Negotiators from 54 World Trade Organization (WTO) members edged close to agreement on an accord which would expand the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and eliminate tariffs on an
additional list of roughly 200 products valued at about $1 trillion in annual trade. The products covered by the extension include new generation semi-conductors, global positioning system (GPS) navigation equipment and medical equipment, including magnetic resonance imaging products and ultra-sonic scanning apparatus.
Canada is one of approximately 50 WTO members participating in the expansion of the ITA, along with the European Union, Japan, China and the United States.
The WTO negotiators will now review and finalize the technical details of the Agreement. The conclusion of the ITA expansion agreement initiative is expected to be finalized in December 2015.
Legal text of the Ministerial Declaration on Trade in Information Technology Products and the HS classification list of products are found in Attachment A. Products of Chapters 38, 84, 85 and 90.
Dept. of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFATD) has published background information on the WTO Information Technology Agreement. Additional information can be found on the WTO website as well.