How do Schedules change
Goods schedules constantly change due to "rectifications" and "modifications", which can result from a number of different procedures.
The main difference between these two categories is that "rectifications" are changes of purely formal character whereas "modifications" have an impact on the level of the concession bound in a Member Schedule.
The large majority of changes to Goods Schedules take place under the 1980 Procedures for the rectification and modification of Schedules.
How do the 1980 procedures work?
The large majority of changes to Goods Schedules take place under the so-called "1980 Procedures for the modification and rectification of Schedules". Under these procedures, all WTO Members have an opportunity to review the proposed changes and to approve them if there are no objections from other members. In the absence of any objections, the proposed changes are "certified" by the WTO Director-General.
To date, more than 97% of such procedures have been successfully concluded.