Central America - EU Association Agreement (2012)
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No Party shall have any recourse to challenge the final decision issued by a national or regional competent authority regarding the registration or protection of a geographical indication, under Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement. Any claim against the protection of a geographical indication shall be conducted under the available judicial instances established under each Party's domestic or regional legislation.

Section D. Industrial Designs

Article 251. International Agreements

The European Union and the Republics of the CA Party shall make all reasonable efforts to adhere to the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (Geneva Act, 1999).

Article 252. Requirements for Protection

1. The Parties shall provide for the protection of independently created designs that are new (38) or original.

2. A design shall be considered to be new if it significantly differs from known designs or combinations of known design features.

3. This protection shall be provided by registration, and shall confer exclusive rights upon their holders in accordance with the provisions of this Article. Each Party may foresee that unregistered designs made available to the public confer exclusive rights, but only if the contested use results from copying the protected design.

(38) When the legislation of a Party so provides, individual character of such designs may also be required.

Article 253. Exceptions

1. The Parties may provide limited exceptions to the protection of designs, provided that such exceptions do not unreasonably conflict with the normal exploitation of protected designs and do not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the owner of the protected design, taking into account the legitimate interests of third parties.

2. Design protection shall not extend to designs dictated essentially by technical or functional considerations.

3. A design shall not confer rights when it is contrary to public order or morality.

Article 254. Rights Conferred

1. The owner of a protected design shall have the right to prevent third parties not having the owner's consent from making, selling or importing, articles bearing or embodying the protected design when such acts are undertaken for commercial purposes.

2. Additionally, the Parties shall ensure an effective protection to industrial designs to prevent acts that unduly prejudice the normal exploitation of the design or are not compatible with fair trade practice, in a manner consistent with the provisions of Article 10bis of the Paris Convention.

Article 255. Term of Protection

1. The duration of protection available in the EU Party and in the Republics of the CA Party shall amount to at least ten years. Each Party may foresee that the right holder may have the term of protection renewed for one or more periods of five years each, up to the maximum term of protection established in each Party's legislation.

2. Where a Party foresees the protection of unregistered designs, the duration of such protection shall amount to at least three years.

Article 256. Invalidity or Refusal of Registration

1. A design may only be refused for registration or declared invalid for compelling and important reasons, which, subject to each Party's legislation, may comprise:

(a) if the design does not correspond to the definition under Article 252, paragraph 1;

(b) if, by virtue of a court decision, the right holder is not entitled to the design;

(c) if the design is in conflict with a prior design which has been made available to the public after the date of filing of the application or, if a priority is claimed, the date of priority of the design, and which is protected from a data prior to the said date by a registered design or an application for a design;

(d) if a distinctive sign is used in a subsequent design, and the law of the Party concerned governing that sign confers to the right holder of the sign, the right to prohibit such use;

(e) if the design constitutes an unauthorised use of a work protected under the copyright law of the Party concerned;

(f) if the design constitutes an improper use of any of the items listed in Article 6ter of the Paris Convention or of badges, emblems and escutcheons other than those covered by said Article 6ter and which are of particular public interest in a Party;

(g) if the disclosure of the industrial design is contrary to public order or morality.

2. A Party may provide, as an alternative to the invalidity, that a design subject to the grounds provided for in paragraph 1 may be limited in its use.

Article 257. Relationship to Copyright

A design protected by a design right, registered in a Party in accordance with this Section, may also be eligible for protection under the law of copyright of that Party as from the date on which the design was created or fixed in any form.

Section E. Patents

Article 258. International Agreements

1. The Parties shall comply with the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-Organisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure (1977, amended in 1980).

2. The European Union shall make reasonable efforts to comply with the Patent Law Treaty (Geneva, 2000); and the Republics of the CA Party shall make reasonable efforts to ratify or accede to the above mentioned Treaty.

Section F. Plant Varieties

Article 259. Plant Varieties

1. The Parties shall provide for the protection of plant varieties either by patents or by an effective sui generis system or by any combination thereof.

2. The Parties understand that no contradiction exists between the protection of plant varieties and the capacity of a Party to protect and conserve its genetic resources.

3. The Parties shall have the right to provide for exceptions to exclusive rights granted to plant breeders to allow farmers to save, use and exchange protected farm-saved seed or propagating material.

Chapter 3. Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights

Article 260. General Obligations

1. The Parties reaffirm their rights and commitments under the TRIPS Agreement and in particular of its Part III, and shall provide for the following complementary measures, procedures and remedies necessary to ensure the enforcement of the intellectual property rights. Those measures, procedures and remedies shall be fair, proportionate and equitable, and shall not be unnecessarily complicated or costly, or entail unreasonable time-limits or unwarranted delays (39).

2. Those measures and remedies shall also be effective and dissuasive and shall be applied in such a manner as to avoid the creation of barriers to legitimate trade and to provide for safeguards against their abuse.

(39) For the purposes of Article 260 to 272 the notion of "intellectual property rights" shall at least cover the following rights: copyright, including copyright in computer programs and databases, and related rights; rights related to patents; trademarks; industrial designs; lay-out-designs (topographies) of integrated circuits; geographical indications; plant varieties; trade names in so far as these are protected as exclusive rights in the domestic law concerned.

Article 261. Entitled Applicants

The Parties shall recognise as persons entitled to seek application of the measures, procedures and remedies referred to in this Section and in Part III of the TRIPS Agreement: (a) the holders of intellectual property rights in accordance with the provisions of the applicable law; and

(b) federations and associations as well as exclusive licensees and other duly authorised licensees, insofar as permitted by and in accordance with the provision of applicable law. The term "licensee" shall include the licensee of any one or more of the exclusive intellectual property rights encompassed in a given intellectual property.

Article 262. Evidence

The Parties shall take such measures as are necessary, where a right holder has presented reasonably available evidence to support its claim that his intellectual property right has been infringed on a commercial scale and has specified evidence relevant to the substantiation of its claims which lies in the control of the opposing party, to enable the competent judicial authorities to order, where appropriate and, if so foreseen by the applicable law, following an application, that the opposing party must produce such evidence, subject to the protection of confidential information.

Article 263. Measures for Preserving Evidence

The judicial authorities shall have the authority, on application by a party who has presented reasonably available evidence to support its claim that its intellectual property right has been or is about to be infringed, to order prompt and effective provisional measures to preserve relevant evidence in regard to the alleged infringement, subject to the protection of confidential information. Such measures may include the detailed description, with or without the taking of samples, or the physical seizure of the infringing goods, and, in appropriate cases, the materials and implements used in the production and/or distribution of these goods and the documents relating thereto. Those measures may be taken, if necessary, without the other party being heard, in particular where any delay is likely to cause irreparable harm to the right holder or where there is a demonstrable risk of evidence being destroyed.

Article 264. Right of Information

The Parties may provide that the judicial authorities shall have the authority, unless this would be out of proportion to the seriousness of the infringement, to order the infringer to inform the right holder of the identity of third persons involved in the production and distribution of the infringing goods or services and of their channels of distribution.

Article 265. Provisional and Precautionary Measures

1. Each Party shall foresee that its judicial authorities have the authority to issue provisional and precautionary measures and execute them expeditiously to prevent imminent infringements of intellectual property rights or to forbid the continuation of alleged infringements. Such measures may be ordered at the request of the right-holder, inaudita altera parte or after hearing the defendant, in accordance with the judicial procedural rules of each Party.

2. Each Party shall provide that its judicial authorities have the authority to require the plaintiff to provide any reasonably available evidence in order to satisfy themselves with a sufficient degree of certainty that the plaintiff's right is being infringed or that such infringement is imminent, and to order the plaintiff to provide a reasonable security or equivalent assurance set at a level sufficient to protect the defendant and to prevent abuse, and so as not to unreasonably deter recourse to such procedures.

Article 266. Corrective Measures

1. Each Party shall provide that:

(a) its judicial authorities have the authority to order, at the request of the applicant and without prejudice to any damages due to the right holder by reason of the infringement, the destruction of the goods that have been found to be pirated or counterfeit, or other appropriate measures to definitively remove those goods from the channels of commerce;

(b) its judicial authorities have the authority to order in appropriate cases that materials and implements that have been principally used in the manufacture or creation of such pirated or counterfeit goods be, without compensation of any sort, destroyed or, in exceptional circumstances, disposed of outside the channels of commerce, in such a manner as to minimize the risks of further infringements. In considering requests for such corrective measures, the Party's judicial authorities may take into account, inter alia, the gravity of the infringement, as well as the interests of third parties holding ownership, possessory, contractual, or secured interests.

2. Each Party may provide that the charitable donation of counterfeit trademark goods and goods that infringe copyright and related rights, if domestic legislation so permits, shall not be ordered by the judicial authorities without the authorisation of the right holder or that such goods may be donated to charity only under certain conditions that may be established according to domestic legislation. In no case shall the simple removal of the trademark unlawfully affixed be sufficient to permit the release of goods into the channels of commerce, except in cases established in domestic legislation and other international obligations.

3. In considering requests for corrective measures, the Parties may grant their judicial authorities the faculty to take into account, inter alia, the gravity of the infringement, as well as the interests of third parties holding ownership, possessory, contractual, or secured interests.

4. The judicial authorities shall order that those measures be carried out at the expense of the infringer, except in exceptional circumstances.

5. According to domestic legislation, the Parties may provide for other corrective measures in relation to goods that have been found to be pirated or counterfeit, and with regard to materials and implements principally used in the creation or manufacture of those goods.

Article 267. Damages

The judicial authorities shall have the authority to order the infringer to pay the right holder damages adequate to compensate for the injury the right holder has suffered because of an infringement of that person's intellectual property right by an infringer who knowingly, or with reasonable grounds to know, engaged in infringing activity. In appropriate cases, the Parties may authorise the judicial authorities to order recovery of profits and/or payment of pre-established damages, even where the infringer did not knowingly, or with reasonable grounds to know, engage in infringing activity.

Article 268. Legal Costs

The Parties shall ensure that reasonable and proportionate legal costs and other expenses incurred by the successful party shall, as a general rule, be borne by the unsuccessful party unless equity does not allow this, in accordance with domestic legislation.

Article 269. Publication of Judicial Decisions

The Parties may provide that, in legal proceedings instituted for infringement of an intellectual property right, the judicial authorities may order, at the request of the applicant and at the expense of the infringer, appropriate measures for the dissemination of the information concerning the decision, including displaying the decision and publishing it in full or in part. The Parties may provide for other additional publicity measures which are appropriate to the particular circumstances, including prominent advertising.

Article 270. Presumption of Ownership

For the purposes of applying the measures, procedures and remedies provided for under this Title, it shall be sufficient for the right holders of copyrights or related rights with regard to their protected subject matter, in the absence of proof to the contrary, for their name to appear on the work in the usual manner to be regarded as such and consequently to be entitled to institute infringement proceedings.

Article 271. Criminal Sanctions

The Parties shall provide for criminal procedures and penalties to be applied at least in cases of wilful trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy on a commercial scale. Remedies available shall include imprisonment and/or monetary fines sufficient to provide a deterrent, consistently with the level of penalties applied for crimes of a corresponding gravity. In appropriate cases, remedies available shall also include the seizure, forfeiture and destruction of the infringing goods and of any materials and implements the predominant use of which has been in the commission of the offence. The Parties may provide for criminal procedures and penalties to be applied in other cases of infringement of intellectual property rights, in particular where they are committed wilfully and on a commercial scale.

Article 272. Limitations on Liability for Service Providers

The Parties agree that they will maintain the type of limitations of responsibility of service providers they currently foresee in their respective legislation, namely:

(a) for the EU Party: those foreseen in Directive 2000/31/EC on electronic commerce;

(b) for the Republics of the CA Party: those adopted domestically in order to comply with their international obligations. A Party may delay giving effect to the provisions of this Article for a period of no longer than three years, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

Article 273. Border Measures

1. The Parties recognise the importance of coordination on customs matters, and therefore engage to promote the application of customs enforcement in relation to counterfeit trademark and pirated copyright goods, specifically through the exchange of information and coordination between the customs administrations of the Parties.

2. The Parties shall, unless otherwise provided for in this Chapter, adopt procedures to enable a right holder, who has valid grounds for suspecting that the importation, exportation, re-exportation, entry or exit of the customs territory, placement under a suspensive procedure or placement under a free zone or a free warehouse of goods infringing trademarks, or copyrights may take place, to lodge an application in writing before the competent administrative or judicial authorities, for the suspension by the customs authorities of the release into free circulation or the detention of such goods. It is understood that there shall be no obligation to apply such procedures to imports of goods put on the market in another country by or with the consent of the right holder.

3. Any rights or duties established in Section 4 of the TRIPS Agreement concerning the importer shall be also applicable to the exporter or to the holder of the goods.

4. Each Party shall provide that its competent authorities may initiate border measures ex officio in the cases of import, export and transit.

Chapter 4. Institutional Provisions

Article 274. Sub-committee on Intellectual Property

1. The Parties hereby establish a Sub-Committee on Intellectual Property, in accordance with Article 348 and as set out in Annex XXI (Sub-Committees), in order to follow-up on the implementation of Article 231 and Section C (Geographical Indications) of Chapter 2 of this Title.

2. The functions of the Sub-Committee shall include:

(a) recommending to the Association Committee for approval by the Association Council, the modification of the list of geographical indications to Annex XVIII (Protected Geographical Indications);

(b) exchanging information on geographical indications for the purpose of considering their protection in accordance with this Agreement, as well as on geographical indications which cease to be protected in their country of origin;

(c) promoting technology transfer from the EU Party to the Republics of the CA Party;

(d) defining the priority areas in which initiatives shall be directed in the areas of technology transfer, research and development and the build-up of human capital;

(e) keeping an inventory or a registry of the programs, activities or initiatives in progress, in the field of intellectual property, with emphasis on transfer of technology;

(f) make any relevant recommendations to the Association Committee with regard to matters of their competence; and (g) any other issue instructed by the Association Committee.

Article 275. Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Intellectual Property

The Parties agree that it is in their common interest to promote mutual cooperation and technical assistance initiatives on issues related to this Title. In this sense, the Parties have identified a number of cooperation activities which are set out in Article 55 of Agreement.

Article 276. Final Provisions

1. Panama may delay giving effect to the provisions of Articles 233(c) and (d); 234; 238(b); 240; 252, paragraphs 1 and 2; 255, paragraph 2; 256; 258, paragraph 1; 259; 266, paragraph 4 and 271, for a period no longer than two years, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

2. Panama shall adhere to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (Washington 1970, last modified in 2001) within a period no longer than two years, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

Title VII. Trade and Competition

Article 277. Definitions

For the purpose of this Title:

1. "Competition laws" means:

(a) for the EU Party, Articles 101, 102, and 106 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings, and their Implementing Regulations and Amendments;

(b) for the CA Party, the Central American Competition Regulation (hereinafter referred to as "the Regulation") which shall be established according to Article 25 of the Protocolo al Tratado General de Integración Económica Centroamericana (Protocolo de Guatemala) and Article 21 of the Convenio Marco para el Establecimiento de la Unión Aduanera Centroamericana (Guatemala, 2007);

(c) until such time as the Regulation is adopted in conformity with Article 279, "competition laws" means the national competition laws of each of the Republics of the CA Party adopted or maintained in compliance with Article 279; and

(d) any changes that the abovementioned instruments may undergo after the entry into force of this Agreement.

2. "Competition authority" means:

(a) for the EU Party, the European Commission;

(b) for the CA Party, a Central American Competition Body to be established and designed by the CA Party in its Competition Regulation; and

(c) until such time as the Central American Competition Body is established and becomes operational in compliance with Article 279, "competition authority" means the national competition authorities of each of the Republics of the CA Party.

Article 278. Principles

1. The Parties recognise the importance of free and undistorted competition in their trade relations. The Parties acknowledge that anti-competitive practices have the potential to affect the proper functioning of markets and the benefits of trade liberalisation.

2. The Parties therefore agree that the following are incompatible with this Agreement, in so far as they may affect trade between the Parties:

(a) agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and concerted practices between undertakings, which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition (40) as specified in their respective competition laws;

(b) any abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position or a substantial market power or notable market participation, as specified in their respective competition laws; and

(c) concentrations between undertakings, which significantly impede effective competition, as specified in their respective competition laws.

(40) For greater certainty, this paragraph shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the analysis to be carried out in the cases of application of agreements between undertakings, decision by associations of undertaking and concerted practices between undertakings as established in the national competition laws of the Parties.

Article 279. Implementation

1. The Parties shall adopt or maintain in force comprehensive competition laws which effectively address the anti-competitive practices referred to in Article 278, paragraph 2(a) to (c). The Parties shall establish or maintain Competition Authorities designated and appropriately equipped for the transparent and effective implementation of the competition laws.

2. If, at the moment of entry into force of this Agreement, either Party has not yet adopted competition laws as referred to in Article 277, paragraph 1(a) or (b) nor designated a competition authority as referred to in Article 277, paragraph 2(a) or (b), it shall do so within a period of seven years. When this transition period has come to an end, the terms competition laws and competition authority referred to in this Title shall only mean those defined in Article 277, paragraph 1(a) and 277, paragraph 1(b) and Article 277, paragraph 2(a) and 277, paragraph 2(b).

3. If, at the moment of entry into force of this Agreement, a Republic of the CA Party has not yet adopted a competition law as referred to in Article 277, paragraph 1(c) nor designated a competition authority as referred to in Article 277, paragraph 2(c), it shall do so within a period of three years.

4. Nothing in this Title shall prejudge the competences assigned by the Parties to their respective regional and national authorities for the effective and coherent implementation of their respective competition laws.

Article 280. Public Enterprises and Enterprises Entrusted with Special or Exclusive Rights Including Designated Monopolies

1. Nothing in this Title prevents a Republic of the CA Party or a Member State of the European Union from designating or maintaining public enterprises, enterprises entrusted with special or exclusive rights or monopolies according to their respective national laws.

2. The entities mentioned in paragraph 1 above shall be subject to competition laws insofar as the application of competition laws does not obstruct the performance, in law or in fact, of the particular tasks assigned to them by a Republic of the CA Party or by a Member State of the EU Party.

3. The Parties shall ensure that from the date of entry into force of this Agreement no discrimination (41) is exercised by such entities regarding the conditions under which goods or services are purchased or sold, neither between natural or legal persons of either of the Parties, nor between goods originating from either of the Parties.

4. Nothing in this Title shall affect the rights and obligations of the Parties as set out under Title V (Government Procurement) of Part IV of this Agreement.

(41) Discrimination means a measure which does not comply with national treatment, as set out in the relevant provisions of this Agreement.

Article 281. Exchange of Non Confidential Information and Enforcement Cooperation

1. With a view to facilitating the effective application of their respective competition laws, the competition authorities may exchange non-confidential information.

2. The competition authority of one Party may request cooperation to the other Party's competition authority with respect to enforcement activities. This cooperation shall not prevent the Parties from taking autonomous decisions.

3. Neither Party is required to communicate information to the other Party. In case a Party decides to communicate information, such Party may withhold the information if communication of such information is prohibited by the laws and regulations of the Party possessing the information or if it would be incompatible with its interests. A Party may require that information communicated pursuant to this Article be used subject to the terms and conditions it may specify.

Article 282. Cooperation and Technical Assistance

The Parties agree that it is in their common interest to promote technical assistance initiatives related to competition policy and law enforcement activities. This cooperation is addressed in Article 52 of Agreement.

Article 283. Dispute Settlement

The Parties shall not have recourse to dispute settlement procedures under Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement for matters arising under this Title.

Title VIII. Trade and Sustainable Development

Article 284. Context and Objectives

1. The Parties recall Agenda 21 on Environment and Development of 1992, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation on Sustainable Development of 2002 and the 2006 Ministerial Declaration of the UN Economic and Social Council on Full Employment and Decent Work. The Parties reaffirm their commitment to promoting the development of international trade in such a way as to contribute to the objective of sustainable development and to ensuring that this objective is integrated and reflected at every level of their trade relationship. To this end, the Parties recognise the importance of taking into account the economic, social and environmental best interests of not only their respective populations but also of future generations.

2. The Parties reaffirm their commitment to achieving sustainable development, whose pillars – economic development, social development and environmental protection – are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. The Parties underline the benefit of considering trade related social and environmental issues as part of a global approach to trade and sustainable development.

3. The Parties agree that this Title embodies a cooperative approach based on common values and interests, taking into account the differences in their levels of development and the respect of their current and future needs and aspirations.

4. The Parties shall not have recourse to dispute settlement procedures under Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement and to the Mediation Mechanism for Non-Tariff Measures under Title XI (Mediation Mechanism for Non-Tariff Measures) of Part IV of this Agreement for matters arising under this Title.

Article 285. Right to Regulate and Levels of Protection

1. The Parties reaffirm the respect for their respective Constitutions (42) and for their rights there under to regulate in order to set their own sustainable development priorities, to establish their own levels of domestic environmental and social protection, and to adopt or modify accordingly their relevant laws and policies.

2. Each Party shall strive to ensure that its laws and policies provide for and encourage high levels of environmental and labour protection, appropriate to its social, environmental and economic conditions and consistent with the internationally recognised standards and agreements referred to in Articles 286 and 287 to which it is a party, and shall strive to improve those laws and policies, provided that they are not applied in a manner that would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between the Parties or a disguised restriction on international trade.

(42) For the EU Party, this refers to the Constitutions of the Member States of the European Union, to the Treaty on the European Union, to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Article 286. Multilateral Labour Standards and Agreements

1. Recalling the 2006 Ministerial Declaration of the UN Economic and Social Council on Full Employment and Decent Work, the Parties recognise that full and productive employment and decent work for all, which encompass social protection, fundamental principles and rights at work and social dialogue, are key elements of sustainable development for all countries, and therefore a priority objective of international cooperation. In this context, the Parties reaffirm their will to promote the development of macroeconomic policies in a way that is conducive to full and productive employment and decent work for all, including men, women and young people, with full respect for fundamental principles and rights at work under conditions of equity, equality, security and dignity. The Parties, in accordance with their obligations as members of the ILO, reaffirm their commitments to respect, promote, and realise in good faith and in accordance with the ILO Constitution, the principles concerning the fundamental rights which are the subject of the fundamental ILO Conventions, namely:

(a) the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;

  • Part   I GENERAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS 1
  • Title   I Nature and Scope of this Agreement 1
  • Article   1 Principles 1
  • Article   2 Objectives 1
  • Article   3 Scope 1
  • Title   II Institutional Framework 1
  • Article   4 Association Council 1
  • Article   5 Composition and Rules of Procedures 1
  • Article   6 Decision-making Powers 1
  • Article   7 Association Committee 1
  • Article   8 Sub-committees 1
  • Article   9 Association Parliamentary Committee 1
  • Article   10 Joint Consultative Committee 1
  • Article   11 Civil Society 1
  • Part   II Political Dialogue 1
  • Article   12 Objectives 1
  • Article   13 Areas 1
  • Article   14 Disarmament 1
  • Article   15 Weapons of Mass Destruction 1
  • Article   16 Fight Against Terrorism 2
  • Article   17 Serious Crimes of International Concern 2
  • Article   18 Finance for Development 2
  • Article   19 Migration 2
  • Article   20 Environment 2
  • Article   21 Citizen Security 2
  • Article   22 Good Governance In the Tax Area 2
  • Article   23 Common Economic-financial Credit Fund 2
  • Part   III COOPERATION 2
  • Article   24 Objectives 2
  • Article   25 Principles 2
  • Article   26 Modalities and Methodology 2
  • Article   27 Evolutionary Clause 2
  • Article   28 Statistics Cooperation 2
  • Title   I Democracy, Human Rights and Good Governance 2
  • Article   29 Democracy and Human Rights 2
  • Article   30 Good Governance 2
  • Article   31 Modernisation of the State and Public Administration, Including Decentralisation 2
  • Article   32 Conflict Prevention and Resolution 2
  • Article   33 Reinforcement of Institutions and Rule of Law 2
  • Title   II Justice, Freedom and Security 2
  • Article   34 Personal Data Protection 2
  • Article   35 Illicit Drugs 2
  • Article   36 Money Laundering, Including the Financing of Terrorism 2
  • Article   37 Organised Crime and Citizen Security 2
  • Article   38 The Fight Against Corruption 2
  • Article   39 Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons 3
  • Article   40 The Fight Against Terrorism with Full Respect for Human Rights 3
  • Title   III Social Development and Social Cohesion 3
  • Article   41 Social Cohesion Including the Fight Against Poverty, Inequalities and Exclusion 3
  • Article   42 Employment and Social Protection 3
  • Article   43 Education and Training 3
  • Article   44 Public Health 3
  • Article   45 Indigenous Peoples and other Ethnic Groups 3
  • Article   46 Vulnerable Groups 3
  • Article   47 Gender 3
  • Article   48 Youth 3
  • Title   IV Migration 3
  • Article   49 Migration 3
  • Title   V Environment, Natural Disasters and Climate Change 3
  • Article   50 Cooperation on Environment 3
  • Article   51 Management of Natural Disasters 3
  • Title   VI Economic and Trade Development 3
  • Article   52 Cooperation and Technical Assistance In the Field of Competition Policy 3
  • Article   53 Customs Cooperation and Mutual Assistance 3
  • Article   54 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Customs and Trade Facilitation 3
  • Article   55 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer 3
  • Article   56 Cooperation on Establishment, Trade In Services and Electronic Commerce 3
  • Article   57 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Technical Barriers to Trade 4
  • Article   58 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Government Procurement 4
  • Article   59 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Fisheries and Aquaculture 4
  • Article   60 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Artisanal Goods 4
  • Article   61 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Organic Goods 4
  • Article   62 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Food Safety, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters and Animal Welfare Issues 4
  • Article   63 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Trade and Sustainable Development 4
  • Article   64 Industrial Cooperation 4
  • Article   65 Energy (including Renewable Energy) 4
  • Article   66 Cooperation on Mining 4
  • Article   67 Fair and Sustainable Tourism 4
  • Article   68 Transport Cooperation 4
  • Article   69 Good Governance In the Tax Area 4
  • Article   70 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 4
  • Article   71 Cooperation on Microcredit and Microfinance 4
  • Title   VII Regional Integration 4
  • Article   72 Cooperation In the Field of Regional Integration 4
  • Article   73 Regional Cooperation 4
  • Title   VIII Culture and Audio-visual Cooperation 4
  • Article   74 Culture and Audio-visual Cooperation 4
  • Section   TITLE IX Knowledge Society 4
  • Article   75 Information Society 4
  • Article   76 Scientific and Technological Cooperation 4
  • Part   IV TRADE 5
  • Title   I INITIAL PROVISIONS 5
  • Article   77 Establishment of a Free Trade Area and Relation to the Wto Agreement 5
  • Article   78 Objectives 5
  • Article   79 Definitions of General Application 5
  • Title   II TRADE IN GOODS 5
  • Chapter   1 National Treatment and Market Access for Goods 5
  • Section   A General Provisions 5
  • Article   80 Objective 5
  • Article   81 Scope 5
  • Section   B Elimination of Custom Duties 5
  • Article   82 Classification of Goods 5
  • Article   83 Elimination of Customs Duties 5
  • Article   84 Standstill 5
  • Section   C Non-tariff Measures 5
  • Article   85 National Treatment 5
  • Article   86 Import and Export Restrictions 5
  • Article   87 Fees and other Charges on Imports and Exports 5
  • Article   88 Duties or Taxes on Exports 5
  • Section   D Agriculture 5
  • Article   89 Agricultural Export Subsidies 5
  • Section   E Fisheries, Aquaculture, Artisanal Goods and Organic Products 5
  • Article   90 Technical Cooperation 5
  • Section   F Institutional Provisions 5
  • Article   91 Sub-committee on Market Access for Goods 5
  • Chapter   2 Trade Remedies 5
  • Section   A Anti-dumping and Countervailing Measures 5
  • Article   92 General Provisions 5
  • Article   93 Transparency and Legal Certainty 5
  • Article   94 Consideration of Public Interest 5
  • Article   95 Lesser Duty Rule 5
  • Article   96 Causal Link 5
  • Article   97 Cumulative Assessment 5
  • Article   98 Exclusion from Dispute Settlement Procedures 5
  • Section   B Safeguard Measures 5
  • Subsection   B.1 General Provisions 5
  • Article   99 Administration of Safeguard Proceedings 5
  • Article   100 Non Cumulation 5
  • Subsection   B.2 Multilateral Safeguard Measures 5
  • Article   101 General Provisions 5
  • Article   102 Transparency 5
  • Article   103 Exclusion from Dispute Settlement Procedures 5
  • Subsection   B.3 Bilateral Safeguard Measures 5
  • Article   104 Application of a Bilateral Safeguard Measure 5
  • Article   105 Conditions and Limitations 5
  • Article   106 Provisional Measures 5
  • Article   107 Compensation and Suspension of Concessions 5
  • Article   108 Time Lapse In between Two Measures 5
  • Article   109 Outermost Regions 5
  • Subsection   B.4 Procedural Rules Applicable to Bilateral Safeguard Measures 5
  • Article   110 Applicable Law 5
  • Article   111 Initiation of a Proceeding 5
  • Article   112 Investigation 5
  • Article   113 Evidence of Injury and Causal Link 6
  • Article   114 Hearings 6
  • Article   115 Confidential Information 6
  • Article   116 Notifications and Publications 6
  • Chapter   3 Customs and Trade Facilitation 6
  • Article   117 Objectives 6
  • Article   118 Customs and Trade-related Procedures 6
  • Article   119 Transit Movements 6
  • Article   120 Relations with the Business Community 6
  • Article   121 Customs Valuation 6
  • Article   122 Risk Management 6
  • Article   123 Sub-committee on Customs, Trade Facilitation and Rules of Origin 6
  • Article   124 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Customs and Trade Facilitation 6
  • Chapter   4 Technical Barriers to Trade 6
  • Article   125 Objectives 6
  • Article   126 General Provisions 6
  • Article   127 Scope and Coverage 6
  • Article   128 Definitions 6
  • Article   129 Technical Regulations 6
  • Article   130 Standards 6
  • Article   131 Conformity Assessment and Accreditation 6
  • Article   132 Special and Differential Treatment 6
  • Article   133 Cooperation and Technical Assistance 6
  • Article   134 Collaboration and Regional Integration 6
  • Article   135 Transparency and Notification Procedures 6
  • Article   136 Market Surveillance 6
  • Article   137 Fees 6
  • Article   138 Marking and Labelling 6
  • Article   139 Sub-committee on Technical Barriers to Trade 7
  • Chapter   5 Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 7
  • Article   140 Objectives 7
  • Article   141 Multilateral Rights and Obligations 7
  • Article   142 Scope 7
  • Article   143 Definitions 7
  • Article   144 Competent Authorities 7
  • Article   145 General Principles 7
  • Article   146 Import Requirements 7
  • Article   147 Trade Facilitation 7
  • Article   148 Verifications 7
  • Article   149 Measures Linked to Animal and Plant Health 7
  • Article   150 Equivalence 7
  • Article   151 Transparency and Exchange of Information 7
  • Article   152 Notification and Consultation 7
  • Article   153 Emergency Measures 7
  • Article   154 Cooperation and Technical Assistance 7
  • Article   155 Special and Differential Treatment 7
  • Article   156 Sub-committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters 7
  • Article   157 Dispute Settlement 7
  • Chapter   6 Exceptions Related to Goods 7
  • Article   158 General Exceptions 7
  • Title   III ESTABLISHMENT, TRADE IN SERVICES AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE 7
  • Chapter   1 General Provisions 7
  • Article   159 Objective, Scope and Coverage 7
  • Article   160 Definitions 7
  • Article   161 Cooperation on Establishment, Trade In Services and E-commerce 7
  • Chapter   2 Establishment 7
  • Article   162 Definitions 7
  • Article   163 Coverage 7
  • Article   164 Market Access 8
  • Article   165 National Treatment 8
  • Article   166 Lists of Commitments 8
  • Article   167 Other Agreements 8
  • Article   168 Review 8
  • Chapter   3 Cross-border Supply of Services 8
  • Article   169 Coverage and Definitions 8
  • Article   170 Market Access 8
  • Article   171 National Treatment 8
  • Article   172 Lists of Commitments 8
  • Chapter   4 Temporary Presence of Natural Persons for Business Purposes 8
  • Article   173 Coverage and Definitions 8
  • Article   174 Key Personnel and Graduate Trainees 8
  • Article   175 Business Services Sellers 8
  • Article   176 Contractual Services Suppliers and Independent Professionals 8
  • Chapter   5 Regulatory Framework 8
  • Section   A Provisions of General Application 8
  • Article   177 Mutual Recognition 8
  • Article   178 Transparency and Disclosure of Confidential Information 8
  • Article   179 Procedures 8
  • Section   B Computer Services 8
  • Article   180 Understanding on Computer Services 8
  • Section   C Courier Services 8
  • Article   181 Scope and Definitions 8
  • Article   182 Prevention of Anti-competitive Practices In the Courier Sector 8
  • Article   183 Licences 8
  • Article   184 Independence of the Regulatory Bodies 8
  • Section   D Telecommunications Services 8
  • Article   185 Definitions and Scope 8
  • Article   186 Regulatory Authority 8
  • Article   187 Authorisation to Provide Telecommunications Services  (23) 8
  • Article   188 Competitive Safeguards on Major Suppliers 9
  • Article   189 Interconnection  (25) 9
  • Article   190 Scarce Resources 9
  • Article   191 Universal Service 9
  • Article   192 Confidentiality of Information 9
  • Article   193 Disputes between Suppliers 9
  • Article   194 Scope and Definitions 9
  • Article   195 Prudential Carve-out 9
  • Article   196 Effective and Transparent Regulation 9
  • Article   197 New Financial Services 9
  • Article   198 Data Processing 9
  • Article   199 Specific Exceptions 9
  • Section   F International Maritime Transport Services 9
  • Article   200 Scope, Definitions and Principles 9
  • Chapter   6 Electronic Commerce 9
  • Article   201 Objective and Principles 9
  • Article   202 Regulatory Aspects of E-commerce 9
  • Chapter   7 Exceptions 9
  • Article   203 General Exceptions 9
  • Title   IV Current Payments and Capital Movements 9
  • Article   204 Objective and Scope 9
  • Article   205 Current Account 9
  • Article   206 Capital Account 9
  • Article   207 Safeguard Measures 9
  • Article   208 Final Provisions 10
  • Title   V Government Procurement 10
  • Article   209 Introduction 10
  • Article   210 Scope and Coverage 10
  • Article   211 General Principles 10
  • Article   212 Publication of Procurement Information 10
  • Article   213 Publication of Notices 10
  • Article   214 Conditions for Participation 10
  • Article   215 Qualification or Registration of Suppliers 10
  • Article   216 Technical Specifications 10
  • Article   217 Tender Documentation 10
  • Article   218 Time Periods 10
  • Article   219 Negotiations 10
  • Article   220 The Use of Limited Tendering or other Equivalent Tendering Procedures 10
  • Article   221 Electronic Auctions 11
  • Article   222 Treatment of Tenders and Award of Contracts 11
  • Article   223 Transparency of Procurement Information 11
  • Article   224 Disclosure of Information 11
  • Article   225 Domestic Review Procedures 11
  • Article   226 Modifications and Rectifications of Coverage 11
  • Article   227 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Government Procurement 11
  • Title   VI INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 11
  • Chapter   1 Objectives and Principles 11
  • Article   228 Objectives 11
  • Article   229 Nature and Scope of Obligations 11
  • Article   230 Most Favoured Nation and National Treatment 11
  • Article   231 Transfer of Technology 11
  • Article   232 Exhaustion 11
  • Chapter   2 Standards Concerning Intellectual Property Rights 11
  • Section   A Copyrights and Related Rights 11
  • Article   233 Protection Granted 11
  • Article   234 Duration of Authors' Rights 11
  • Article   235 Duration of Related Rights 11
  • Article   236 Collective Management of Rights 11
  • Article   237 Broadcasting and Communication to the Public 11
  • Section   B Trademarks 11
  • Article   238 International Agreements 11
  • Article   239 Registration Procedure 11
  • Article   240 Well-known Trademarks 11
  • Article   241 Exceptions to the Rights Conferred by a Trademark 11
  • Section   C Geographical Indications 11
  • Article   242 General Provisions 11
  • Article   243 Scope and Coverage 11
  • Article   244 System of Protection 11
  • Article   245 Established Geographical Indications 11
  • Article   246 Protection Granted 11
  • Article   247 Addition of New Geographical Indications 11
  • Article   248 Relationship between Geographical Indications and Trademarks 11
  • Article   249 Right of Use of Geographical Indications 11
  • Article   250 Dispute Settlement 12
  • Section   D Industrial Designs 12
  • Article   251 International Agreements 12
  • Article   252 Requirements for Protection 12
  • Article   253 Exceptions 12
  • Article   254 Rights Conferred 12
  • Article   255 Term of Protection 12
  • Article   256 Invalidity or Refusal of Registration 12
  • Article   257 Relationship to Copyright 12
  • Section   E Patents 12
  • Article   258 International Agreements 12
  • Section   F Plant Varieties 12
  • Article   259 Plant Varieties 12
  • Chapter   3 Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights 12
  • Article   260 General Obligations 12
  • Article   261 Entitled Applicants 12
  • Article   262 Evidence 12
  • Article   263 Measures for Preserving Evidence 12
  • Article   264 Right of Information 12
  • Article   265 Provisional and Precautionary Measures 12
  • Article   266 Corrective Measures 12
  • Article   267 Damages 12
  • Article   268 Legal Costs 12
  • Article   269 Publication of Judicial Decisions 12
  • Article   270 Presumption of Ownership 12
  • Article   271 Criminal Sanctions 12
  • Article   272 Limitations on Liability for Service Providers 12
  • Article   273 Border Measures 12
  • Chapter   4 Institutional Provisions 12
  • Article   274 Sub-committee on Intellectual Property 12
  • Article   275 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Intellectual Property 12
  • Article   276 Final Provisions 12
  • Title   VII Trade and Competition 12
  • Article   277 Definitions 12
  • Article   278 Principles 12
  • Article   279 Implementation 12
  • Article   280 Public Enterprises and Enterprises Entrusted with Special or Exclusive Rights Including Designated Monopolies 12
  • Article   281 Exchange of Non Confidential Information and Enforcement Cooperation 12
  • Article   282 Cooperation and Technical Assistance 12
  • Article   283 Dispute Settlement 12
  • Title   VIII Trade and Sustainable Development 12
  • Article   284 Context and Objectives 12
  • Article   285 Right to Regulate and Levels of Protection 12
  • Article   286 Multilateral Labour Standards and Agreements 12
  • Article   287 Multilateral Environmental Standards and Agreements 13
  • Article   288 Trade Favouring Sustainable Development 13
  • Article   289 Trade In Forest Products 13
  • Article   290 Trade In Fish Products 13
  • Article   291 Upholding Levels of Protection 13
  • Article   292 Scientific Information 13
  • Article   293 Sustainability Review 13
  • Article   294 Institutional and Monitoring Mechanism 13
  • Article   295 Civil Society Dialogue Forum 13
  • Article   296 Government Consultations 13
  • Article   297 Panel of Experts 13
  • Article   298 Composition of the Panel of Experts 13
  • Article   299 Rules of Procedure 13
  • Article   300 Initial Report 13
  • Article   301 Final Report 13
  • Article   302 Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Trade and Sustainable Development 13
  • Title   IX Regional Economic Integration 13
  • Article   303 General Provisions 13
  • Article   304 Customs Procedures 13
  • Article   305 Technical Barriers to Trade 13
  • Article   306 Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 13
  • Article   307 Implementation 13
  • Title   X DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 13
  • Chapter   1 Objective and Scope 13
  • Article   308 Objective 13
  • Article   309 Scope 13
  • Chapter   2 Consultations 13
  • Article   310 Consultations 13
  • Chapter   3 Dispute Settlement Procedures 14
  • Section   A Panel Procedure 14
  • Article   311 Initiation of the Panel Procedure 14
  • Article   312 Establishment of the Panel 14
  • Article   313 Panel Ruling 14
  • Section   B Compliance 14
  • Article   314 Compliance with the Panel Ruling 14
  • Article   315 The Reasonable Period of Time for Compliance 14
  • Article   316 Review of Any Measure Taken to Comply with the Panel Ruling 14
  • Article   317 Temporary Remedies In Case of Non-compliance 14
  • Article   318 Review of Any Measure Taken to Comply after the Suspension of Obligations 14
  • Section   C Common Provisions 14
  • Article   319 Rules of Procedure 14
  • Article   320 Information and Technical Advice 14
  • Article   321 Amicus Curiae 14
  • Article   322 Rules and Principles of Interpretation 14
  • Article   323 Common Provisions Regarding the Panel Rulings 14
  • Chapter   4 General Provisions 14
  • Article   324 Mutually Satisfactory Solution 14
  • Article   325 List of Panelists 14
  • Article   326 Relation with WTO Obligations 14
  • Article   327 Time Periods 14
  • Article   328 Adoption and Modification of the Rules of Procedure and the Code of Conduct 14
  • Title   XI MEDIATION MECHANISM FOR NON-TARIFF MEASURES 14
  • Chapter   1 Scope 14
  • Article   329 Scope 14
  • Chapter   2 Procedure Under the Mediation Mechanism 14
  • Article   330 Initiation of the Procedure 14
  • Article   331 Selection of the Mediator 14
  • Article   332 Rules of the Mediation Procedure 14
  • Chapter   3 Implementation 14
  • Article   333 Implementation of a Mutually Agreed Solution 14
  • Chapter   4 General Provisions 14
  • Article   334 Relationship to Title X on Dispute Settlement 14
  • Article   335 Time Periods 14
  • Article   336 Confidentiality of Information 14
  • Article   337 Costs 14
  • Title   XII TRANSPARENCY AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES 14
  • Article   338 Cooperation on Increased Transparency 14
  • Article   339 Publication 15
  • Article   340 Contact Points and Exchange of Information 15
  • Article   341 Administrative Proceedings 15
  • Article   342 Review and Appeal 15
  • Article   343 Specific Rules 15
  • Article   344 Transparency In Subsidies 15
  • Title   XIII SPECIFIC TASKS IN TRADE MATTERS OF THE BODIES ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT 15
  • Article   345 Specific Tasks of the Association Council 15
  • Article   346 Specific Tasks of the Association Committee 15
  • Article   347 Coordinators of Part IV of this Agreement 15
  • Article   348 Sub-committees 15
  • Title   XIV EXCEPTIONS 15
  • Article   349 Balance of Payments 15
  • Article   350 Taxation 15
  • Article   351 Regional Preference 15
  • Part   V Final Provisions 15
  • Article   352 Definition of the Parties 15
  • Article   353 Entry Into Force 15
  • Article   354 Duration 15
  • Article   355 Fulfilment of the Obligations 15
  • Article   356 Rights and Obligations Under this Agreement 15
  • Article   357 Exceptions 15
  • Article   358 Future Developments 15
  • Article   359 Accession of New Members 15
  • Article   360 Territorial Application 15
  • Article   361 Reservations and Interpretative Declarations 15
  • Article   362 Annexes, Appendices, Protocols and Notes, Footnotes and Joint Declarations 15
  • Article   363 Authentic Texts 16