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Import licensing

The Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures says import licensing should be simple, transparent and predictable so as not to become an obstacle to trade.

For example, the agreement requires governments to publish sufficient information for traders to know how and why the licences are granted. It also describes how countries should notify the WTO when they introduce new import licensing procedures or change existing procedures.

Technical Cooperation Handbook on Notification Requirements — Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures

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Introduction

Brief information on import licensing and the WTO
Links to import licensing section of the WTO guide “Understanding the WTO”

Technical information on import licensing

The mandate

Explanation of agreement on import licensing procedures

Browse or download the text of the “Agreement on Import Licensing” from the legal texts gateway

Find decisions of WTO bodies concerning the Agreement on import licensing in the Analytical Index — Guide to WTO Law and Practice

Work on import licensing in the WTO, and official documents

Work on this subject is handled by the Committee on Import Licensing. The committee supervises the implementation of the Agreement. It reviews at least once every two years the implementation and operation of the Agreement. Members are required to notify the Committee of any changes in their laws and regulations concerning import licensing. The current chair is .

Work in the Committee on Import Licensing

Search Documents Online
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Annual reports of the Committee on Import Licensing to the Council for Trade in Goods (Document code varies) > search > help
Biennial Reviews of the Implementation and Operation of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures (Document code varies) > search
Minutes of the meetings of the Committee on Import Licensing (Document code G/LIC/M/*) > search > help
Working documents of the Committee on Import Licensing to the Council for Trade in Goods (Document code G/LIC/W/*)
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Notifications of publications containing relevant information (Articles 1.4a and 8.2b) (Document code G/LIC/N/1/*)
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Notifications of import licensing procedures or changes in these procedures (Article 5, 5.1, 5.2) (Document code G/LIC/N/2/*)
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Notifications regarding the annual questionnaire (Article 7.3) (Document code G/LIC/N/3/*)
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Questions and replies to the Questionnaire on Import Licensing (Document code G/LIC/Q/*)
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