanism of the IF has become “mainstreaming” trade into development plans and strategies for poverty reduction. See list in Part II. (See also: Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers; preferences) [Trade and Development]
The Integrated Tariff of the European Community, from the French acronym Tarif intégré de la Communauté. It contains a nomenclature in 20 languages and comprises around 15,000 tariff lines, which include tariffs applied to third countries, applied preferential duty rates and other trade policy measures.
The phasing out of textile and clothing quotas under the WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing. Under the Agreement, quotas originally imposed under the Multifibre Arrangement (MFA) were removed in four stages, starting on 1 January 1995 (16 percent by volume of a member's total 1990 imports of all products in the Annex); 1998 (a further 17 percent); 2002 (a further 18 percent) and ending on 1 January 2005 (the remaining 49 percent). The Agreement expired on 31 December 2004. [Textiles and Clothing]
Measures which protect the exploitation of innovative and creative ideas. The owners of intellectual property―people, firms or organisations―enjoy rights to an intangible asset which can be bought, sold, licensed, exchanged or given away. The rights included in the TRIPS Agreement are: copyright, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs, patents, integrated circuit layouts and trade secrets. (See also: integrated circuit layout-designs; undisclosed information) [Intellectual Property]
The first complete version of a panel report sent to the parties. The interim report sets out both the descriptive sections and the panel’s findings and conclusions. Parties may ask the panel to review precise aspects. If there are no comments, the interim report becomes the final report and is circulated to all members. Prior to issuing the interim report, parties have an opportunity to review the descriptive elements—the factual background and arguments (DSU Article 15). (See also: interim review) [Dispute Settlement]
Stage in the dispute settlement process that takes place after rebuttal submissions and oral arguments. At this point parties have opportunities to review the descriptive aspects of a report followed by a first complete version (DSU Article 15). (See also: interim report) [Dispute Settlement]
(See: domestic support)
Committee formed by the representatives from capitals of the following WTO members: the Quad, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Korea, Luxembourg, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore and Switzerland. It was created around the time of the Second Session of the Ministerial Conference which took place in Geneva in May 1998, mainly to discuss the launching of the new round of multilateral trade negotiations. It became less visible after the Seattle Ministerial Conference. [Negotiations] A set of international standards for quality management and quality assurance. Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it has been adopted in more than 90 countries where it is implemented by private firms and public entities. Its primary aim is to give organisations guidelines on what constitutes an effective quality management system and how that system can be employed to secure long-term improvements in performance.
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Copyright © 2003 Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation (AITIC) First edition published August 2003 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation. |