Congo, Democratic Republic of the - United Kingdom Agreement on Commercial and Economic Co-Operation (1970) - Electronic Database of Investment Treaties (EDIT)

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Congo, Democratic Republic of the - United Kingdom Agreement on Commercial and Economic Co-Operation (1970)

Title

Agreement on Commercial and Economic Co-operation between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Preamble

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Democratic Republic of the Congo;

Desiring to strengthen the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and to expand commercial and economic relations and with a view to promoting economic co-operation;

Have agreed as follows:

Body

Article I. Expansion of Trade

(1) The Contracting States resolve to encourage the maintenance and expansion of the import and export trade between their two countries. Lists of goods shall be exchanged between the Contracting States. These lists shall be indicative and not exhaustive.

(2) To this end it is the intention of each State, in conformity with the provisions of existing international agreements to which the Contracting States are parties or may become parties, to maintain and, where possible, to extend the existing degree of freedom from quantitative restrictions affecting imports from the other country.

Article II. General Intentions

(1) In order to stimulate and facilitate trade the Contracting States undertake to afford each other most-favoured-nation treatment in respect of all matters concerning their mutual trade and particularly of Customs duties and formalities.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) of the present Article shall not be construed as a hindrance:

(a) to the advantages that one of the Contracting States grants or will grant to neighbouring countries in order to facilitate frontier trade;

(b) to the advantages granted, at present or in the future, by one of the Contracting States to its partners in a Customs Union or an agreement of association leading progressively to the realisation of a Customs Union or Free Trade Area;

(c) to the preferential treatment which may at any time be accorded by the United Kingdom exclusively to one or more territories in the Commonwealth Preference Area;

(d) to advantages deriving from special treatment accorded to goods supplied by certain countries or groups of countries as aid.

Article III. Import and Export Procedures

The import and export of goods between the two countries shall be effected in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the import and export regulations in force in each of the two countries.

Article IV. Method of Payment

Payments relating to commercial exchanges to which the present Agreement applies shall be effected in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the exchange control regulations affecting foreign trade in force in the Contracting States, Payments shalt be made in convertible currency.

Article V. Industrial Co-operation

The Contracting States recognise the significant role which industrial and commercial co-operation may play in the further development of trade and economic relations and look forward to increasing co-operation in this field between the respective enterprises of the two countries.

Article VI. Commercial Information

The Contracting States shall, so far as possible, make available to each other on request information about their mutual trade, including import and export statistics relating to this trade.

Article VII. Establishment

Each Contracting State shall facilitate, in its own territory, in accordance with the principle of non-discrimination and within the framework of the laws and regulations in force, the entry, stay, freedom of movement, residence and activities of the nationals of the other in order to develop trade and to strengthen economic relations between the two countries.

Article VIII. Shipping

The Contracting States agree that they shall subsequently examine maritime relations between them. Meanwhile each Contracting State shall refrain from any discriminatory action harmful to the merchant shipping of the other.

Article IX. Operation of Undertakings and Companies

(1) Each Contracting State shall accord, in its own territory, to industrial and commercial undertakings and companies of the other country, within the framework of its laws and regulations, the legal protection necessary to ensure the secure operation of such undertakings and companies.

(2) Subject to national legislation giving preferential treatment to certain countries each Contracting State shall accord, in its territory, to industrial and commerciat undertakings and companies of the other country, in all respects not otherwise provided for in the present Agreement, treatment no less favourable than that accorded to undertakings and companies of any other foreign country.

Article X. Exhibitions

(1) Each Contracting State shall authorise, in its own territory, and within the limits prescribed by its laws, economic and commercial exhibitions and displays.

(2) Each Contracting State shall, within the framework of the laws and regulations in force, admit free of Customs import and export duties, articles and goods for use in such exhibitions and displays, on condition that they are not sold.

Article XI. Consultation

(1) Representatives of the Contracting States shall meet at any time at the request of either Contracting State to study any proposals for the improvement of commercial relations or any other matter relating to the implementation of the present Agreement.

(2) The representatives of the Contracting States shall also examine any difficulties to which the application of the present Agreement may give rise and shall recommend to the appropriate authorities any necessary remedial measures,

Article XII. Territorial Application

In relation to the United Kingdom the present Agreement applies only to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and not to any territory for the international relations of which the United Kingdom is responsible but may be extended to any such territory, with or without modification, by an Exchange of Notes between the Contracting States.

Article XIII. Entry Into Force

(1) The present Agreement shall enter into force on the date of the Exchange of Notes confirming that it has been approved in accordance with the constitutional procedures of the two Contracting States and shall remain in force for a period of one year.

(2) Thereafter it shall continue in force from year to year by tacit agreement unless either Contracting State shall give to the other notice of denunciation three months before the expiry of any such yearly period,

(3) The provisions of the present Agreement shall apply to all contracts relating to commercial exchanges entered into during the period of validity of this Agreement but not fulfilled at the date of its expiry.