Moldova, Republic of - United Kingdom Strategic Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement (2020)
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Article 226. Objective and Principles

1. The Parties, recognising that electronic commerce increases trade opportunities in many sectors, agree to promote the development of electronic commerce between them, in particular by cooperating on the issues raised by electronic commerce under the provisions of this Chapter.

2. The Parties agree that the development of electronic commerce must be fully compatible with the highest international standards of data protection, in order to ensure the confidence of users of electronic commerce.

3. The Parties agree that electronic transmissions shall be considered as the provision of services, within the meaning of Section 3 (Cross-border Supply of Services) of this Chapter, which cannot be subject to customs duties.

Article 227. Cooperation In Electronic Commerce

1. The Parties shall maintain a dialogue on regulatory issues raised by electronic commerce, which will address, inter alia, the following issues:

(a) the recognition of certificates of electronic signatures issued to the public and the facilitation of cross-border certification services;

(b) the liability of intermediary service providers with respect to the transmission or storage of information;

(c) the treatment of unsolicited electronic commercial communications;

(d) the protection of consumers in the ambit of electronic commerce; and

(e) any other issue relevant for the development of electronic commerce.

2. Such cooperation can take the form of exchange of information on the Parties’ respective legislation on those issues as well as on the implementation of such legislation.

Subsection 2. LIABILITY OF INTERMEDIARY SERVICE PROVIDERS

Article 228. Use of Intermediaries' Services

1. The Parties recognise that the services of intermediaries can be used by third parties for infringing activities and shall provide the measures set out in this Sub- Section in respect of intermediary service providers.

2. For the purposes of Article 229 of this Agreement, "service provider" means a provider of transmission, routing, or connections for digital online communication between or among points specified by the user, of material of the user's choice without modifying its content. For the purposes of Articles 230 and 231 of this Agreement, "service provider" means a provider or operator of facilities for online services or network access.

Article 229. Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "mere Conduit"

1. Where an information society service is provided that consists of the transmission in a communication network of information provided by a recipient of the service, or the provision of access to a communication network, each Party shall ensure that the service provider is not liable for the information transmitted, on condition that the provider:

(a) does not initiate the transmission;

(b) does not select the receiver of the transmission; and

(c) does not select or modify the information contained in the transmission.

2. The acts of transmission and of provision of access referred to in paragraph 1 include the automatic, intermediate and transient storage of the information transmitted in so far as it takes place for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission in the communication network, and provided that the information is not stored for any period longer than is reasonably necessary for the transmission.

3. This Article shall not affect the possibility for a court or administrative authority, in accordance with the Parties' legal systems, of requiring the service provider to terminate or prevent an infringement.

Article 230. Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "caching"

1. Where an information society service is provided that consists of the transmission in a communication network of information provided by a recipient of the service, each Party shall ensure that the service provider is not liable for the automatic, intermediate and temporary storage of that information, performed for the sole purpose of making more efficient the onward transmission of the information to other recipients of the service upon their request, on condition that:

(a) the provider does not modify the information;

(b) the provider complies with conditions on access to the information;

(c) the provider complies with rules regarding the updating of the information, specified in a manner widely recognised and used by industry;

(d) the provider does not interfere with the lawful use of technology, widely recognised and used by industry, to obtain data on the use of the information; and

(e) the provider acts expeditiously to remove or to disable access to the information it has stored upon obtaining actual knowledge of the fact that the information at the initial source of the transmission has been removed from the network, or access to it has been disabled, or that a court or an administrative authority has ordered such removal or disablement.

2. This Article shall not affect the possibility for a court or administrative authority, in accordance with the Parties' legal systems, of requiring the service provider to terminate or prevent an infringement.

Article 231. Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "hosting"

1. Where an information society service is provided that consists of the storage of information provided by a recipient of the service, each Party shall ensure that the service provider is not liable for the information stored at the request of a recipient of the service, on condition that:

(a) the provider does not have actual knowledge of illegal activity or information and, as regards claims for damages, is not aware of facts or circumstances from which the illegal activity or information is apparent; or

(b) the provider, upon obtaining such knowledge or awareness, acts expeditiously to remove or to disable access to the information.

2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply when the recipient of the service is acting under the authority or the control of the provider.

3. This Article shall not affect the possibility for a court or administrative authority, in accordance with the Parties' legal systems, of requiring the service provider to terminate or prevent an infringement, nor does it affect the possibility for the Parties of establishing procedures governing the removal or disabling of access to information.

Article 232. No General Obligation to Monitor

1. The Parties shall not impose a general obligation on providers, when providing the services covered by Articles 229, 230 and 231 of this Agreement, to monitor the information which they transmit or store, nor shall they impose a general obligation to actively seek facts or circumstances indicating illegal activity.

2. A Party may establish obligations for information society service providers to promptly inform the competent public authorities of alleged illegal activities undertaken or information provided by recipients of their service or obligations to communicate to the competent authorities, at their request, information enabling the identification of recipients of their service with whom they have storage agreements.

Section 7. EXCEPTIONS

Article 233. General Exceptions

1. Without prejudice to general exceptions set in Article 379 of this Agreement, the provisions of this Chapter and of Annexes XI-A and XIJ-E, XI-B and XI-F, XI-C and XI-G, XI-D and XI-H to this Agreement are subject to the exceptions provided for in this Article.

2. Subject to the requirement that such measures are not applied in a manner which would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between countries where like conditions prevail, or a disguised restriction on establishment or cross-border supply of services, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent the adoption or enforcement by any Party of measures:

(a) necessary to protect public security or public morals or to maintain public order;

(b) necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health;

(c) relating to the conservation of exhaustible natural resources if such measures are applied in conjunction with restrictions on domestic entrepreneurs or on the domestic supply or consumption of services;

(d) necessary for the protection of national treasures of artistic, historic or archaeological value;

(e) necessary to secure compliance with laws or regulations which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Chapter, including those relating to:

(i) the prevention of deceptive and fraudulent practices or dealing with the effects of a default on contracts;

(ii) the protection of the privacy of individuals in relation to the processing and dissemination of personal data and the protection of confidentiality of individual records and accounts;

(iii) safety;

(f) inconsistent with Articles 180(1) and 186 of this Agreement, provided that the difference in treatment is aimed at ensuring the effective or equitable imposition or collection of direct taxes in respect of economic activities, entrepreneurs or services suppliers of the other Party (1).

3. The provisions of this Chapter and of Annexes XI-A and XI-E, XI-B and XI-F, XI-C and XI-G, XI-D and XI-H to this Agreement shall not apply to the Parties' respective social security systems or to activities in the territory of each Party which are connected, even occasionally, with the exercise of official authority.

(1) Measures that are aimed at ensuring the equitable or effective imposition or collection of direct taxes include measures taken by a Party under its taxation system which: (a) apply to non-resident entrepreneurs and services suppliers in recognition of the fact that the tax obligation of non-residents is determined with respect to taxable items sourced or located in the Party's territory; (b) apply to non-residents in order to ensure the imposition or collection of taxes in the Party's territory; (c) apply to non-residents or residents in order to prevent the avoidance or evasion of taxes, including compliance measures; (d) apply to consumers of services supplied in or from the territory of another Party in order to ensure the imposition or collection of taxes on such consumers derived from sources in the Party's territory; (e) distinguish entrepreneurs and service suppliers subject to tax on worldwide taxable items from other entrepreneurs and service suppliers, in recognition of the difference in the nature of the tax base between them; or (f) determine, allocate or apportion income, profit, gain, loss, deduction or credit of resident persons or branches, or between related persons or branches of the same person, in order to safeguard the Party's tax base. Tax terms or concepts referred to in point (f) of this paragraph and in this footnote are determined according to tax definitions and concepts, or equivalent or similar definitions and concepts, under the domestic law of the Party taking the measure.

Article 234. Recognition and Taxation Measures

The most-favoured-nation treatment granted in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to:

(a) treatment granted under measures providing for recognition of qualifications, licences, or prudential measures in accordance with Article VII of GATS or its Annex on Financial Services;

(b) the tax treatment granted under any international agreement or arrangement relating wholly or mainly to taxation.

Article 235. Security Exceptions Nothing In this Agreement Shall Be Construed to:

(a) require any Party to furnish any information, the disclosure of which it considers contrary to its essential security interests;

(b) prevent any Party from taking any action which it considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests:

(i) connected with the production of, or trade, in arms, munitions or war materiel;

(ii) relating to economic activities carried out directly or indirectly for the purpose of provisioning a military establishment;

(iii) relating to fissionable and fusionable materials or the materials from which they are derived; or

(iv) taken in time of war or other emergency in international relations; or

(c) prevent any Party from taking any action in pursuance of obligations it has accepted for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security.

Chapter 7. CURRENT PAYMENTS AND MOVEMENT OF CAPITAL

Article 236. Current Payments

The Parties undertake to authorise, in freely convertible currency, in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII of the Agreement of the International Monetary Fund, any payments and transfers on the current account of balance of payments between the Parties.

Article 237. Capital Movements

1. With regard to transactions on the capital and financial account of balance of payments, from 1st September 2014, the Parties shall ensure the free movement of capital relating to direct investments, including the acquisition of real estate, made in accordance with the laws of the host country, investments made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 6 (Establishment, Trade in Services and Electronic Commerce) of Title V (Trade and Trade-related Matters) of this Agreement, and the liquidation or repatriation of invested capital and of any profit stemming therefrom.

2. With regard to transactions on the capital and financial account of balance of payments other than the transactions listed in paragraph 1, from 1 September 2014, each Party shall ensure, without prejudice to other provisions of this Agreement,

(a) the free movement of capital relating to credits for commercial transactions or for the provision of services in which a resident of one of the Parties is participating; and

(b) the free movement of capital relating to portfolio investments, financial loans and credits by the investors of the other Party.

Article 238. Safeguard Measures

Where, in exceptional circumstances, payments or movements of capital cause, or threaten to cause, serious difficulties for the operation of exchange rate policy or monetary policy, including serious balance of payments difficulties, in the United Kingdom or in the Republic of Moldova, the Parties concerned may take safeguard measures for a period not exceeding six months if such measures are strictly necessary. The Party adopting the safeguard measure shall inform the other Party forthwith of the adoption of any safeguard measure and, as soon as possible, of a time schedule for its removal.

Article 239. Facilitation and Evolution Provisions

The Parties shall consult with a view to facilitating the movement of capital between the Parties in order to promote the objectives of this Agreement.

Chapter 8. PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

Article 240. Objectives

1. The Parties recognise the contribution of transparent, non-discriminatory, competitive and open tendering to sustainable economic development and set as their objective the effective, reciprocal and gradual opening of their respective procurement markets.

2. This Chapter envisages mutual access to public procurement markets on the basis of the principle of national treatment at national, regional and local level for public contracts and concessions in the public sector as well as in the utilities sector.

Article 241. Scope

1. This Chapter applies to works, supplies and services public contracts, as well as works, supplies and service contracts in the utilities sectors and works and services concessions.

2. This Chapter applies to any contracting authority and any contracting entity which meets the definitions of the UK or the Republic of Moldova public procurement domestic law (hereinafter referred to as the "contracting entities"). It also covers bodies governed by public law and public undertakings in the field of utilities, such as state-owned enterprises carrying out the relevant activities, and private undertakings operating on the basis of special and exclusive rights in the field of utilities.

3. This Chapter applies to contracts above value thresholds set out in Annex XII- A to this Agreement.

4. The calculation of the estimated value of a public contract shall be based on the total amount payable, net of taxes on value added. When applying those thresholds, the Republic of Moldova will calculate and convert contract values into its national currency, using the conversion rate of its National Bank.

5. Value thresholds shall be revised regularly every two years, beginning in the first even year following the entry into force of this Agreement, based on the average daily value of the euro, expressed in Special Drawing Rights, over the 24 month period terminating on the last day of August preceding the revision, with effect from January 1. The value of the thresholds thus revised shall, where necessary, be rounded down to nearest thousand euro. The revision of the thresholds shall be adopted by decision of the Political and Strategic Dialogue in Trade configuration, as set out in Article 375(3) of this Agreement.

Article 242. Institutional Background

1. Each Party shall establish or maintain an appropriate institutional framework and mechanisms necessary for the proper functioning of the public procurement system and the implementation of the provisions of this Chapter.

2. The Republic of Moldova shall designate in particular:

(a) an executive body responsible for economic policy at central government level tasked with guaranteeing a coherent policy in all areas related to public procurement. Such a body shall facilitate and coordinate the implementation of this Chapter;

(b) an impartial and independent body tasked with the review of decisions taken by contracting authorities or entities during the award of contracts. In that context, "independent" means that that body shall be a public authority which is separate from all contracting entities and economic operators. There shall be a possibility to subject the decisions taken by that body to judicial review.

3. Each Party shall ensure that decisions taken by the authorities responsible for the review of complaints by economic operators concerning infringements of domestic law shall be effectively enforced.

Article 243. Basic Standards Regulating the Award of Contracts

1. The Parties shall comply with a set of basic standards for the award of all contracts as stipulated in paragraphs 2 to 15. Those basic standards derive directly from the rules and principles of public procurement, including the principles of non- discrimination, equal treatment, transparency and proportionality.

Publication

2. Each Party shall ensure that all intended procurements are published in an appropriate medium in a manner that is sufficient to:

(a) enable the market to be opened up to competition; and

(b) allow any interested economic operator to have appropriate access to information regarding the intended procurement prior to the award of the contract and to express its interest in obtaining the contract.

3. The publication shall be appropriate to the economic interest of the contract to economic operators.

4. The publication shall contain at least the essential details of the contract to be awarded, the criteria for qualitative selection, the award method, the contract award criteria and any other additional information that the economic operators reasonably need to decide on whether to express their interest in obtaining the contract.

Award of contracts

5. All contracts shall be awarded through transparent and impartial award procedures that prevent corrupt practices. That impartiality shall be ensured in particular through the non-discriminatory description of the subject matter of the contract, equal access for all economic operators, appropriate time-limits and a transparent and objective approach.

6. When describing the characteristics of the required work, supply or service, the contracting entities shall use general descriptions of performance and functions and international or national standards.

7. The description of the characteristics required of a work, supply or service shall not refer to a specific make or source, or a particular process, or to trademarks, patents, types or a specific origin or production unless such a reference is justified by the subject matter of the contract and accompanied by the words "or equivalent". Preference shall be given to the use of general descriptions of performance or functions.

8. Contracting entities shall not impose conditions resulting in direct or indirect discrimination against the economic operators of the other Party, such as the requirement that economic operators interested in the contract are required to be established in the same country, region or territory as the contracting entity.

Notwithstanding the first subparagraph, in cases where it is justified by the specific circumstances of the contract, the successful applicant may be required to establish certain business infrastructure at the place of performance.

9. The time-limits for expression of interest and for submission of offers shall be sufficiently long to allow economic operators from the other Party to make a meaningful assessment of the tender and prepare their offer.

10. All participants are required to know the applicable rules, selection criteria and award criteria in advance. Those rules must apply equally to all participants.

11. Contracting entities may invite a limited number of applicants to submit an offer, provided that:

(a) it is done in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner; and

(b) the selection is based only on objective factors such as the experience of the applicants in the sector concerned, the size and infrastructure of their businesses or their technical and professional abilities.

In inviting a limited number of applicants to submit an offer, account shall be taken of the need to ensure adequate competition.

12. Contracting entities may use negotiated procedures only in exceptional and defined cases when the use of such a procedure effectively does not distort competition.

13. Contracting entities may use qualification systems only under the condition that the list of qualified operators is compiled by means of a sufficiently advertised, transparent and open procedure. Contracts falling within the scope of such a system shall be awarded also on a non-discriminatory basis.

14. Each Party shall ensure that contracts are awarded in a transparent manner to the applicant who has submitted the economically most advantageous offer or the offer with the lowest price, based on the tender criteria and the procedural rules established and communicated in advance. The final decisions shall be communicated to all applicants without undue delay. Upon request of an unsuccessful applicant, reasons must be provided in sufficient detail to allow the review of such a decision.

Judicial protection

15. Each Party shall ensure that any person having or having had an interest in obtaining a particular contract and who has been, or risks being, harmed by an alleged infringement is entitled to effective, impartial judicial protection against any decision of the contracting entity related to the award of that contract. The decisions taken in the course and at the end of such review procedure shall be made public in a manner that is sufficient to inform all interested economic operators.

Article 244. Market Access

1. The Parties agree that the effective and reciprocal opening of their respective markets shall be attained gradually and simultaneously.

2. In so far as a Party has, according to Annex XII-B to this Agreement, opened its procurement market to the other Party:

(a) the UK shall grant access to contract award procedures to companies of the Republic of Moldova, whether established or not in the UK, pursuant to national public procurement rules under treatment no less favourable than that accorded to UK companies;

(b) the Republic of Moldova shall grant access to contract award procedures for UK companies, whether established or not in the Republic of Moldova, pursuant to national procurement rules under treatment no less favourable than that accorded to companies of the Republic of Moldova.

3. The Parties will examine the possibility to grant mutual market access with regard to procurements below the value thresholds set out in Annex XII-A to this Agreement.

Article 245. Information

1. Each Party shall ensure that contracting entities and economic operators are appropriately informed about public procurement procedures, including through the publication of all relevant legislation and administrative rulings.

2. Each Party shall ensure the effective dissemination of information on tendering opportunities.

Article 246. Cooperation

1. The Parties shall enhance their cooperation through exchanges of experience and information relating to their best practices and regulatory frameworks.

2. The UK shall facilitate the implementation of this Chapter, including through technical assistance where appropriate. In line with the provisions in Articles 5 and 6 of this Agreement, specific decisions on financial assistance shall be taken through the relevant UK funding mechanisms and instruments.

3. An indicative list of issues for cooperation is included in Annex XII-C to this Agreement.

Chapter 9. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS AND PRINCIPLES

Article 247. Objectives

The objectives of this Chapter are to:

(a) facilitate the production and commercialisation of innovative and creative products between the Parties; and

(b) achieve an adequate and effective level of protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Article 248. Nature and Scope of Obligations

1. The Parties shall ensure the adequate and effective implementation of the international agreements dealing with intellectual property to which they are parties, including the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (the TRIPS Agreement). The provisions of this Chapter shall complement and further specify the rights and obligations between the Parties under the TRIPS Agreement and other international agreements in the field of intellectual property.

2. For the purposes of this Agreement, the expression "intellectual property" refers at least to all categories of intellectual property covered by Articles 250 to 287 of this Agreement.

3. Protection of intellectual property includes protection against unfair competition as referred to in Article 10bis of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property of 1967 (the Paris Convention).

Article 249. Exhaustion

The Parties shall be free to establish their own regime for exhaustion of intellectual property rights, subject to the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement.

Section 2. STANDARDS CONCERNING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Subsection 1. COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS

Article 250. Protection Granted

The Parties shall comply with the rights and obligations set out in the following international agreements:

(a) the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (the Berne Convention);

  • Article   1 Objectives 1
  • Title   I GENERAL PRINCIPLES 1
  • Article   2 1
  • Title   II POLITICAL DIALOGUE AND REFORM, COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY 1
  • Article   3 Aims of Political Dialogue 1
  • Article   4 Domestic Reform 1
  • Article   5 1
  • Article   6 1
  • Article   7 Foreign and Security Policy 1
  • Article   8 International Criminal Court 1
  • Article   9 Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management 1
  • Article   10 Regional Stability 1
  • Article   11 Weapons of Mass Destruction 1
  • Article   12 Small Arms and Light Weapons and Conventional Arms Export Control 1
  • Article   13 International Cooperation In the Fight Against Terrorism 1
  • Title   II FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE 1
  • Article   14 Rule of Law 1
  • Article   15 Protection of Personal Data 1
  • Article   16 Cooperation on Migration, Asylum and Border Management 1
  • Article   17 Movement of Persons 1
  • Article   18 Preventing and Combating Organised Crime, Corruption and other Illegal Activities 1
  • Article   19 Tackling Illicit Drugs 1
  • Article   20 Preventing and Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism 1
  • Article   21 Combating Terrorism 1
  • Article   22 Legal Cooperation 1
  • Title   IV ECONOMIC AND OTHER SECTORAL COOPERATION 1
  • Chapter   1 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION REFORM 1
  • Article   23 2
  • Article   24 2
  • Article   25 2
  • Chapter   2 ECONOMIC DIALOGUE 2
  • Article   26 2
  • Article   27 2
  • Article   28 2
  • Chapter   3 COMPANY LAW, ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 2
  • Article   29 2
  • Article   30 2
  • Article   31 2
  • Chapter   4 EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL POLICY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 2
  • Article   32 2
  • Article   33 2
  • Article   34 2
  • Article   35 2
  • Article   36 2
  • Article   37 2
  • Chapter   5 CONSUMER PROTECTION 2
  • Article   38 2
  • Article   39 2
  • Chapter   6 STATISTICS 2
  • Article   40 2
  • Article   41 2
  • Article   42 2
  • Article   43 2
  • Article   44 2
  • Chapter   7 MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC FINANCES: BUDGET POLICY, INTERNAL CONTROL, FINANCIAL INSPECTION AND EXTERNAL AUDIT 2
  • Article   45 2
  • Article   46 Budget and Accounting Systems 2
  • Article   47 Internal Control, Financial Inspection and External Audit 2
  • Article   48 Fight Against Fraud and Corruption 2
  • Article   49 2
  • Chapter   8 TAXATION 2
  • Article   50 2
  • Article   51 2
  • Article   52 2
  • Article   53 2
  • Article   54 2
  • Chapter   9 FINANCIAL SERVICES 2
  • Article   55 2
  • Article   56 2
  • Article   57 2
  • Chapter   10 INDUSTRIAL AND ENTERPRISE POLICY 2
  • Article   58 2
  • Article   59 2
  • Article   60 2
  • Chapter   11 MINING AND RAW MATERIALS 2
  • Article   61 2
  • Article   62 3
  • Chapter   12 AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT 3
  • Article   63 3
  • Article   64 3
  • Chapter   13 FISHERIES AND MARITIME POLICY 3
  • Section   1 FISHERIES POLICY 3
  • Article   66 3
  • Article   67 3
  • Article   68 3
  • Section   2 MARITIME POLICY 3
  • Article   69 3
  • Article   70 3
  • Chapter   14 ENERGY COOPERATION 3
  • Article   71 3
  • Article   72 3
  • Article   73 3
  • Chapter   15 TRANSPORT 3
  • Article   74 3
  • Article   75 3
  • Article   76 3
  • Article   77 3
  • Chapter   16 ENVIRONMENT 3
  • Article   78 3
  • Article   79 3
  • Article   80 3
  • Article   81 3
  • Article   82 3
  • Chapter   17 CLIMATE ACTION 3
  • Article   83 3
  • Article   84 3
  • Article   85 3
  • Article   86 3
  • Article   87 3
  • Chapter   18 INFORMATION SOCIETY 3
  • Article   88 3
  • Article   89 3
  • Article   90 4
  • Article   91 4
  • Chapter   19 TOURISM 4
  • Article   92 4
  • Article   93 4
  • Article   94 4
  • Article   95 4
  • Chapter   20 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 4
  • Article   96 4
  • Chapter   21 PUBLIC HEALTH 4
  • Article   97 4
  • Article   98 4
  • Chapter   22 CIVIL PROTECTION 4
  • Article   99 4
  • Article   100 4
  • Article   101 4
  • Article   1012 4
  • Article   103 4
  • Chapter   23 COOPERATION ON EDUCATION, TRAINING, MULTILINGUALISM, YOUTH AND SPORT 4
  • Article   104 4
  • Article   105 4
  • Article   106 4
  • Article   107 4
  • Article   108 4
  • Chapter   24 COOPERATION IN RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION 4
  • Article   109 4
  • Article   110 4
  • Chapter   25 COOPERATION ON CULTURE, AUDIO-VISUAL POLICY AND MEDIA 4
  • Article   111 4
  • Article   112 4
  • Article   113 4
  • Chapter   26 CIVIL SOCIETY COOPERATION 4
  • Article   114 4
  • Article   115 4
  • Article   116 4
  • Chapter   27 COOPERATION IN THE PROTECTION AND PROMOTION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD 4
  • Article   117 4
  • Article   118 4
  • Article   119 4
  • Title   V TRADE AND TRADE-RELATED MATTERS 4
  • Chapter   1 NATIONAL TREATMENT AND MARKET ACCESS FOR GOODS 4
  • Section   1 COMMON PROVISIONS 4
  • Article   120 Objective 4
  • Article   121 Scope and Coverage 4
  • Section   2 ELIMINATION OF CUSTOMS DUTIES, FEES AND OTHER CHARGES 4
  • Article   122 Definition of Customs Duties 4
  • Article   123 Classification of Goods 4
  • Article   124 Elimination of Customs Duties on Imports 4
  • Article   125 Anti-circumvention Mechanism for Agricultural Products and Processed Agricultural Products 5
  • Article   126 Standstill 5
  • Article   127 Customs Duties on Exports 5
  • Article   128 Fees and other Charges 5
  • Section   3 NON-TARIFF MEASURES 5
  • Article   129 National Treatment 5
  • Article   130 Import and Export Restrictions 5
  • Section   4 SPECIFIC PROVISIONS RELATED TO GOODS 5
  • Article   131 General Exceptions 5
  • Section   5 ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATION AND COORDINATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES 5
  • Article   132 Special Provisions on Administrative Cooperation 5
  • Article   133 Management of Administrative Errors 5
  • Article   134 Agreements with other Countries 5
  • Chapter   2 TRADE REMEDIES 5
  • Section   1 GLOBAL SAFEGUARD MEASURES 5
  • Article   135 General Provisions 5
  • Article   136 Transparency 5
  • Article   137 Application of Measures 5
  • Section   2 ANTI-DUMPING AND COUNTERVAILING MEASURES 5
  • Article   138 General Provisions 5
  • Article   139 Transparency 5
  • Article   140 Consideration of Public Interest 5
  • Article   141 Lesser Duty Rule 5
  • Section   3 BILATERAL SAFEGUARD MEASURES 5
  • Article   142 Application of a Bilateral Safeguard Measure 5
  • Article   143 Conditions and Limitations 5
  • Article   144 Provisional Measures 5
  • Article   145 Compensation 5
  • Article   146 Definitions 5
  • Chapter   3 TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE, STANDARDISATION, METROLOGY, ACCREDITATION AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT 5
  • Article   147 Scope and Definitions 5
  • Article   148 Affirmation of the TBT Agreement 5
  • Article   149 Technical Cooperation 5
  • Article   150 Technical Regulations, Standards and Conformity Assessment 5
  • Article   151 Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) 5
  • Article   152 Marking and Labelling 5
  • Chapter   4 SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES 5
  • Article   153 Objective 5
  • Article   154 Multilateral Obligations 5
  • Article   155 Scope 5
  • Article   156 Definitions 5
  • Article   157 Competent Authorities 6
  • Article   158 Recognition for Trade Purposes of Animal Health and Pest Status and Regional Conditions 6
  • Article   159 Recognition of Equivalence 6
  • Article   160 Transparency and Exchange of Information 6
  • Article   161 Notification, Consultation and Facilitation of Communication 6
  • Article   162 Trade Conditions 6
  • Article   163 Certification Procedure 6
  • Article   164 Verification 6
  • Article   165 Import Checks and Inspection Fees 6
  • Article   166 Safeguard Measures 6
  • Article   167 Sanitary and Phytosanitary Sub-Committee 6
  • Chapter   5 CUSTOMS AND TRADE FACILITATION 6
  • Article   168 Objectives 6
  • Article   169 Legislation and Procedures 6
  • Article   170 Relations with the Business Community 7
  • Article   171 Fees and Charges 7
  • Article   172 Customs Valuation 7
  • Article   173 Customs Cooperation 7
  • Article   174 Mutual Administrative Assistance In Customs Matters 7
  • Article   175 Technical Assistance and Capacity Building 7
  • Article   176 Customs Sub-Committee 7
  • Chapter   6 ESTABLISHMENT, TRADE IN SERVICES AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE 7
  • Section   1 GENERAL PROVISIONS 7
  • Article   177 Objective, Scope and Coverage 7
  • Article   178 Definitions 7
  • Section   2 ESTABLISHMENT 7
  • Article   179 Scope 7
  • Article   180 National Treatment and Most-favoured-nation Treatment 7
  • Article   181 Review 7
  • Article   182 Other Agreements 7
  • Article   183 Standard of Treatment for Branches and Representative Offices 7
  • Section   3 CROSS-BORDER SUPPLY OF SERVICES 7
  • Article   184 Scope 7
  • Article   185 Market Access 7
  • Article   186 National Treatment 7
  • Article   187 Lists of Commitments 8
  • Article   188 Review 8
  • Section   4 TEMPORARY PRESENCE OF NATURAL PERSONS FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES 8
  • Article   189 Scope and Definitions 8
  • Article   190 Key Personnel and Graduate Trainees 8
  • Article   191 Business Sellers 8
  • Article   192 Contractual Service Suppliers 8
  • Article   193 Independent Professionals 8
  • Section   5 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 8
  • Subsection   1 DOMESTIC REGULATION 8
  • Article   194 Scope and Definitions 8
  • Article   195 Conditions for Licencing and Qualification 8
  • Article   196 Licencing and Qualification Procedures 8
  • Subsection   2 PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 8
  • Article   197 Mutual Recognition 8
  • Article   198 Transparency and Disclosure of Confidential Information 8
  • Subsection   3 COMPUTER SERVICES 8
  • Article   199 Understanding on Computer Services 8
  • Subsection   4 POSTAL AND COURIER SERVICES 8
  • Article   200 Scope and Definitions 8
  • Article   201 Prevention of Anti-competitive Practices In the Postal and Courier Sector 8
  • Article   202 Universal Service 8
  • Article   203 Licences 8
  • Article   204 Independence of the Regulatory Body 8
  • Subsection   5 ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION NETWORKS AND SERVICES 8
  • Article   205 Scope and Definitions 8
  • Article   206 Regulatory Authority 9
  • Article   207 Authorisation to Provide Electronic Communication Services 9
  • Article   208 Access and Interconnection 9
  • Article   209 Scarce Resources 9
  • Article   210 Universal Service 9
  • Article   211 Cross-border Provision of Electronic Communication Services 9
  • Article   212 Confidentiality of Information 9
  • Article   213 Disputes between Services Suppliers 9
  • Subsection   6 FINANCIAL SERVICES 9
  • Article   214 Scope and Definition 9
  • Article   215 Prudential Carve-out 9
  • Article   216 Effective and Transparent Regulation 9
  • Article   217 New Financial Services 9
  • Article   218 Data Processing 9
  • Article   219 Specific Exceptions 9
  • Article   220 Self-regulatory Organisations 9
  • Article   221 Clearing and Payment Systems 9
  • Article   222 International Standards 9
  • Subsection   7 TRANSPORT SERVICES 9
  • Article   223 Scope 9
  • Article   224 International Maritime Transport 9
  • Article   225 Air Transport 9
  • Section   6 ELECTRONIC COMMERCE 9
  • Section   1 GENERAL PROVISIONS 10
  • Article   226 Objective and Principles 10
  • Article   227 Cooperation In Electronic Commerce 10
  • Subsection   2 LIABILITY OF INTERMEDIARY SERVICE PROVIDERS 10
  • Article   228 Use of Intermediaries' Services 10
  • Article   229 Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "mere Conduit" 10
  • Article   230 Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "caching" 10
  • Article   231 Liability of Intermediary Service Providers: "hosting" 10
  • Article   232 No General Obligation to Monitor 10
  • Section   7 EXCEPTIONS 10
  • Article   233 General Exceptions 10
  • Article   234 Recognition and Taxation Measures 10
  • Article   235 Security Exceptions Nothing In this Agreement Shall Be Construed To: 10
  • Chapter   7 CURRENT PAYMENTS AND MOVEMENT OF CAPITAL 10
  • Article   236 Current Payments 10
  • Article   237 Capital Movements 10
  • Article   238 Safeguard Measures 10
  • Article   239 Facilitation and Evolution Provisions 10
  • Chapter   8 PUBLIC PROCUREMENT 10
  • Article   240 Objectives 10
  • Article   241 Scope 10
  • Article   242 Institutional Background 10
  • Article   243 Basic Standards Regulating the Award of Contracts 10
  • Article   244 Market Access 10
  • Article   245 Information 10
  • Article   246 Cooperation 10
  • Chapter   9 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS 10
  • Section   1 GENERAL PROVISIONS AND PRINCIPLES 10
  • Article   247 Objectives 10
  • Article   248 Nature and Scope of Obligations 10
  • Article   249 Exhaustion 10
  • Section   2 STANDARDS CONCERNING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS 10
  • Subsection   1 COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS 10
  • Article   250 Protection Granted 10
  • Article   251 Authors 11
  • Article   252 Performers 11
  • Article   253 Producers of Phonograms 11
  • Article   254 Broadcasting Organisations 11
  • Article   255 Broadcasting and Communication to the Public 11
  • Article   256 Term of Protection 11
  • Article   257 Protection of Technological Measures 11
  • Article   258 Protection of Rights-management Information 11
  • Article   259 Exceptions and Limitations 11
  • Article   260 Artists' Resale Right In Works of Art 11
  • Article   261 Cooperation on Collective Management of Rights 11
  • Subsection   2 TRADEMARKS 11
  • Article   262 International Agreements 11
  • Article   263 Registration Procedure 11
  • Article   264 Well-known Trademarks 11
  • Article   265 Exceptions to the Rights Conferred by a Trademark 11
  • Subsection   3 GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS 11
  • Article   266 Scope 11
  • Article   267 Established Geographical Indications 11
  • Article   268 Addition of New Geographical Indications 11
  • Article   269 Scope of Protection of Geographical Indications 11
  • Article   270 Right of Use of Geographical Indications 11
  • Article   271 Enforcement of Protection 11
  • Article   272 Implementation of Complementary Actions 11
  • Article   273 Relationship with Trademarks 11
  • Article   274 General Rules 11
  • Article   275 Cooperation and Transparency 11
  • Article   276 Geographical Indications Sub-Committee 11
  • Subsection   4 DESIGNS 11
  • Article   277 International Agreements 11
  • Article   278 Protection of Registered Designs 11
  • Article   279 Protection Conferred to Unregistered Designs 12
  • Article   280 Exceptions and Exclusions 12
  • Article   281 Relationship to Copyright 12
  • Subsection   5 PATENTS 12
  • Article   282 International Agreements 12
  • Article   283 Patents and Public Health 12
  • Article   284 Supplementary Protection Certificate 12
  • Article   285 Protection of Data Submitted to Obtain an Authorisation to Put a Medicinal Product on the Market 12
  • Article   286 Data Protection on Plant Protection Products 12
  • Article   287 Plant Varieties 12
  • Section   3 ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS 12
  • Article   288 General Obligations 12
  • Article   289 Entitled Applicants 12
  • Subsection   1 CIVIL ENFORCEMENT 12
  • Article   290 Measures for Preserving Evidence 12
  • Article   291 Right of Information 12
  • Article   292 Provisional and Precautionary Measures 12
  • Article   293 Corrective Measures 12
  • Article   294 Injunctions 12
  • Article   295 Alternative Measures 12
  • Article   296 Damages 12
  • Article   297 Legal Costs 12
  • Article   298 Publication of Judicial Decisions 12
  • Article   299 Presumption of Authorship or Ownership 12
  • Subsection   2 OTHER PROVISIONS 12
  • Article   300 Border Measures 12
  • Article   301 Codes of Conduct 12
  • Article   302 Cooperation 12
  • Chapter   10 COMPETITION 12
  • Section   1 ANTITRUST AND MERGERS 12
  • Article   303 Definitions 12
  • Article   304 Principles 12
  • Article   305 Implementation 12
  • Article   306 State Monopolies, Public Undertakings and Undertakings Entrusted with Special or Exclusive Rights 12
  • Article   307 Cooperation and Exchange of Information 12
  • Article   308 Dispute Settlement 12
  • Section   2 STATE AID 13
  • Article   309 General Principles and Scope 13
  • Article   310 Transparency 13
  • Article   311 Confidentiality 13
  • Article   312 Review Clause 13
  • Chapter   11 TRADE-RELATED ENERGY 13
  • Article   313 Definitions 13
  • Article   314 Domestic Regulated Prices 13
  • Article   315 Prohibition of Dual Pricing 13
  • Article   316 Transit 13
  • Article   317 Transport 13
  • Article   318 Unauthorised Taking of Goods In Transit 13
  • Article   319 Uninterrupted Transit 13
  • Article   320 Transit Obligation for Operators 13
  • Article   321 Regulatory Authority for Electricity and Natural Gas 13
  • Chapter   12 TRANSPARENCY 13
  • Article   322 Definitions for the Purposes of this Chapter: 13
  • Article   323 Objective and Scope 13
  • Article   324 Publication 13
  • Article   325 Enquiries and Contact Points 13
  • Article   326 Administration of Measures of General Application 13
  • Article   327 Review and Appeal 13
  • Article   328 Regulatory Quality and Performance and Good Administrative Behaviour 13
  • Article   329 Specific Rules 13
  • Chapter   13 TRADE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 13
  • Article   330 Context and Objectives 13
  • Article   331 Right to Regulate and Levels of Protection 13
  • Article   332 Multilateral Labour Standards and Agreements 13
  • Article   333 Multilateral Environmental Governance and Agreements 13
  • Article   334 Trade and Investment Promoting Sustainable Development 13
  • Article   335 Biological Diversity 13
  • Article   336 Sustainable Management of Forests and Trade In Forest Products 13
  • Article   337 Trade In Fish Products 13
  • Article   338 Upholding Levels of Protection 13
  • Article   339 Scientific Information 13
  • Article   340 Transparency 13
  • Article   341 Review of Sustainability Impacts 13
  • Article   342 Working Together on Trade and Sustainable Development 13
  • Article   343 Institutional and Overseeing Mechanisms 14
  • Article   344 Joint Civil Society Dialogue Forum 14
  • Article   345 Government Consultations 14
  • Article   346 Panel of Experts 14
  • Chapter   14 DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 14
  • Section   1 OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE 14
  • Article   347 Objective 14
  • Article   348 Scope of Application 14
  • Section   2 CONSULTATIONS AND MEDIATION 14
  • Article   349 Consultations 14
  • Article   350 Mediation 14
  • Section   3 DISPUTE SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES 14
  • Subsection   1 ARBITRATION PROCEDURE 14
  • Article   351 Initiation of the Arbitration Procedure 14
  • Article   352 Establishment of the Arbitration Panel 14
  • Article   353 Preliminary Ruling on Urgency 14
  • Article   354 Arbitration Panel Report 14
  • Article   355 Conciliation for Urgent Energy Disputes 14
  • Article   356 Notification of the Ruling of the Arbitration Panel 14
  • Subsection   2 COMPLIANCE 14
  • Article   357 Compliance with the Arbitration Panel Ruling 14
  • Article   358 Reasonable Period of Time for Compliance 14
  • Article   359 Review of Any Measure Taken to Comply with the Arbitration Panel Ruling 14
  • Article   360 Temporary Remedies In Case of Non-compliance 14
  • Article   361 Remedies for Urgent Energy Disputes 14
  • Article   362 Review of Any Measure Taken to Comply after the Adoption of Temporary Remedies for Non-compliance 14
  • Subsection   3 COMMON PROVISIONS 14
  • Article   363 Replacement of Arbitrators 14
  • Article   364 Suspension and Termination of Arbitration and Compliance Procedures 14
  • Article   365 Mutually Agreed Solution 14
  • Article   366 Rules of Procedure 14
  • Article   367 Information and Technical Advice 14
  • Article   368 Rules of Interpretation 14
  • Article   369 Decisions and Rulings of the Arbitration Panel 14
  • Section   4 GENERAL PROVISIONS 14
  • Article   370 Lists of Arbitrators 14
  • Article   371 Relation with WTO Obligations 14
  • Article   372 Timeframes-limits 14
  • Title   VI INSTITUTIONAL, GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS 14
  • Chapter   1 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 14
  • Article   373 14
  • Article   374 14
  • Article   375 14
  • Article   376 15
  • Chapter   2 GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS 15
  • Article   377 Access to Courts and Administrative Organs 15
  • Article   378 Access to Official Documents 15
  • Article   379 Security Exceptions 15
  • Article   380 Non-discrimination 15
  • Article   381 Monitoring 15
  • Article   382 Results of Monitoring 15
  • Article   383 Fulfilment of Obligations 15
  • Article   384 Dispute Settlement 15
  • Article   385 Appropriate Measures In Case of Non-fulfilment of Obligations 15
  • Article   386 Amendments 15
  • Article   387 Retained Law 15
  • Article   388 Annexes and Protocols 15
  • Article   389 Duration 15
  • Article   390 Definition of the Parties 15
  • Article   391 Territorial Application 15
  • Article   392 Entry Into Force and Provisional Application 15
  • ANNEX XI  LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT; LIST OF COMMITMENTS ON CROSS-BORDER SUPPLY OF SERVICES; LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON KEY PERSONNEL, GRADUATE TRAINEES AND BUSINESS SELLERS; LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON CONTRACTUAL SERVICES SUPPLIERS AND INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONALS 15
  • ANNEX XI-A  LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT (UK) 15
  • ANNEX XI-E  LIST OF RESERVATIONS ON ESTABLISHMENT (REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA) 16
  • ANNEX XV  MEDIATION MECHANISM 16
  • 1 Objective 16
  • Section   1 PROCEDURE UNDER THE MEDIATION MECHANISM 16
  • 2 Request for Information 16
  • 3 Initiation of the Procedure 16
  • 4 Selection of the Mediator 16
  • 5 Rules of the Mediation Procedure 16
  • Section   2 IMPLEMENTATION 16
  • 6 Implementation of a Mutually Agreed Solution 16
  • Section   3 GENERAL PROVISIONS 16
  • 7 Confidentiality and Relationship to Dispute Settlement 16
  • 8 Time Limits 16
  • 9 Costs 16
  • ANNEX XVI  RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR DISPUTE SETTLEMENT 16
  • ANNEX XVII  CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ARBITRATORS AND MEDIATORS 17