Version for the visually impaired
Chinese Taipei and Thailand confirmed that they have agreed to eliminate customs tariffs on more than 200 widely-traded information technology products on July 28, 2015.
Two Asian nations — both large producers of IT products — have joined other leading traders of high-tech goods in accepting the deal, which will see tariffs removed on products such as new-generation semi-conductors, GPS navigation systems, tools for manufacturing printed circuits, telecommunications satellites, and touch screens.
Fifty-four WTO members took part in the negotiations to expand product coverage of the WTO's 1996 Information Technology Agreement (ITA). Nearly all the participants have now confirmed their acceptance of the product coverage list, which was finalized on 24 July.
Under the declaration, participants have agreed to reduce tariffs on the covered goods in four equal annual reductions of customs duties, beginning on 1 July 2016 and concluding on 1 July 2019.
Each participant will, by October 30, 2015 submit draft schedules detailing how they will provide duty-free treatment to the covered products and make them binding under WTO rules. These schedules will be reviewed and approved by participants no later than December 4, 2015.
The participants have also agreed to meet no later than January 2018 to review the product coverage and consider whether the coverage list should be updated to incorporate additional products. In addition, they have agreed to intensify their discussions concerning non-tariff barriers in the information technology sector.