WTO Market Access Databases

I. Contents

a. What is the Integrated Database

(IDB)

b. What is the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS)?

c. The Harmonized System

d. Who has access to the IDB and CTS?

Module 1: Basic Concepts (IDB and CTS)

The IDB contains WTO members' annual notifications on tariffs and trade, linked at the tariff line level as of 1996. On the tariff side, it contains MFN current applied duties and if provided, MFN current bound duties and preferential duties at the most detailed product level (the country’s own tariff nomenclature). On the trade side, it contains imports by country of origin, in value and quantity by tariff line. Product descriptions at the tariff line level are also part of the database.

This information is disseminated using Internet-based data extraction and analytical applications.

a. What is the Integrated Database (IDB)?

The IDB data flow

WTO Secretariat

Users

Data processing

Data dissemination

Use

* G/MA/239, 13 July 2009

Notifications from WTO members

Data collection from the Secretariat*

Applied tariff regimes: MFN vs. Preferential

MFN (most favoured nation) tariff regime refers to the tariff which a WTO member imposes on goods imported from another WTO member. The level of tariff should not be greater than the bound tariff agreed to when the member joined the WTO.

Other applied tariff regimes

• Reciprocal preferential – applied tariff as a result of trade agreements between members concerned, e.g., North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) free trade agreement. Preferential tariffs among WTO members are also subject to concerned members’ WTO concessions.

• Non-reciprocal preferential – tariff lower than the MFN which a country grants to its partner usually by virtue of the partner’s lower level of economic development, e.g. LDC tariffs, African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA).

• Memo item: General – tariff regime applied to trading partners which are non-WTO members.

The IDB Contents

Customs tariffs MFN applied duties as of 1996 MFN current bound duties Preferential duties (e.g. GSP, LDC, FTAs, RTAs , etc.) Ad Valorem Equivalents (AVE’s) Tariff rate quotas (TRQs)

Imports Values and volumes as of 1996 by country of origin at the national tariff line level

Other information

Product descriptions Correlation tables

The IDB includes also information on non-WTO members

Tariff line code Country of

origin

Value (US

dollars)

Quantity

1

Quantity

unit 1

Quantity

2

Quantity unit

2

0101.21.00 Argentina 350 000 2 Tonne 4 Heads

0101.21.00 Australia 200 000 1.5 Tonne 2 Heads

0101.21.00 Brazil 90 000 0.5 Tonne 1 Heads

0101.21.00 Hungary 450 000 2.7 Tonne 5 Heads

…

2905.45.00 Australia 100 200 KG

2905.45.00 Brazil 200 400 KG

2905.45.00 Hungary 100 200 KG

2905.45.00 Czech Republic 200 400 KG

2905.45.00 Sri Lanka 50 100 KG

2905.45.00 China 10 20 KG

Tariff line code Product Description

Duty types

MFN

Applied duty rate

Preferential

duty rate 1

Preferential

duty rate 2

0101.21.00 Live purebred breeding

horses 10% 5% 0%

0101.29.00 Live horses other than

purebred breeding horses 10$ per Kg 5$ per Kg 3$ per Kg

0101.30.00 Live asses 10% +15$ per Kg 15$ per Kg -

0101.90.30 Mules and hinnies

imported for immediate

slaughter

25% 10% -

0101.90.40 Mules and hinnies not

imported for immediate

slaughter

35% 10% -

The IDB structure

Customs duties at the NATIONAL tariff line level

Import statistics at the NATIONAL tariff line level

All data are linked at the most detailed level. In both, the tariff and the imports file, information is recorded in the same nomenclature and at the same level of detail. All nomenclature codes in the imports file, must also exist in the tariff file.

* Notification requirements

In July 1997, the General Council decided that all WTO members would submit import statistics and tariff information at the most detailed national level to the WTO Secretariat on an annual basis. The information included in the IDB comes directly from national official sources and is submitted to the Secretariat through governments' WTO representatives.

* Framework decision

To overcome gaps in members' notifications and delays in providing the information to users, the Committee on Market Access adopted in July 2009 a framework to enhance the IDB notifications compliance and gave the WTO Secretariat more flexibility to collect missing data from other official sources, subject to member's approval.

Where does the information contained in the IDB come from?

The IDB notification requirements

General Council Decision (16 July 1997)

• Annual notification compulsory

• No fixed format - PC formats as in capitals

Deadlines for submissions:

• tariffs 30 March (current year)

• imports 30 September (previous year)

Technical assistance available upon request

The IDB Framework decision

Committee on Market Access (13 July 2009)

For members with significant gaps in their IDB submissions, the WTO Secretariat after having sent a reminder, can retrieve the relevant data from the following sources:

• National agencies or ministries

• National governmental websites

• Regional inter-governmental agencies or regional integration agreements' secretariats

• Other international organisations

Members have a period of sixty days to raise any objection regarding the source proposed or the data retrieved.

Interested to know more?

Council on 16 July 1997 on the Supply of Information for the Integrated Database for Personal Computers (WT/L/225), and (2) access to the IDB.

Framework to enhance IDB notifications compliance

Gaps and delays in submitting tariff or import information to the Integrated Database (IDB) are usually not related to the unavailability of the data at national level. To overcome this lack on compliance, technical assistance is a key option for enhancing the members' capacity in fulfilling their notification requirements. By giving to the Secretariat more flexibility to collect data from official national, regional or international sources under certain circumstances, the participation in the IDB will be increased and the reporting burden that presently falls on the members' delegations eased.

See doc G/MA/239

See doc Modalities and operation of the Integrated Database (G/MA/IDB/1/Rev.1/Add.1)

Overview of Notification Requirements for the Integrated Database (IDB)

The General Council adopted on 16 July 1997 a decision on the Supply of Information to the Integrated Database (WT/L/225). It states, inter alia, that WTO members shall supply to the Secretariat, on an annual basis, a comprehensive set of tariff duties and imports statistics at the level of customs tariffs lines.

See doc Overview of Notification Requirements for the Integrated Database (IDB)

Modalities and operation of the Integrated Database

This addendum to G/MA/IDB/1/Rev.1 incorporates two decisions of the Committee taken on 2 December 1997 concerning: (1) the deadlines for IDB submissions, pursuant to the decision adopted by the General

12

National files

Submissions

IDB

Dissemination database

Verification & validation

National reference files

Data conversion, corrections &

formatting

IDB reference files

Problems

Contact national experts

Processing of IDB Data

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Processing of IDB Data (cont’d)

Submissions: Record dates of submission, revised versions, problems, contact details, etc. Verification and validation: File readable, HS nomenclature (Imp/tariff), Complete national HS, Total imports, reference information. Link between Submissions and IDB: Data editing, check consistency, transform national codes to WTO standards, generate variables for applications, link tariff data with imports, ... Problems: During data processing, national experts will be contacted for any problem which the Secretariat cannot solve.

• Formats

• Problems in nomenclature

− HS version

− level of detail

− invalid codes

− missing codes

• Consistency of files

• Data coherence

• Missing information

− duties

− partners

− quantities

Difficulties in processing of IDB Data

Difficulties in processing of IDB Data (cont’d)

Formats: When PDF files or Text files are protected or are unreadable data can not be extracted. Also, when data are not structured properly (in a World document format f.i.) they can be misaligned and induce errors in processing. HS version: When files contain product codes in different versions of the HS. Level of detail: When the file contains different number of digits, at the tariff line level (f.i some tariff lines are at 8-digits and some at 6- digits). Invalid codes / Missing codes: When files contain many invalid HS codes or many HS codes are missing. Consistency of files: Tariff and imports for a given year should be at the same level of detail (i.e. same number of digits for all product codes) and same version of the HS, as in the IDB imports are linked to the tariff information at the tariff line level. Data coherence: The tariff schedule is compared to the country’s previous years schedules. The total import value is compared to previous years values and to data reported by other international bodies. Missing information: Lots of missing duties or missing information on partners, quantities etc. can not be retrieved from previous years files.

Interested to know more about the IDB?

Contact Should you require more details on the IDB, you can contact the team in Geneva at the following e-mail address:

idb@wto.org or

at the following mail address: World Trade Organization, Economic Research and Statistics Division, IDB Section, Rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Genève 21, Switzerland.

b. What is the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS)?

The CTS database contains all WTO members' tariff concessions on goods in a standardized format. It also contains other additional commitments related to the negotiations on Agriculture.

The database has been established as a working tool only, without implications as to the legal status of the information therein.

This information is disseminated using Internet-based data extraction and analytical applications.

Where does the CTS information come from?

To improve the situation regarding the recording of members' concessions on goods the CTS project was approved by the WTO Committee on Market Access on 27 November 1998. The project involved the formatting, consolidation and standardization of members' tariff commitments (bound tariffs) and specific commitments in agriculture (domestic support, export subsidies and tariff quota information). While developed members prepared their own CTS files, the Secretariat prepared the CTS files for all developing members in a standard format. The files were then reviewed by the members concerned for approval. Comments and clarifications from members were introduced into their files after which they were deemed approved. Members have the right to review and amend their CTS files at any time.

The CTS in brief

What is the CONSOLIDATED Tariff Schedule?

• ONE listing; • ALL the tariff concessions of a member; • All the UPDATES with respect to tariff concessions;

Legal Status The CTS database is a working tool only and has no legal status.

Nevertheless, CTS electronic files are subject to MEMBERS’ APPROVAL; each consolidated file was reviewed by the relevant member before inclusion into the database.

Domestic Support: Total AMS Commitment Section I

Export subsidies: Scope of export subsidies Section II

Export subsidies: Budgetary outlay and quantity reduc. Section I

Duties IA

Tariff Rate Quota IB

Agricultural Products (AoA) Section I

Other Products Section II

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Preferential Rates

Non-tariff Concessions

Agriculture / subsidies

MFN Tariff

SS

CH

ED

ULE O

F C

OM

MITM

EN

TS

Schedule of Commitments

CTS

CTS

Tariff quotas Before the Uruguay Round some agricultural imports were restricted by quotas and other Non-Tariff Measures. They were replaced by tariffs providing equivalent level of protection. To ensure that quantities imported before the agreement took effect (could continue to be imported) with duty rates that were not prohibited, a system of tariff quotas was established. Low tariff for a determined quantity – higher tariff for the quantities exceeding the quota.

Schedule of Commitments (cont’d)

Domestic support Members calculated how much support they were providing (policies with direct effect on production and trade) a year in the agricultural sector - Total Aggregate Measurement of Support (AMS). Commitments required members to reduce the Total AMS. Export subsidies Export subsidies are prohibited unless specified in their list of commitments. Commitments required members to cut the amount spent on export subsidies and the quantities receiving subsidies.

GATT Article II

“a. Each contracting party shall accord to the commerce of the other contracting parties treatment no less favourable than that provided for in the appropriate part of the appropriate Schedule annexed to this agreement.”

The schedule lists all the commitments taken by a country not to raise the applied duty (or any other concession) to other WTO members above a determined (negotiated) level, which is the bound duty. Commitments were originally contained in several legal instruments called “Protocols”. The first round of negotiations took place in Geneva in 1947 and involved 23 countries. The results of the UR negotiations list individual countries’ commitments on specific categories of goods and services. All tariff lines are bound in the agricultural sector. Tariff bindings and other concessions are contained in the “Schedules of concessions”. Each Member of the WTO has its own Schedule except customs unions where two or more Members have one single schedule (i.e. EU). Schedules are “annexed” and an “integral part of Part I” of the GATT. Thus, amendments require acceptance by all Members (See GATT Art. XXX and Art. X of Marrakech Agreement).

Schedule of Commitments (cont’d)

• Bound duties

• Other duties and charges

• Special Safeguards (SSG)

• Initial Negotiating Rights (INR)

• Tariff rate in / out quota duties and quantities

• Export subsidy outlays and quantities

• Implementation period

• Legal document references

• All other information included in the Schedule

The CTS contents

• Bound duties

• Other duties and charges

• Special Safeguards (SSG)

• Initial Negotiating Rights (INR)

• Tariff rate in / out quota duties and quantities

• Export subsidy outlays and quantities

• Implementation period

• Legal document references

• All other information included in the Schedule

The CTS contents

A bound duty is a commitment not to raise the tariff rate above the level specified (Art. II of the GATT 1994).

• Bound duties

• Other duties and charges

• Special Safeguards (SSG)

• Initial Negotiating Rights (INR)

• Tariff rate in / out quota duties and quantities

• Export subsidy outlays and quantities

• Implementation period

• Legal document references

• All other information included in the Schedule

The CTS contents

All taxes levied on imports in addition to the customs duties like "development tax", "stamp tax", "fiscal tax" etc.

• Bound duties

• Other duties and charges

• Special Safeguards (SSG)

• Initial Negotiating Rights (INR)

• Tariff rate in / out quota duties and quantities

• Export subsidy outlays and quantities

• Implementation period

• Legal document references • All other information included in the Schedule

The CTS contents

Imposition of an additional tariff when certain criteria are met (based on import volume/price) and “serious injury” to the domestic economy is assessed.

• Bound duties

• Other duties and charges

• Special Safeguards (SSG)

• Initial Negotiating Rights (INR)

• Tariff rate in / out quota duties and quantities

• Export subsidy outlays and quantities

• Implementation period

• Legal document references

• All other information included in the Schedule

The CTS contents

The member with whom a bilateral concession was initially negotiated holds an INR.

• Bound duties

• Other duties and charges

• Special Safeguards (SSG)

• Initial Negotiating Rights (INR)

• Tariff rate in / out quota duties and quantities

• Export subsidy outlays and quantities

• Implementation period

• Legal document references

• All other information included in the Schedule

The CTS contents

In-quota bound duty and quota quantity are recorded at the tariff line level and linked to the out of quota bound duty.

• Bound duties

• Other duties and charges

• Special Safeguards (SSG)

• Initial Negotiating Rights (INR)

• Tariff rate in / out quota duties and quantities

• Export subsidy outlays and quantities

• Implementation period

• Legal document references

• All other information included in the Schedule

The CTS contents

Export subsidy bound outlay level and quantity recorded at the tariff line level and linked to relevant tariff concessions.

• Bound duties

• Other duties and charges

• Special Safeguards (SSG)

• Initial Negotiating Rights (INR)

• Tariff rate in / out quota duties and quantities

• Export subsidy outlays and quantities

• Implementation period

• Legal document references

• All other information included in the Schedule

The CTS contents

From (starting year) / To (final implementation year).

• Bound duties

• Other duties and charges

• Special Safeguards (SSG)

• Initial Negotiating Rights (INR)

• Tariff rate in / out quota duties and quantities

• Export subsidy outlays and quantities

• Implementation period

• Legal document references

• All other information included in the Schedule

The CTS contents

Code of the legal instrument that includes the concession.

Processing of CTS information

CTS database

Dissemination database

Consolidation, Verification, Formatting,

Standardisation

Rectifications, Modifications, Renegotiations

Problems

Contact national experts

Accessions

Pre-UR Commitments

Changes in HS nomenclature

Sectorial Agreements

UR Commitments

PR

E-U

RU

GU

AY

Civ

il A

irc

ra

ft

UR

UG

UA

Y

GA

TT

19

94

XXII P

HA

RM

A

Sp

irit

s

ITA

HS

19

92

/ H

S 1

99

6

Ac

ce

ss

ion

Re

ne

go

tia

tio

ns

Re

cti

fic

ati

on

s

HS

19

96

/ H

S 2

00

2

HS

20

02

/ H

S 2

00

7

HS

20

07

/ H

S 2

012

Sources of CTS data

Pre-Uruguay: Pre-Uruguay Round lists of concessions. Trade in civil aircraft: The concessions related to the Sectorial Agreement negotiated by a group of WTO members are included in the CTS. Uruguay Round Schedules: Uruguay Round Commitments. Uruguay Round Commitments.

Pharmaceutical Understanding: The concessions related to the Sectorial Agreement negotiated by a group of WTO members are included in the CTS. Distilled spirits: The concessions related to the Sectorial Agreement negotiated by a group of WTO members are included in the CTS. Information Technology Agreement (ITA): The concessions related to the Sectorial Agreement negotiated by a group of WTO members are included in the CTS. HS 1992/HS 1996: Certified document of HS 1992 to HS 1996 transposition of members’ Schedule of commitments. Protocols of Accession: All the negotiated and approved concessions agreed to by the WTO member when it joined the WTO are included in the database. Renegotiations: Documents regarding renegotiation of existing concessions, any approved renegotiations of commitments of a member’s concession through Article XXVIII are reflected in the CTS. Rectifications: Rectifications and modifications documents. HS 1996/HS 2002: Certification document for HS 1996 to HS 2002 transposition of CTS. HS 2002/HS 2007: Certification document for HS 2002 to HS 2007 transposition of CTS. HS 2007/HS 2012: Certification document for HS 2007 to HS 2012 transposition of CTS.

Sources of CTS data (cont’d)

How is the CTS kept up-to-date?

The Secretariat updates the CTS with new accessions and with rectifications and modifications that had not been included in the files initially approved by members. Corrections and revisions identified by members and the Secretariat are also being incorporated in the CTS files.

Further each member's commitments are regularly transposed to later versions of the HS in order to be more aligned with its own applied tariffs schedule.

Interested to know more about the CTS?

Contact

Should you require more details on the CTS, you can contact the team in Geneva at the following e-mail address: idb@wto.org or

at the following mail address:

World Trade Organization, Economic Research and Statistics Division, IDB Section, Rue de Lausanne 154, CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland.

Reference documents:

Consolidated Tariff Schedules database formats in HS2002 nomenclature (G/MA/244)

Procedure for the Introduction of Harmonized System 2007 changes to Schedules of Concessions using the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database (WT/L/673) Procedure for the Introduction of Harmonized System 2012 changes to Schedules of Concessions using the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database (WT/L/831)

c. The Harmonized System

The ''Harmonized System'' (HS) is an international product nomenclature for the description, classification and coding of goods, which was developed and is administered by the World Customs Organization (WCO). The HS covers all traded commodities.

The HS product classification is broken down by Sections, Chapters (HS 2-digit codes), Headings (HS 4-digit codes) and, at its most detailed level, Subheadings (HS 6-digit codes). The HS product classification was amended in 1992, 1996, 2002, 2007 and 2012. To suit their national requirements, countries break down the HS six-digit standard nomenclature into more detail (i.e. 8 or more digits) for their national customs classification. There is a wide variety in the number of tariff line codes and product descriptions used by national customs administrations.

Section 1

LIVE ANIMALS; ANIMAL PRODUCTS

Chapter 1

Live animals

Heading Subheading Product Description

01.01 Live horses, asses, mues and hinnies

0101.10 - Pure bred breeding animals

0101.90 - Other

01.02 Live bovine animals

0102.10 - Pure bred breeding animals

0102.90 - Other

Countries, under the HS Convention, are free to introduce national distinctions beyond the six-digit level. Reasons for doing this often include charging differentiated duties, collecting more detailed statistics and other purposes. These additional ''breakouts'' are often referred to as "national tariff lines". Many countries have expanded their national tariff nomenclature beyond the HS six-digit level to suit their own needs.

National Nomenclature

National Tariff Line

Description

Co

un

try

A

8702.10.10 Built-Up, Double Decker Bus

8702.10.20 Built-Up, having a seating capacity of 40 or more

8702.10.30 Built-Up, having a seating capacity exceeding 15 but not exceeding 40, including the driver

8702.10.40 Built-Up, having a seating capacity not exceeding 15, including the driver

8702.10.50 Other including completely knocked-down

Co

un

try

B

8702.10.10 Airfield passenger bus

8702.10.20 Low chassis bus, without steps and ladders at the vehicle door entrance , for which the height from the ground to the floor does not exceed 35 cm

8702.10.30 Hybrid electric-petroleum bus

8702.10.90 Other, with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel)

Co

un

try

C

8702.10.11 New

8702.10.19 Used

Motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, including the driver - with compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel)

Sample national breakdowns adopted by countries for HS subheading 8702.10

Further to the new dissemination policy adopted in July 2009 (see document G/MA/238) by the WTO Committee on Market Access and implemented in February 2010, the information contained in the IDB and CTS is available free to the public at the tariff line level for the tariffs and at the HS 6-digit level for the import statistics. The import information at the tariff line level is confidential and its distribution is restricted to authorized users.

d. Who has access to the IDB and CTS?

Information at the tariff line level available free to the public

Approved tariff data excluding any AVEs provided by members and imports at 6-digits

Information at the HS 6-digit level available free to the public

See doc G/MA/238

Public users

Authorized users

Authorized users have full access to the data i.e. , to approved and provisional tariff data including AVEs provided by members and imports at the tariff line level.

Authorized users :

• WTO members

• Acceding countries

• WTO Secretariat and

• Intergovernmental organizations

Use: for internal use and in context of technical assistance or capacity building in relation to market access

Publication of data according to conditions

See doc G/MA/238 and Addendum

Dissemination channels

On-line

• Tariff Download Facility (TDF)

http://tdf.wto.org

• Tariff analysis Online (TAO)

http://tao.wto.org

• File Transfer Facility (FTF)

https://sft.wto.org

On DVD

1 release of the CTS DVD per year

Authorized users

Free access

Free access

Authorized users

Overview of online tools

Dissemination of the Integrated Database (IDB) and the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database

This document sets out the dissemination policy for the Integrated Database (IDB) and the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database.

See doc 238.pdf

WTO Tariff Analysis Online – TAO

The WTO Tariff Analysis Online provides analytical tools for use with the Integrated Database (IDB) and the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database.

See doc TAOFlyerR1.pdf

WTO Tariff Download Facility – TDF

The Tariff Download Facility is a comprehensive database of WTO members’ customs tariffs and, where available, imports.

See doc TDFFlyerR1.pdf

WTP at your fingertips

Do you need tariff information during negotiations, meetings, or even while doing your research? Now, with a swipe or a tap of your finger on your iPhone or iPad screen, you can retrieve the tariff indicators which are published in the World Tariff Profiles (WTP) 2011, the most comprehensive tariff publication available.

See doc WTP_at your fingertips_flyer.pdf

TAO - Tariff Analysis Online

This online query application allows users to conduct analyses for an individual market at the tariff line level (to obtain information on specific products) and at summary levels (producing for example simple and trade-weighted tariff averages for Harmonised System (HS) chapters or any group of products of interest). Users can produce reports directly through the Internet, and can export results of reports to either an EXCEL or text file.

Public users can freely access TAO by registering online. Authorized users can access restricted information via TAO through the User ID and password sent to their respective WTO delegations.

TDF - Tariff Download Facility

This is an on-line aggregated version of the IDB and CTS database at the HS 6-digit level. Data can be freely downloaded for several members and for several years in one operation into spreadsheet formats.

Overview of online tools - Public and Authorized users

FTF - The IDB/CTS File Transfer Facility

Authorized users can access the FTF site using the governmental User-ID and password (same as for TAO). Authorized users can download the most recently processed data and other information such as documents or reference files prepared by the WTO Secretariat. New information is uploaded regularly.

The CTS DVD

Authorized users receive every year, one copy of the CTS DVD that contains the most recently processed CTS information. The CTS DVD contains only raw data in MS Access format and does not contain a software application for analysis of the information. With Release 14 it also includes a compilation of the original legal instruments by member.

Overview of online tools - Authorized users only

The World Tariff Profiles publication

• WTO members and selected countries/territories

• Tariffs and imports

• Summary, tariffs by ranges

• By groups of products

• Exports to major trading partners and duties faced

Download in PDF format.

I. Introduction

II. Demonstration

a. Login and registration – demo 1

b. Query/report on applied duties (IDB) – demo 2

c. Query/report on bound duties (CTS) – demo 3

d. Modifying a query by selecting new query parameters – demo 4

e. Printing and Download of Data - demo 5

f. Additional Metadata, Help Facility and Glossary – demo 6

Module 2: Tariff Analysis Online

I. Introduction

TAO allows users to:

• retrieve information on the customs duty which an importing country levies on its imports for each type of product (applied duty rates);

• get summary statistics like average tariff, total imports and top import partners or top import products, frequency distribution of duties by certain ranges, etc.;

• compare duties of two different tariff regimes (for example MFN tariffs vs tariffs imposed on products originating from LDC countries);

• determine the WTO agreed maximum limit of the tariff which a country can impose for each product (bound tariff).

II. Demonstration

a. Login and registration

b. Query/report on applied duties (IDB)

• What was the average applied MFN duty for Canada imports in 2010?

• What was the tariff for “Girls’ suits…, of cotton” (HS 610442) in Canada in 2010? Which are the major suppliers for this product for the same period?

c. Query/report on bound duties (CTS)

• Tariff concessions of Viet Nam on “Preserved or prepared vegetables - potatoes”

(HS 200410) • Viet Nam quota concessions on cane sugar (HS 170111)

d. Query/report on both bound and applied data. Modifying a query by selecting new query parameters.

• Brazil has very good coffee. What was the 2010 MFN applied tariff of Brazil for coffee (specifically “Coffee roasted, not decaffeinated”)? If Brazil wants to raise tariff on imported coffee (e.g., to protect the local industry), would it be legal under WTO rules? If so, what would be the maximum duty that Brazil can impose?

e. Printing and Download of Data

f. Additional Metadata, Help Facility and Glossary

1

Course Guide ESTIMATED TIME: ½ hour

CONTENT:

Organization of your course;

Main functions of the E-learning platform;

The User Agreement.

MODULE

0

2

I. INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the course "The WTO Market Access Databases"!

This Course Guide is envisaged to give you an overview of the organization of your course, as well as of the

main functions of the E-learning platform.

At the end of the Course Guide, you will find the User Agreement, which was initially sent with your username

and password. We advise you to print this Guide and have it readily available throughout the course.

3

II. COURSE ORGANIZATION

II.A. OBJECTIVES

After successfully completing the elements of the E-learning course "The WTO Market Access Databases" you

will have:

acquired the knowledge of how to access and use the WTO's Integrated Database (IDB) and

Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database on-line, download data and generate reports;

benefited from the establishment of a network of useful contacts between course participants and

experts from the WTO Secretariat.

To facilitate the achievement the objectives of the course, you will have access to training materials,

background documents and the interactive tools of the E-learning platform.

II.B. STRUCTURE AND DURATION OF THE COURSE

WTO E-learning courses give you the flexibility to combine your training activities and professional

responsibilities. Furthermore, you will be able to wholly benefit from interactive activities such as Chat Sessions

with WTO Experts. WTO E-learning is available for government officials.

While the WTO E-learning material is freely available on the WTO E-learning website, you have to register and

submit the nomination form in order to access the course exam and obtain a WTO certificate. Once your

registration process is complete, a username and password will be sent to you by email. Your access codes will

be available for a three month period. In this period, you will have to complete AND submit the exam. During

these three months a Trainer will be available to assist you with any questions you may have.

The estimated study time per course is 10 hours.

Note

You will have access to the E-learning website during the duration of the course and your account will

expire at 23:59 (Geneva time) of the last day. In order to finalise the course in a timely manner, you

should submit the end-of-module exam before this deadline.

4

Structure of the course

Training materials The course comprises a flash-based module with several support documents

hyperlinks and a print version in PDF format.

Demonstrations The course is supported by 6 short animated demonstrations on how to use the

database.

End-of-module

Exam

Please note that you may take the end-of-module exam only once.

5

II.C. WHO IS WHO?

During your course, you will have the opportunity to interact with colleagues from other WTO Members and

Observers, as well as with WTO experts in the subject matter of the course and the E-learning Unit.

Who is who?

Participants Government officials who are taking part in the course and have the potential to

interact and build a network.

Trainer Your Trainer is a WTO expert, who is available to guide you and respond to your

queries on the academic content of the course. Feel free to contact your Trainer

using the Internal Email Service, whenever you need some clarification.

Help Desk The E-learning Help Desk is ready to assist you on technical issues related to the

functioning of the website.

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II.D. EVALUATION AND CERTIFICATE

At the end of the module, you will have to complete and submit an exam. This exam contains multiple-choice

questions addressing the substantive content. The result of this exam will be your course result. Should you

have questions on the evaluation of your exam, please remember to first carefully read the

reasoning for correct answer, which you will see together with your test results.

Note

You may only take the end-of-module exam once.

Upon successful completion of the course, the WTO Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation will issue

and send you a certificate, signed by the Director General, if you:

reach a final average of at least 60% of correct answers;

have taken part in the interactive activities (chat and/or forum).

Participants with outstanding results (i.e. a final result above 90%) will receive a Certificate with Distinction.

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III. E-LEARNING WEBSITE

The E-learning website has been designed for you and to foster an efficient training experience and allow you

to interact with other participants and WTO experts. It contains the training materials for your course, as well

as background documentation and interactive tools.

You may take the Online Tutorial available on the website, to get familiar with the different functions and

interactive tools.

Note

In order to login, you should always enter the username and password that were sent to you.

III.A. TRAINING MATERIALS

E-Learning offers comprehensive courses. This module consists of the following elements:

Flash-based module;

Print version in PDF;

Access to further information through hyperlinks or the module support documents;

End-of-module exam.

Furthermore, you will have access to the eLibrary, which contains background documents (WTO Agreements,

the Analytical Index of jurisprudence, Glossary of Trade Terms, Trade Policy Review Reports, List of

WTO members and Information on WTO Negotiations), as well as useful links to complement your study.

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III.B. INTERACTIVE TOOLS

The E-learning website offers interactive tools to foster the exchange among course participants, as well as

between participants and WTO experts. Please refer to the Online Tutorial for more detailed information on:

Interactive tools

Internal Email Service Your own E-learning email account! Use it to contact your Trainer, Help

Desk, other participants... and build-up your network.

Discussion Forum This is the place to discuss trade issues informally and exchange

viewpoints and experiences of your country and region with other

participants.

Chat Sessions Chat Sessions with WTO Experts and Special Guests will be organized

during the course. An invitation with the date and time will be sent to

you.

Important note

Do not wait to fully benefit from the interactive features of the E-learning website! Take the first step in

contacting your Trainer and take the initiative in the process... talk about the most important trade issues

for your country and region with colleagues and share your knowledge and experiences.

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IV. USER AGREEMENT

The use of the E-learning platform, the training materials and interactive features is subject to the terms and

conditions contained in the User Agreement. You have automatically agreed to the User Agreement by using

the log-in details (username and password) that were sent to you. The User Agreement reads as follows:

1. The E-learning platform is property of the World Trade Organization. It is managed by the E-learning Unit

of the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation and its objective is to deliver online courses on the

WTO and its Agreements, while taking full advantage of the internet and the latest multimedia

technologies.

2. The User is a trade official from a developing country or economy in transition, nominated by his/her

respective government. The User enjoys access to the - platform during the duration of the course, under

the following terms and conditions:

a. The WTO is the copyright holder of the content of the E-learning platform. Training materials and

other tools available online shall not be disseminated without prior written authorization from the

WTO E-learning Unit;

b. During the course, the User may print the training materials and documents available on the

E-learning platform for his/her personal use only;

c. Citations and references to the course materials available on the E-learning platform shall fully

acknowledge the source (i.e. WTO E-learning course);

d. Only authorized Users (i.e. participants, nominated by their governments, who have received a

username and password) are entitled to use the E-learning platform;

e. The User is responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of the username and password to access

the E-learning platform. If you become aware of any unauthorized use of your account, you shall

notify the E-learning Unit (elearning@wto.org) immediately;

f. The utilization of the E-learning platform and its contents shall be exclusively in relation to the

course that is being followed by the User;

g. Communications through email and the Discussion Forum may be monitored by the WTO to ensure

civility and compliance with the User Agreement;

h. If the User breaches the terms and conditions of this User Agreement, his/her right to access the

E-learning Platform will be revoked unilaterally by the WTO.

Email: idb@wto.org

WTO Tariff Download Facility (TDF) The Tariff Download Facility is a comprehensive database of WTO members’ customs tariffs and, where available, imports. The data are the general non-preferential duty rates (officially known as “most-favoured nation” or MFN duty rates) and are both the rates actually charged (or “applied”) and countries’ committed maximum rates (legally “bound” in the WTO). When available, it also provides data on non-MFN applied tariff regimes which a country grants to its export partners. They are disaggregated to the standard level of detail identified by six-digit codes under the World Customs Organization’s internationally agreed “Harmonized System (HS)”. The information on applied tariffs and imports comes from WTO members’ submissions to the WTO’s Integrated Database (IDB); bound rates come from the Consolidated Tariff Schedules (CTS) database covering all WTO members. The information complements the summary tariff statistics published in the WTO’s World Tariff Profiles. The Tariff Download Facility offers users flexibility in obtaining tariff data across countries, years and products. Data can be downloaded in Excel, XML or CSV formats. The two panels Reporters (countries) and Products each have a collapsible editing area, that allows users to select or deselect items. An area at the bottom shows the current selection. To limit the data shown in the Reporters (countries) editing area, use the Filter button at the upper left corner and select one of the filter criteria. In the example on the right, the application displays MFN bound and applied tariffs and preferential rates for the latest available three years. Products can be selected at different levels of disaggregation under the Harmonized System (HS): HS Chapter, HS heading and subheading. Note that all output is presented at HS subheading level. The product editing area also has a search function. When text describing a product is used to search for tariffs, the result is displayed in the form of all HS codes that contain that product description.

The database was published on the WTO website in July 2009, with interfaces in English, French and Spanish, at http://tdf.wto.org/. Once the reporters (countries), years and products are selected, click “next” and a new window displays the number of rows extracted (ie, the number of applied and bound tariffs).

2 WTO Tariff Download Facility

There are icons representing the available formats for downloading the data. Simply click on an icon to download the file in the desired format.

Example of a database extract in Excel format Note: Product descriptions are in the last column on the right. Header cells with a red corner tab have labels that give a short technical definition of the corresponding column.

The User Guide provides more comprehensive information on the application.

http://tdf.wto.org/ Email: idb@wto.org

A mobile application for the

World Tariff Profiles

Do you need tariff information during negotiations, meetings, or even while doing your research? Now, with a swipe or a tap of your finger on your iPhone or iPad screen, you can retrieve the tariff indicators which are published in the World Tariff Profiles 2011, the most comprehensive tariff publication available. The application is based on the RoambiTM software and offers a convenient, fast and portable way to access tariff statistics anytime. With several views available, all the information from the country pages of the World Tariff Profiles can be instantaneously displayed on your mobile screen. The application is very versatile. It has filter capability based on values or categories of certain variables. There are also chart options which allow the graphical presentation of data. In fact, by a tap on the screen, you can toggle between a plain tabular format and a chart. It also has search and sort functionalities as well as selection of variables or columns to display. Further, the corresponding country page of the WTP 2011 in .htm format can be accessed via a hyperlink. Sample Views: Cardex Views and SuperList View

The application works by providing customized views to the data in either a Cardex view or a SuperList view. The former is like a rolling index card wherein the statistics per country are contained in each card. The SuperList as the name implies, provides the data as a list, which is basically in tabular format similar to an EXCEL spreadsheet (swipe up and down, left and right to navigate). With a bigger screen in an iPad, the Cardex view allows for up to four countries to be displayed simultaneously thus making the comparison among the selected countries easy, dynamic and flexible. The display of each indicator can be synchronized or desynchronized within the chosen group. Sample iPad Synchronized or Desynchronized View

To request this new and functional application on your mobile device, send your email request to: idb@wto.org

Email: idb@wto.org

TAO

WTO Tariff Analysis Online TAO, the WTO Tariff Analysis Online provides analytical tools for use with the Integrated Database (IDB) and the Consolidated Tariff Schedules Database.1 This Internet-based facility allows users to select information by user-defined tariff and trade criteria, to compile thirteen reports (including tariff line level reports and summary reports) and to export report information to the desktop. The application in English, French or Spanish can be accessed at http://tao.wto.org/. It is a complement to the Tariff Download Facility (http://tdf.wto.org/), which contains information at the level of Harmonized System (HS) six-digit codes. Users first select the reporting country, year and products. This information is then summarized in a query, which can be reused or modified at any time.

Products can be selected at the level of HS chapter, HS heading and subheading. A product search function is also available. Simply type in the name of the product, e.g. "gloves", and all the HS codes having "gloves" in the product description will be displayed. Groups of products can be saved for later reuse.

It is also possible to refine the query by defining additional selection criteria on tariffs and/or trade flows. One can thus focus on certain duty types or duty levels, or identify tariff lines associated with a specific trading partner and trade value thresholds. The information retrieved through such a query allows for example to identify tariff peaks and/or products of export interest for a given country. This kind of information is necessary for any type of bilateral or multilateral trade negotiation.

1 The IDB contains WTO Members' annual notifications of tariff and trade information, linked at the

level of tariff lines as of 1996. The CTS contains all WTO Members' concessions on goods.

WTO Tariff Analysis Online

2

Reports:

Samples

Tariff Line Report: Principal Products Report: