Information Technology Agreement
The Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products (ITA) was concluded at the Singapore Ministerial Conference in December 1996. The ITA is solely a tariff cutting mechanism. There are three basic principles that one must abide by to become an ITA participant: 1) all products listed in the Declaration must be covered, 2) all must be reduced to a zero tariff level, and 3) all other duties and charges must be bound at zero.The commitments undertaken under the ITA in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are on a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) basis, (duties that are the maximum applied to other WTO member countries) and therefore benefits accrue to all other WTO Members. It is also a Plurilateral Agreement, which means it is not mandatory for all WTO members to subscribe to the Agreement.
The Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products
After the ITA came into being, the participants saw the need to establish a formal Committee under the WTO to carry out the provisions of the Declaration. The Committee held its first meeting in September 1997, and there has been approximately 5 meetings a year since that time.
In addition to the topic of product coverage, the Committee has worked on a number of other issues which include the examination of classification divergences, consultations on non-tariff barriers, introducing new participants and discussing implementation matters.
ITA II
The Ministerial Declaration and the Implementation document provides that participants will periodically review the product coverage (often termed ITA II) specified in the Attachments to the Declaration.
The participants submit lists of additional products for possible additional tariff concessions. No agreement has been reached to date on any products being added to the original coverage list and consultations between delegations continue.
UK interested parties who wish to be kept informed on significant developments and current negotiations are invited to contact.
Contact details:
Cynthia Reid
Tel: 020 7215 5139
Fax: 020 7215 2234
Email: Cynthia.reid@berr.gsi.gov.uk