e_tit_trade.jpg (4825 bytes)

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "e_tit_trade.jpg (4825 bytes)"

Transcription

1 e_tit_trade.jpg (4825 bytes) TITLE The Agreement on rules of origin of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Informative Note November 1999 AUTHOR Permanent Secretariat of SELA. I. THE FRAMEWORK 1. What are the rules of origin? Rules of origin are a complex set of dynamic and interrelated criteria and principles according to which a country of origin is assigned to a traded product. Therefore, on the basis of a particular rule or sometimes a combination of rules, the origin of a good or product, for example, a car, is defined. The WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin applies exclusively to non-preferential rules trade.[1] The Agreement was adopted at Marrakesh as part of the final results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations (MTN). It came into force on January 1 st, Scope of WTO Rules of Origin. Rules of origin are the point of intersection of different and vital trade policy instruments. Article 1.2 of the Agreement on Rules of Origin, which defines the parameters and the scope of its application, illustrates this point. This scope includes all rules of origin used in non-preferential commercial policy instruments, such as in the application of: most-favoured nation treatment under Articles I, II, III, XI and XIII of GATT 1994; anti-dumping and countervailing duties under Article VI of GATT 1994; safeguard measures under Article XIX of GATT 1994; origin making requirements under Article IX of GATT 1994; and any discriminatory quantitative restrictions or tariff quotas [as well as] rule of origin used in government procurement and trade statistics. II. LESS ADVANTAGED COUNTRIES INTERESTS 3. Many developing countries have been adversely affected by changes of rules of origin by industrial countries, particularly regarding textiles. Thus, developing countries have a crucial interest in the file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrado...%20the%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO).html (1 of 8)12/09/ :07:57 a.m.

2 harmonization of rules of origin, and in fact several of them have been strong supporters of this work. However, at present, only a few developing countries take an active interest or participate in the negotiations. These countries are India on textiles; Colombia and Philippines on coffee, agricultural products, rules of origin for environmental protection, and textiles; Morocco on fisheries; Hong Kong and Singapore on watches. Apart from Morocco, no other African country takes an interest in matters pertaining to rules of origin, except for Nigeria which chaired the Committee on Rules of Origin in the first two years of the WTO ( ). This situation needs to be urgently corrected in the light of the importance of the subject matter and the new deadline of November 1999 (see 15 below) to complete the Harmonization Negotiations. 4. Perhaps because of this, the interest of developing countries on the subject has been on the increase. This has been reflected in the different and varied proposals that have been made on origin determination in the sector of textiles. Several developing countries, including India, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, have requested the Secretariat to undertake analysis to assess the impact of the different proposals for rules of origin in the textile sector on Members rights and obligations under the various WTO agreements. However, this request has met some opposition from several industrial country Members, who argue that this would put the Secretariat in a position of interpreting the agreements, which should be the responsibility of Committee Members. 5. What about preferential rules of origin? There is no work programme at the WTO that includes preferential rules of origin. However, Annex II of the WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin, contains the Common Declaration with Regard to Preferential Rules of Origin. In sum, in this Declaration, the general principles and requirements applicable to nonpreferential rules also apply to the preferential rules. III. RATIONALE AND GENERAL USES 6. Rules of origin are a vital and indispensable aspect of the multilateral trading system. There are a variety of reasons why countries need to attach a country of origin to a good. Some of these reasons are consistent with the open and non-discriminatory fundamental principles of the trading system, other reasons are based on narrower definitions of domestic trade interests. For whatever reason, expert knowledge and use of rules of origin constitute an essential requirement for the trade policy specialist to function in the multilateral trading system. 7. Why are countries interested in shaping the structure of rules for the determination of the origin of a good and why do countries want to know the origin of a good? There are several reasons chief of which are the following: (i) Preferential tariffs. The trade policy of countries and file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrado...%20the%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO).html (2 of 8)12/09/ :07:57 a.m.

3 particular regional trading arrangements are sometimes discriminatory. Knowledge of the origin of a good makes it possible to discriminate between and amongst imports so as to accord preferential treatment according to special trading arrangements such as in regional trading areas; (ii) Application of anti-dumping and countervailing duties. In circumstances where goods are being dumped by one country in the market of another, knowledge of the origin makes focused and targeted anti-dumping actions and the application of countervailing duties, possible; (iii) Trade statistics and the maintenance of quota systems. Assignation of origin facilitates the compilation of trade statistics and trends either for a country or for a region. On the basis of reliably compiled trade figures, trade authorities are able to maintain quota systems, in the event that such systems exist. Restrictive quotas may be imposed for any number of reasons, from trade defence purposes to reasons of environmental protection under Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) such as CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora; (iv) Trade promotion. Rules of origin are used to promote exports of goods from countries that have established a long tradition of excellence in particular sectors. In these cases, countries become very protective of trade names and marks and strongly resist their dilution, counterfeiting or opportunistic use by other countries to promote their own sales. For example, much is made of Swiss watches, chocolates and pharmaceuticals, French wines, American computers and high technology, German and Japanese automobiles, Colombian coffee, etc. There are countless examples of excellent products from many countries; (v) Environmental reasons. Increasingly, marking requirements, themselves the result of the application of rules to determine origin, are being used for environmental reasons. Some of these reasons promote environmental objectives. Others actually seek to manipulate and misuse origin rules for the purpose of dumping hazardous wastes or over-exploiting and thereby endangering plant and animal species. For instance, hazardous and toxic waste which emanate in one country, may be semi-processed in another country and is thereupon conferred the origin of that second country, and not the origin of the country from which it was first generated. In contrast, strict origin rules applied via quota measures have been used to protect the over-exploitation of endangered species; (vi) Circumvention. Although patently illegal and an unfair file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrado...%20the%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO).html (3 of 8)12/09/ :07:57 a.m.

4 trading practice, some countries, in a bid to evade quotas, engage in the practice of manipulating and misusing origin rules to flood and dump under-priced goods in the markets of other countries. IV. RULES OF ORIGIN THE WTO 8. What are the aims of the WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin? The aims of the Agreement are simple namely, to harmonize and clarify rules of origin, and to ensure that rules of origin do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade. Although the aims are simple, the undertaking and task themselves are complex. According to this task, every good that is trade must be assigned a country of origin. To this end, all the traded products as contained in the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HS) must be governed by rules that ensure that they are conferred with a country origin. 9. In accordance with Article 4 of the Agreement, the Harmonization Negotiations are being conducted in two bodies. First, there is the Genevabased Committee on Rules of Origin (CRO) at the WTO. The Market Access Division of the WTO Secretariat services the meetings of the Committee. The second body is the Brussels-based Technical Committee on Rules of Origin (TCRO). The TCRO is serviced by the Organization (WCO). In practice, the Technical Committee undertakes the examination of technical/customs aspects of the negotiations for origin-conferring processes. The results of this exercise are forwarded from Brussels to Geneva as the interpretations and opinions of the TCRO (Article 9.3(a)). These results include issues and products sectors where the origin rules have been agreed to in the TCRO and those on which there have been no agreement. At the Committee in Geneva, the interpretations and opinions of the WCO Technical Committee on which there have been agreement are noted, and negotiations are undertaken with a view to resolving those issues, principles and product sectors on which there have been no agreement. 10. What are the objectives of the negotiations to harmonize the nonpreferential rules of origin? The objectives of the Harmonization Work Programme (HWP) are contained both in the preambular provisions of the Agreement and in Article 9. In the preambular provisions several objectives are listed such as: Furthering the objectives of GATT 1994; Facilitating the flow of international trade through clear and predictable rules of origin; Ensuring that rules of origin do not create unnecessary obstacles to trade; Ensuring that rules of origin neither nullify nor impair the rights of members; Achieving transparency of laws, regulations, and practices regarding file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrado...%20the%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO).html (4 of 8)12/09/ :07:57 a.m.

5 rules of origin; Recognizing the availability of a consultation mechanism and procedures for the resolution of disputes that arise under the Agreement; and, Harmonizing and clarifying rules of origin. 11. However, preambular provisions, although indicative of the purpose, objectives and principles of an agreement, are not binding relative to the operative provisions of an agreement. To this end, Article 9 provides for objectives to be implemented. In summary, rules of origin should: Be equally applied for all purposes; Be clear and predictable (so that it can be easily implemented by customs officers who normally apply these rules); Not create complexities in application, and should also not create restrictive, distorting or disruptive effects on international trade; Be coherent and administered uniformly, consistently, reasonably, and impartially; and, Every good should have a country of origin. This origin should be either the country where the goods was wholly obtained or, if more than one country is involved, the country where the last substantial transformation was effected; 12. What is the format and structure of the negotiations for the harmonization of non-preferential rules of origin (Harmonization Negotiations)? Pursuant to Article 9.2c (i) to (iii), the Harmonization Negotiations are divided into three basic stages as follows: (a) definitions of Goods that are considered as being wholly obtained in one country, and Minimal Operations and Processes which in themselves do not confer origin; (b) substantial transformation via the medium of Change in Tariff Classification of the HS as an origin-conferring process; (c) substantial transformation via Supplementary Criteria, such as ad valorem percentage and/or manufacturing or processing operations, in those instances when the exclusive use of the HS nomenclature does not allow for the expression of substantial transformation; and, then (d) the finalisation of the results for overall coherence of the results of harmonization (Article 9.36(b). V. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE HARMONIZATION NEGOTIATIONS? file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrado...%20the%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO).html (5 of 8)12/09/ :07:57 a.m.

6 13. The status of the negotiations are reflected in an omnibus document designated the Integrated Negotiating Text (INT). Essentially, this text is a binder containing those issues, principles, and product sectors whose origin rules have been agreed. This INT is available from the Market Access Division of the WTO Secretariat. The Committee on Rules of Origin submitted a report to the First Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Singapore in According to Article 9.2(a), the Harmonization Negotiations is to be completed within three years of initiation. The negotiations were initiated on 20 July, 1995, and were therefore to be completed by 20 July The complexity and difficulties encountered in the HWP made it difficult to meet the target date of 20 July 1998, for the completion of the Harmonization Negotiations. This started becoming clear about six months before the July deadline. A major stumbling bloc was on rules of origin for textiles and clothing, specifically on whether a tariff shift constituted substantial enough transformation to confer origin; in case it did not, countries will have to develop additional rules to determine what activity does. 15. At its meeting of 19 June 1998, the Committee on Rules of Origin concluded that the three-year deadline foreseen in Articles 9.2(c) and 9.3 of the Agreement could not be met. However, a new deadline, November 1999 was agreed, as was an outline of the general guidelines on how the work on the rules or origin harmonization was to proceed in order to be able to meet the new target date. (G/RO/25). This was communicated by the CRO to the Council for Trade in Goods and to the TCRO in Brussels (G/RO/24). 16. The new work programme will include focussing on areas of difficulty (outlined in paragraph 17 below), including: the analysis of the implications of the harmonized rules of origin on other WTO agreements, discussion on product-specific rules, outstanding issues on product-specific rules, definitions, etc. VI. CRUCIAL AREAS, PROBLEMS AND ISSUES IN THE HARMONIZATION NEGOTIATIONS. 17. Why do the negotiations for the harmonization of rules of origin pose such enormous challenges? These negotiations seem to be both a result, as well as a major challenge, under conditions of globalization the growing integration of the markets for goods, services and intellectual property. A concomitant feature of globalization is the multi-country processing of goods, a situation in which the inputs for the final product of a good, for example, a car, may be sourced from no less than five or six countries. Under these conditions, and there are yet more complex examples, what then is the origin of the car? The dilemma is that even as goods are hardly made in one country anymore because of globalization and diversification, the multilateral file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrado...%20the%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO).html (6 of 8)12/09/ :07:57 a.m.

7 trade policy community is working to harmonize rules for the determination of origin according to which every good must be assigned the origin of one country. 18. The status of the Harmonization Negotiations show several areas of difficulties. These include: (a) Architecture and General rules; (b) Definitions of goods that are wholly obtained in one country in particular as they related to products taken from the sea outside of a country (either on the high seas or in outer space); (c) The need for further refinement of the definitions of minimal operations and processes which do not in themselves confer origin; and (d) Product-specific rules for particular product sectors. 19. At the core of the difficulties in the Harmonization Negotiations is the determination of rules of origin in product-specific sectors. These sectors include, agriculture, mineral products, chemicals, leather, wood and paper, textiles, footwear, ceramics, precious stones, steel, metals, articles of metal, machinery, electronics, transportation equipment, scientific equipment, clocks and watches, musical instruments, etc. 20. To summarize, origin can be conferred on a product either on the basis of a change in HS tariff classification or on the basis of a substantial transformation of the product. When a change in tariff classification cannot be used to confer origin, the fundamental difficulty has been, and remains, what is substantial transformation? Do such processes as assembly, disassembly, bleaching, drying, cutting and sewing, blending, packing and packaging, colouring, etc., constitute substantial transformation? The answers seem to be a function of the national trade interests, covering the full spectrum of global trade, stretching from liberalization and market access, to protection. [1] Rules of origin are defined in the Agreement on Rules of Origin as,... those laws, regulations, and administrative determinations of general application applied by any Member to determine the country of origin of goods provided such rules of origin are not related to contractual or autonomous trade regimes leading to the granting of tariff preferences going beyond the application of paragraph 1 of Article 1 of GATT (Article 1.1 of the Agreement on Rules of Origin). file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrado...%20the%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO).html (7 of 8)12/09/ :07:57 a.m.

8 SELA, Permanent Secretariat Torre Europa, Fourth floor, Urb. Campo Alegre, Av Francisco de Miranda, Caracas Venezuela Tlf: (58) (212) Fax: (58) (212) file:///c /Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrado...%20the%20World%20Trade%20Organization%20(WTO).html (8 of 8)12/09/ :07:57 a.m.

Introduction to Rules of Origin in the WTO

Introduction to Rules of Origin in the WTO WTO E-LEARNING COPYRIGHT 12 Introduction to Rules of Origin in the WTO OBJECTIVE Overview of the Rules of Origin in the WTO. M y C o u r s e s e r i e s I. INTRODUCTION Rules of origin are the criteria

More information

AGREEMENT ON RULES OF ORIGIN

AGREEMENT ON RULES OF ORIGIN AGREEMENT ON RULES OF ORIGIN Members, Noting that Ministers on 20 September 1986 agreed that the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations shall aim to "bring about further liberalization and expansion

More information

RULES OF ORIGIN. Chapter 9 1. OVERVIEW OF RULES. Figure 9-1

RULES OF ORIGIN. Chapter 9 1. OVERVIEW OF RULES. Figure 9-1 Chapter 9 RULES OF ORIGIN 1. OVERVIEW OF RULES Rules of origin are used to determine the nationality of goods traded in international commerce. Yet there is no internationally agreed upon rules of origin.

More information

Chapter 9. Figure 9-1. Types of Rules of Origin

Chapter 9. Figure 9-1. Types of Rules of Origin Chapter 9 RULES OF ORIGIN 1. OVERVIEW OF RULES Rules of origin are used to determine the nationality of goods traded in international commerce. Yet, no internationally agreed upon rules of origin exist.

More information

RULES OF ORIGIN CHAPTER 10 A. OVERVIEW OF RULES 1. BACKGROUND OF RULES. Chapter 10: Rules of Origin

RULES OF ORIGIN CHAPTER 10 A. OVERVIEW OF RULES 1. BACKGROUND OF RULES. Chapter 10: Rules of Origin CHAPTER 10 Chapter 10: Rules of Origin RULES OF ORIGIN A. OVERVIEW OF RULES 1. BACKGROUND OF RULES Rules of origin are used to determine the nationality of goods traded in international commerce. Yet,

More information

Dr. Biswajit Dhar Professor Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi

Dr. Biswajit Dhar Professor Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi Dr. Biswajit Dhar Professor Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi Email: bisjit@gmail.con Regional Dialogue on Enhancing the Contribution of Preferential Trade Agreements to Inclusive and Equitable Trade,

More information

World business and the multilateral trading system

World business and the multilateral trading system International Chamber of Commerce The world business organization Policy statement Commission on Trade and Investment Policy World business and the multilateral trading system ICC policy recommendations

More information

CHAPTER ONE INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS. Section A General Definitions. 1. For purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified:

CHAPTER ONE INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS. Section A General Definitions. 1. For purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified: CHAPTER ONE INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS Section A General Definitions Article 1.01: Definitions of General Application 1. For purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified: Agreement

More information

CHAPTER ONE INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS. Section A - Initial Provisions. Article 101: Establishment of the Free Trade Area

CHAPTER ONE INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS. Section A - Initial Provisions. Article 101: Establishment of the Free Trade Area CHAPTER ONE INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS Section A - Initial Provisions Article 101: Establishment of the Free Trade Area The Parties to this Agreement, consistent with Article XXIV of the

More information

OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS 1 June 1990 FIRST MARKET ACCESS OFFERS ASSESSED AND NEW INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DRAFTS TABLED Market access offers in the tariffs and tropical products negotiations as

More information

Introduction to the WTO. Will Martin World Bank 10 May 2006

Introduction to the WTO. Will Martin World Bank 10 May 2006 Introduction to the WTO Will Martin World Bank 10 May 2006 1 Issues What is the WTO and how does it work? Implications of being a member of the WTO multilateral trading system 2 WTO as an international

More information

CHAPTER ONE INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS. Section A - Initial Provisions

CHAPTER ONE INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS. Section A - Initial Provisions CHAPTER ONE INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS Section A - Initial Provisions Article 101: Establishment of the Free Trade Area The Parties to this Agreement, consistent with Article XXIV of the

More information

Limited. EU Mercosur negotiations. Chapter on Goods Draft consolidated text. Joint Text November 2017 XXX BNC/MCS-EU

Limited. EU Mercosur negotiations. Chapter on Goods Draft consolidated text. Joint Text November 2017 XXX BNC/MCS-EU This document contains the consolidated text resulting from the 30th round of negotiations (6-10 November 2017) on goods in the Trade Part of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement. This is without prejudice

More information

World Trade Organization

World Trade Organization World Trade Organization Konstantina Gkountaropoulou Rodrigo Ortiz-Mendoza 19 th November 2013 Stefanos Sinos International Agrifood Economics WTO in brief... Is the only international organization dealing

More information

The following communication, dated 13 June 2005, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the European Communities.

The following communication, dated 13 June 2005, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the European Communities. WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WT/REG170/2 17 June 2005 (05-2569) Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original: English ENLARGEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ACCESSION OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA,

More information

WTO LAW IN THE LIGHT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

WTO LAW IN THE LIGHT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WTO LAW IN THE LIGHT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Overview of the WTO s mandate and institutional structure History of the Trade and Environment debate The WTO Committee on Trade and Environment The Doha

More information

Environment features in Uruguay Round results

Environment features in Uruguay Round results TE 005 17 February 1994 Environment features in Uruguay Round results and emerges as priority issue in post-uruguay Round work of GATT With the successful conclusion of the Uruguay Round negotiations,

More information

PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS AND THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN

PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS AND THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS AND THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN 1 PREFERENTIAL TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN AND THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS

More information

TRADE POLICY REVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICA 1-2 JUNE GATT Council's Evaluation

TRADE POLICY REVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICA 1-2 JUNE GATT Council's Evaluation CENTRE WILLIAM-RAPPARD, RUE DE LAUSANNE 154, 1211 GENÈVE 21, TÉL. 022 73951 11 TRADE POLICY REVIEW OF SOUTH AFRICA 1-2 JUNE 1993 GATT Council's Evaluation GATT/1583 3 June 1993 The GATT Council conducted

More information

BREXIT BRIEFING RULES OF ORIGIN

BREXIT BRIEFING RULES OF ORIGIN BREXIT BRIEFING RULES OF ORIGIN WHAT ARE RULES OF ORIGIN? Rules of Origin are the criteria used to determine the economic nationality of a product, as opposed to the geographic nationality of a product.

More information

The 4 th WTO Ministerial Conference and WTO Work Programme Emerging from Doha: An Assessment

The 4 th WTO Ministerial Conference and WTO Work Programme Emerging from Doha: An Assessment The 4 th WTO Ministerial Conference and WTO Work Programme Emerging from Doha: An Assessment According to the WTO a Ninth Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations Launched According to the WTO on November

More information

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Free Trade Agreement Between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Albania PREAMBLE Desirous to develop and strengthen

More information

RESTRICTED MTN.GNG/W/28 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF NEGOTIATIONS ON GOODS TO THE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE

RESTRICTED MTN.GNG/W/28 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP OF NEGOTIATIONS ON GOODS TO THE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS COMMITTEE MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS THE URUGUAY ROUND Group of Negotiations on Goods (GATT) RESTRICTED MTN.GNG/W/28 29 July 1991 Special Distribution Original: English COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF THE

More information

Unit II: Globalism v. Regionalism

Unit II: Globalism v. Regionalism INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL TRADE LAW: THE LAW OF THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION J.H.H. Weiler NYU School of Law Sungjoon Cho Chicago-Kent College of Law Isabel Feichtner Goethe University, Frankfurt Julian

More information

The World Trade Organization...

The World Trade Organization... The World Trade Organization......In brief, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only international organization dealing with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure

More information

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WT/L/412 3 September 2001 (01-4194) Original: English JOINT STATEMENT BY THE SAARC 1 COMMERCE MINISTERS ON THE FORTHCOMING FOURTH WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE AT DOHA New Delhi,

More information

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN UKRAINE AND KAZAKHSTAN. Annex Information on the regional trade agreement

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN UKRAINE AND KAZAKHSTAN. Annex Information on the regional trade agreement FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN UKRAINE AND KAZAKHSTAN Annex Information on the regional trade agreement FREE TRADE AGREEMENT Between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of Kazakhstan I. Background

More information

The WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin:

The WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin: CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment Research Report The WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin: Implications for South Asia CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment

More information

AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT AND THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT AND THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT AND THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY Agreement Establishing a Free Trade Area between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Turkey

More information

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA The following text reproduces the Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and the Republic of Slovenia. 1 FREE TRADE AGREEMENT

More information

The Diversity. of Non-Tariff Measures. FIW-Workshop From Tariffs to Standards: Assessing the Role of Non-Tariff Measures Vienna, 21 October 2016

The Diversity. of Non-Tariff Measures. FIW-Workshop From Tariffs to Standards: Assessing the Role of Non-Tariff Measures Vienna, 21 October 2016 Wiener Institut für Internationale Wirtschaftsvergleiche The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies www.wiiw.ac.at FIW-Workshop From Tariffs to Standards: Assessing the Role of Non-Tariff

More information

THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE EMERGING SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE

THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE EMERGING SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE EMERGING SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE Carlos Fortin The establishment of the World Trade Organization(GATF) 1994 with its related instruments, as well as (WTO)

More information

NOTE. 3. Annexed is the Chapter from the WTO Analytical Index, 3 rd edition (2012) providing information on the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.

NOTE. 3. Annexed is the Chapter from the WTO Analytical Index, 3 rd edition (2012) providing information on the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing. NOTE 1. The Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) was negotiated in the Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations. It replaced the Arrangement Regarding International Trade in Textiles (MFA, or Multi-Fibre

More information

Whereas this Agreement contributes to the attainment of association;

Whereas this Agreement contributes to the attainment of association; AGREEMENT ON FREE TRADE AND TRADE-RELATED MATTERS BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY AND THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, OF THE ONE PART, AND THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA,

More information

Non-preferential rules of origin: Their importance and thoughts for the future

Non-preferential rules of origin: Their importance and thoughts for the future Non-preferential rules of origin: Their importance and thoughts for the future Jonas Kasteng Senior Adviser, National Board of Trade Sweden Contact: jonas.kasteng@kommers.se WCO Global Origin Conference

More information

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO PREAMBLE The Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation (hereinafter called the

More information

10 common misunderstandings about the WTO

10 common misunderstandings about the WTO 10 common misunderstandings about the WTO The debate will probably never end. People have different views of the pros and cons of the WTO s multilateral trading system. Indeed, one of the most important

More information

AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR AN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP PREAMBLE

AGREEMENT BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR AN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP PREAMBLE Disclaimer: The negotiations between the EU and Japan on the Economic Partnership Agreement (the EPA) have been finalised. In view of the Commission's transparency policy, we are hereby publishing the

More information

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION G/TBT/1/Rev.8 23 May 2002 (02-2849) Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE SINCE 1 JANUARY 1995 Note by the Secretariat

More information

The Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Bulgaria (hereinafter called the "Parties");

The Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Bulgaria (hereinafter called the Parties); FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND BULGARIA PREAMBLE The Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Bulgaria (hereinafter called the "Parties"); Reaffirming their commitment to the principles of market

More information

Introduction to the WTO Non-tariff Measures and the SPS & TBT Agreements

Introduction to the WTO Non-tariff Measures and the SPS & TBT Agreements Introduction to the WTO Non-tariff Measures and the SPS & TBT Agreements Gretchen H. Stanton Agriculture and Commodities Division World Trade Organization Introduction to the WTO 1. General Introduction

More information

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ALBANIA AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ALBANIA AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ALBANIA AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AGREEMENT ON FREE TRADE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF ALBANIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF MACEDONIA PREAMBLE Desirous to develop

More information

MORE EMBARGO: TRADE POLICY REVIEW OF ZIMBABWE NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE 1300 HRS GMT 2 DECEMBER November 1994

MORE EMBARGO: TRADE POLICY REVIEW OF ZIMBABWE NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE 1300 HRS GMT 2 DECEMBER November 1994 EMBARGO: NOT FOR PUBLICATION BEFORE 1300 HRS GMT 2 DECEMBER 1994 TRADE POLICY REVIEW OF ZIMBABWE GAT/ 1654 28 November 1994 The opening of Zimbabwe's foreign trade regime, together with fiscal stabilization

More information

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE PREAMBLE The Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Chile (hereinafter referred to as the Parties or Turkey or Chile where

More information

R ESEARCHERS T EST Q UESTION P APER. By Dr. Nicolas Lamp Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Queen s University

R ESEARCHERS T EST Q UESTION P APER. By Dr. Nicolas Lamp Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Queen s University RESEARCHERS TEST By Dr. Nicolas Lamp Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Queen s University INSTRUCTIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS: The duration of this test is 90 minutes. There are 30 questions, so you have

More information

LL.M. in International Legal Studies WTO LAW

LL.M. in International Legal Studies WTO LAW LL.M. in International Legal Studies WTO LAW Prof. Dr. Friedl WEISS Institute for European, International and Comparative Law - University of Vienna Winter Semester 2012/13 Part II History & Institutions

More information

The following communication, dated 17 June 2004, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Armenia.

The following communication, dated 17 June 2004, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Armenia. WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WT/REG171/1 27 July 2004 (04-3232) Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original: English FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ARMENIA AND UKRAINE The following communication, dated

More information

The following text reproduces the Agreement1 between the Republic of Turkey and the Slovak Republic.

The following text reproduces the Agreement1 between the Republic of Turkey and the Slovak Republic. WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WT/REG68/1 24 March 1999 (99-1190) Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original: English FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC AND THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY The following

More information

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND TURKEY

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND TURKEY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND TURKEY Note: Austria, Finland and Sweden withdrew from the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (the Stockholm Convention) on 31 December 1994.

More information

The GATT WTO System: How it Works and The Challenges of Doha

The GATT WTO System: How it Works and The Challenges of Doha The GATT WTO System: How it Works and The Challenges of Doha Patrick Low Director of Economic Research and Statistics World Trade Organization (WTO) ESCAP/WTO Fifth ARTNeT Capacity Building for Trade Research

More information

MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS THE URUGUAY ROUND

MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS THE URUGUAY ROUND MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS THE URUGUAY ROUND RESTRICTED MTN.GNG/12 15 August 1988 Special Distribution \ Group of Negotiations on Goods (GATT) GROUP OF NEGOTIATIONS ON GOODS Eleventh meeting: 25 and

More information

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION 10 common misunderstandings about the WTO Is it a dictatorial tool of the rich and powerful? Does it destroy jobs? Does it ignore the concerns of health, the environment and development?

More information

THE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA

THE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA THE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA The Association Agreement Establishing a Free Trade Area between The Republic of Turkey

More information

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND TURKEY

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND TURKEY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND TURKEY Note: Austria, Finland and Sweden withdrew from the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (the Stockholm Convention) on 31 December 1994.

More information

Overview of the WTO TBT Agreement. Diane C. Thompson Principal Standards Advisor Standards Alliance. Lusaka, Zambia November 30, 2016

Overview of the WTO TBT Agreement. Diane C. Thompson Principal Standards Advisor Standards Alliance. Lusaka, Zambia November 30, 2016 Overview of the WTO TBT Agreement Diane C. Thompson Principal Standards Advisor Standards Alliance Lusaka, Zambia November 30, 2016 Slide 1 Agenda Overview of the WTO Overview of the TBT Agreement Benefits

More information

For a Strong and Modern World Trading System

For a Strong and Modern World Trading System POSITION PAPER - SUMMARY For a Strong and Modern World Trading System May 2016 Create new market access worldwide, stop protectionism Subsequent to the December 2015 WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi,

More information

INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF NON-TARIFF MEASURES INTERIM 2018 VERSION

INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF NON-TARIFF MEASURES INTERIM 2018 VERSION INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF NON-TARIFF MEASURES INTERIM 2018 VERSION CONTACT: NTM@UNCTAD.ORG OR VISIT UNCTAD.ORG/NTM 1 This includes also 0 tolerance limit, for example the prohibition of products

More information

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA PREAMBLE The Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation (hereinafter called the

More information

Overview of WCO activities on Rules of Origin

Overview of WCO activities on Rules of Origin Overview of WCO activities on Rules of Origin 19 June 2017 Toshihiko Yamate Origin Sub-Directorate Tariff and Trade Affairs Directorate World Customs Organization Contents 1. Role of WCO in Origin Matters

More information

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA Note: Austria, Finland and Sweden withdrew from the Convention establishing the European Free Trade Association (the Stockholm Convention)

More information

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION Committee on Regional Trade Agreements WT/REG203/1 19 September 2005 (05-4125) Original: English FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND TUNISIA The following joint communication,

More information

WTO/GATT Marrakesh Declaration of 15 April World Trade Organization

WTO/GATT Marrakesh Declaration of 15 April World Trade Organization WTO/GATT Marrakesh Declaration of 15 April 1994 World Trade Organization Copyright 1994 World Trade Organization ii SiSU Metadata, document information 3 iii 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 WTO/GATT Marrakesh Declaration

More information

Appendix B A WTO Description of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism

Appendix B A WTO Description of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism Appendix B A WTO Description of the Trade Policy Review Mechanism Introduction and Objectives Introduction The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) was introduced into GATT in 1989 following the Mid-Term

More information

2002 Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Agreement

2002 Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Agreement 2002 Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Agreement BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA, THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO, THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE KINGDOM OF

More information

THE LEGAL TEXTS THE RESULTS OF THE URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION

THE LEGAL TEXTS THE RESULTS OF THE URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION THE LEGAL TEXTS THE RESULTS OF THE URUGUAY ROUND OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHED BY THE PRESS SYNDICATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE The Pitt Building, Trumpington

More information

Non-tariff barriers. Yuliya Chernykh

Non-tariff barriers. Yuliya Chernykh Non-tariff barriers Yuliya Chernykh Non-tariff measures/non-tariff barriers All government imposed and sponsored actions or omissions that act as prohibitions or restrictions on trade, other than ordinary

More information

The Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties"),

The Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as the Parties), FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA, THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA Preamble The Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter

More information

MINISTERIAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 1986, URUGUAY

MINISTERIAL MEETING, SEPTEMBER 1986, URUGUAY GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE ACCORD GENERAL SUR LES TARIFS DOUANIERS ET LE COMMERCE CENTRE WILLIAM-RAPPARD, 154, RUE DE LAUSANNE, 1211 GENÈVE 21, TÉL. 022 310231 GATT/1395 10 September 1986 GATT

More information

Multilateral Aspects of Trade Facilitation and the Doha Round

Multilateral Aspects of Trade Facilitation and the Doha Round World Bank and EU Seminar on Trade Facilitation in East Asia 3-5 November 2004 Shanghai, China Multilateral Aspects of Trade Facilitation and the Doha Round Xiaobing Tang Counsellor Market Access Division

More information

2002 Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Agreement

2002 Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Agreement http://www.sacu.int/main.php?include=docs/legislation/2002-agreement... 1 of 2 8/12/2008 10:15 PM PREAMBLE THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA, THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO, THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA,

More information

OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS OF MULTILATERAL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS New telephone No. (022) 39 51 11 10 December 1987 DISPUTES SETTLEMENT, TROPICAL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES PROPOSALS FEATURE IN LATEST NEGOTIATING GROUP MEETINGS Recent negotiating

More information

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN PREAMBLE The Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation (hereinafter called

More information

On the Fundamentals of the State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activity (No. 164-FZ of December 8, 2003)

On the Fundamentals of the State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activity (No. 164-FZ of December 8, 2003) 1 UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION On the Fundamentals of the State Regulation of Foreign Trade Activity (No. 164-FZ of December 8, 2003) Adopted by the State Duma October 17, 2003 Approved by the Council of Federation

More information

The Republic of Turkey (hereinafter referred to as "Turkey") and the Republic of Estonia (hereinafter referred to as "Estonia");

The Republic of Turkey (hereinafter referred to as Turkey) and the Republic of Estonia (hereinafter referred to as Estonia); FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND ESTONIA PREAMBLE The Republic of Turkey (hereinafter referred to as "Turkey") and the Republic of Estonia (hereinafter referred to as "Estonia"); Recalling their

More information

THE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA

THE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN TURKEY AND TUNISIA THE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND THE REPUBLIC OF TUNISIA PREAMBLE The Republic of Turkey and The

More information

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND UKRAINE

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND UKRAINE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND UKRAINE PREAMBLE Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation (hereinafter referred to as the EFTA States

More information

SOUTHERN AFRICAN CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT

SOUTHERN AFRICAN CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT SOUTHERN AFRICAN CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA, THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO, THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND

More information

THE ROLE OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) TRADE FACILITATION NEGOTIATIONS

THE ROLE OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) TRADE FACILITATION NEGOTIATIONS Issue No. 238 June 2006 THE ROLE OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) TRADE FACILITATION NEGOTIATIONS This issue of the Bulletin presents a brief review of trade facilitation negotiations

More information

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA The Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation (hereinafter called the EFTA States),

More information

COMMUNICATION FROM EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA

COMMUNICATION FROM EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA MULTILATERAL TRADE RESTRICTED NEGOTIATIONS 25 October 1991 THE URUGUAY ROUND Special Distribution Group of Negotiations on Services Original: Spanish COMMUNICATION FROM EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA HONDURAS

More information

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA PREAMBLE The Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation (hereinafter called the

More information

SOUTHERN AFRICAN CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT

SOUTHERN AFRICAN CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT SOUTHERN AFRICAN CUSTOMS UNION AGREEMENT 2002 (As amended on 12 April 2013) BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE REPUBLIC OF BOTSWANA, THE KINGDOM OF LESOTHO, THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

More information

The Republic of Poland and the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter called the Parties),

The Republic of Poland and the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter called the Parties), AGREEMENT FREE TRADE BETWEEN POLAND AND LATVIA PREAMBLE The Republic of Poland and the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter called the Parties), Having regard to the Declaration of Prime Ministers of the Central

More information

Introduction to WTO and the SPS Agreement. Anneke Hamilton Agriculture and Commodities Division 12 September 2013 SADC Workshop, South Africa

Introduction to WTO and the SPS Agreement. Anneke Hamilton Agriculture and Commodities Division 12 September 2013 SADC Workshop, South Africa Introduction to WTO and the SPS Agreement Anneke Hamilton Agriculture and Commodities Division 12 September 2013 SADC Workshop, South Africa Outline Introduction to WTO Use of Non-Tariff Measures (NTMs)

More information

TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT An Agenda for Developing Countries

TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT An Agenda for Developing Countries TRADE AND ENVIRONMENT An Agenda for Developing Countries Some trade and environment linkages work out in the same way for developing countries as for developed countries. However, most of the positive

More information

INTERIM FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

INTERIM FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY February 12, 2004 INTERIM FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY Interim Free Trade Agreement Between the

More information

PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY

PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY INTERIM FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY AND PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY Interim Free Trade Agreement Between the Republic of Turkey

More information

Trade and Public Policies: NTMs in the WTO

Trade and Public Policies: NTMs in the WTO Trade and Public Policies: NTMs in the WTO Xinyi Li Trade Policies Review Division, WTO Secretariat 12 th ARTNeT Capacity Building Workshop December 2016 1 Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in

More information

APPENDIX 1 CHAPTER 2 (TRADE IN GOODS)

APPENDIX 1 CHAPTER 2 (TRADE IN GOODS) APPENDIX 1 CHAPTER 2 (TRADE IN GOODS) CHAPTER 2 TRADE IN GOODS Article 1 Reduction and/or Elimination of Customs Duties Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Party shall progressively reduce

More information

Enhancing Capacity on Trade Policies and Negotiations

Enhancing Capacity on Trade Policies and Negotiations Training of Trainers Enhancing Capacity on Trade Policies and Negotiations Session 5: Standards and Conformity Assessment, Non-tariff measures/barriers and ASEAN Trade Repository Dr. Mia Mikic Chief, Trade

More information

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND TUNISIA PREAMBLE. the Republic of Tunisia (hereinafter called Tunisia), on the other:

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND TUNISIA PREAMBLE. the Republic of Tunisia (hereinafter called Tunisia), on the other: FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND TUNISIA PREAMBLE The Republic of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, the Swiss Confederation as Members of the European Free

More information

A preliminary study on the impacts of the WTO Doha Development Agenda Negotiations

A preliminary study on the impacts of the WTO Doha Development Agenda Negotiations WCO Research Paper No. 1 A preliminary study on the impacts of the WTO Doha Development Agenda Negotiations on Customs (June 2009) Stefan Aniszewski 1 Abstract The conclusion of the DDA negotiations would

More information

Basic glossary of terms commonly used in the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Basic glossary of terms commonly used in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Basic glossary of terms commonly used in the World Trade Organization (WTO) This glossary forms part of the series of notes that the Center for Strategic Analysis for Agriculture (CAESPA) of the Inter-

More information

The World Trade Organization s Doha Development Agenda The Doha Negotiations after Six Years Progress Report at the End of 2007 TRADE FACILITATION

The World Trade Organization s Doha Development Agenda The Doha Negotiations after Six Years Progress Report at the End of 2007 TRADE FACILITATION The World Trade Organization s Doha Development Agenda The Doha Negotiations after Six Years Progress Report at the End of 2007 TRADE FACILITATION LAW OFFICES OF STEWART AND STEWART 2100 M STREET NW WASHINGTON,

More information

SADC Rules of Origin Tomasz Iwanow Southern Africa Trade Hub

SADC Rules of Origin Tomasz Iwanow Southern Africa Trade Hub SADC Rules of Origin Tomasz Iwanow Southern Africa Trade Hub August, 26th 2011 Introduction Why Rules of Origin (ROO) in SADC. Negotiations for ROO. What are the Rule of Origin in SADC What criteria does

More information

AGREEMENT FREE TRADE BETWEEN BULGARIA AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

AGREEMENT FREE TRADE BETWEEN BULGARIA AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AGREEMENT FREE TRADE BETWEEN BULGARIA AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA PREAMBLE Desirous to develop and strengthen friendly relations, especially in the fields of trade and economic cooperation,

More information

Chapter 9. The Political Economy of Trade Policy. Slides prepared by Thomas Bishop

Chapter 9. The Political Economy of Trade Policy. Slides prepared by Thomas Bishop Chapter 9 The Political Economy of Trade Policy Slides prepared by Thomas Bishop Preview International negotiations of trade policy and the World Trade Organization Copyright 2006 Pearson Addison-Wesley.

More information

"Capacity-Building in the Face of the Emerging Challenges of Doha and the FTAA" 27 February 2002

Capacity-Building in the Face of the Emerging Challenges of Doha and the FTAA 27 February 2002 "Capacity-Building in the Face of the Emerging Challenges of Doha and the FTAA" 27 February 2002 THE CHALLENGES OF THE DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA FOR LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES Inter-American

More information

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL

FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL PREAMBLE The Government of the State of Israel and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria

More information

LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN ON THE STATE REGULATION OF EXTERNAL TRADE ACTIVITIES

LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN ON THE STATE REGULATION OF EXTERNAL TRADE ACTIVITIES ANNEX V LAW OF THE REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN ON THE STATE REGULATION OF EXTERNAL TRADE ACTIVITIES This Law shall define the fundamentals of the state regulation of external trade activities, the procedures

More information