This document provides historical background on the development of the Provisional Central Product Classification (CPC). Key points include:
1) There was a recognized need in the 1970s to improve harmonization among various international economic classifications. This led to the development of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) and a program to harmonize classifications.
2) The CPC was developed as part of this harmonization program to provide a classification covering both goods and services. It was intended to use HS subheadings for goods and reflect categories of economic supply and use from the UN's System of National Accounts (SNA).
3) A Joint Working Group on World Level Classifications was formed