Title
Consolidated Version of the Central European Free Trade Agreement
Preamble
The Republic of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of Montenegro, Romania, the Republic of Serbia and the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo on behalf of Kosovo in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 (hereinafter called “the Parties”),
Reaffirming their commitment to pluralistic democracy based on the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Reaffirming their commitment to the principles of market economy, which constitute the basis for their economic relations;
Having regard to the Visegrad Declaration of 15 February 1991, the Kraków Declaration of 6 October 1991, the Poznan Declaration of 25 November 1994 and the Zagreb Declaration of 29 November 2005 adopted as the results of the meetings of the highest representatives of the CEFTA Parties;
Reaffirming their commitment to the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-Operation in Europe, the Paris Charter, and in particular the principles contained in the final document of the Bonn Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe;
Having regard to the principles contained in the Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Liberalisation and Facilitation of 27 June 2001 adopted by the Parties under the auspices of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe and to the resulting network of bilateral free trade agreements concluded between them;
Expressing their preparedness to cooperate with each other in seeking ways and means to strengthen the process of economic integration in Europe;
Resolved to this end to eliminate the obstacles to their mutual trade, in accordance with the provisions of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organisation (hereinafter referred to as “WTO”), and to establish progressively closer trade relations;
Desiring to create favourable conditions for the development and diversification of trade between the Parties and for the promotion of commercial and economic co-operation in areas of common interest on the basis of equality, mutual benefit, non-discrimination and international law;
Convinced that this Agreement will foster the intensification of mutually beneficial economic relations among the Parties and contribute to the process of integration in Europe;
Wishing to contribute to the development of each Party’s relation to the European Union and integration into the multilateral trading system;
Resolved to conduct their mutual trade relations in accordance with the rules and disciplines of the WTO whether or not they are members of WTO;
Considering that no provision of this Agreement may be interpreted as exempting the Parties from their obligations in other international agreements, especially the WTO,
Have decided as follows:
Body
Article 1. Objectives
1. The Parties shall establish a free trade area in accordance with the provisions of the present Agreement and in conformity with the relevant rules and procedures of the WTO. The free trade area shall be established in a transitional period ending at the latest on 31 December 2010.
2. The objectives of the present Agreement are to:
a. Consolidate in a single agreement the existing level of trade liberalisation achieved through the network of bilateral free trade agreements already concluded between the Parties;
b. Improve conditions further to promote investment, including foreign direct investment;
c. Expand trade in goods and services and foster investment by means of fair, clear, stable and predictable rules;
d. Eliminate barriers to and distortions of trade and facilitate the movement of goods in transit and the cross-border movement of goods and services between the territories of the Parties;
e. Provide fair conditions of competition affecting foreign trade and investment and gradually open the government procurement markets of the Parties;
f. Provide appropriate protection of intellectual property rights in accordance with international standards;
g. Provide effective procedures for the implementation and application of this Agreement; and
h. Contribute thereby to the harmonious development and expansion of world trade.
Chapter I. GENERAL OBLIGATIONS APPLICABLE TO TRADE IN ALL GOODS
Article 2. Basic Duties
1. The Combined Nomenclature (hereinafter referred to as "CN") of goods shall be applied to the classification of goods in the trade between the Parties covered by this Agreement.
2. For each product the basic duty, to which the successive reductions set out in this Agreement are to be applied, shall be the duty actually applied in trade between the Parties on the day preceding the entry into force of this Agreement.
3. The Parties shall communicate to each other their respective basic duties.
4. If, after the date of signature of this Agreement, any tariff reduction is applied to the basic duties defined in paragraph 2, in particular following a reduction of erga omnes duties resulting from the tariff agreement concluded as a result of membership in the WTO or tariff negotiations within the WTO, such reduced duty shall replace the basic duty referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article as from the date when such reductions are applied.
5. The reduced duties calculated in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 4 of this Article shall be applied rounded to the first decimal place. A Party not utilising a first decimal point shall round the duty to whole numbers using common arithmetical principles. Therefore, all figures which have 50 or less after the decimal point shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number and all figures which have more than 50 after the decimal point shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number.
Article 3. Quantitative Restrictions
1. All quantitative restrictions on imports and exports and measures having equivalent effect shall be abolished in trade between the Parties on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
2. No new quantitative restrictions on imports and exports and measures having equivalent effect shall be introduced in trade between the Parties as from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
Article 4. Customs Duties on Exports
1. The Parties shall abolish all customs duties on exports, charges having equivalent effect, and export duties of a fiscal nature in trade between the Parties on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
2. No new customs duties on exports, charges having equivalent effect, and export duties of a fiscal nature shall be introduced in trade between the Parties as from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
Article 5. Customs Duties on Imports: Standstill
No new customs duties on imports, charges having equivalent effect, and import duties of a fiscal nature shall be introduced, nor shall those already applied be increased, in trade between the Parties as from the day preceding the signature of this Agreement.
Article 6. Customs Fees
From the entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall abolish customs fees contrary to Article VIII of The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (hereinafter referred to as "GATT") in their mutual trade and any other similar charges.
Chapter II. INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
Article 7. Scope
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to industrial products originating in the Parties. The term “industrial products” means for the purpose of this Agreement the products falling within CN Chapters 25 to 97, with the exception of the products listed in Annex 1 to this Agreement.
Article 8. Customs Duties on Imports: Elimination
1. The Parties shall abolish all customs duties on imports, all charges having equivalent effect, and all import duties of a fiscal nature in trade between the Parties on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, on all products other than those subject to bilateral concessions as listed in Annex 2.
2. For products listed in Annex 2 the customs duties on imports, all charges having equivalent effect, and all import duties of a fiscal nature in trade between the Parties will be progressively reduced and abolished within a transitional period ending on 31 December 2008, according to the schedules listed in that Annex.
Chapter III. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Article 9. Scope
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to agricultural products originating in the Parties. The term “agricultural products” means for the purpose of this Agreement the products falling within CN Chapter 1 to 24 and the products listed in Annex 1 to this Agreement.
Article 10. Customs Duties on Imports
1. Customs duties on imports, all charges having equivalent effect, and other import duties of a fiscal nature on products specified in Annex 3 to this Agreement shall be reduced or abolished according to the schedules listed in that Annex.
2. The Parties shall apply Most Favoured Nation (hereinafter referred to as "MFN") duty on imports of products listed in Annex 3 when this is lower than the preferential customs duties specified in Annex 3.
3. The Parties shall examine within the Joint Committee the possibilities of granting to each other further concessions no later than 1 May 2009.
Article 11. Concessions and Agricultural Policies
1. Without prejudice to the concessions granted under Article 10, the provisions of this Chapter shall not restrict in any way the pursuance of the respective agricultural policies of the Parties or the taking of any measures under such policies, including the implementation of agreements in the WTO framework.
2. The Parties shall promptly inform the Joint Committee of changes in their respective agricultural policies pursued or measures applied, which may affect the conditions of agricultural trade among them as provided for in this Agreement. On the request of a Party prompt consultations shall be held to examine the situation.
3. Notwithstanding Article 21, paragraph 2, all Parties shall refrain from the use of export subsidies, and abolish any such existing subsidies, in their mutual trade.
Article 12. Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
1. The rights and obligations of the Parties, relating to the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, shall be governed by the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.
2. The Parties shall co-operate in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, including veterinary matters, with the aim of applying relevant regulations in a non-discriminatory manner. Each Party, upon request of another Party, shall provide information on sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
3. The Parties shall enter, where appropriate, into negotiations to conclude agreements on harmonization or mutual recognition in these matters in accordance with the relevant provisions of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and other relevant international agreements.
4. Any issue arising in the application of this Article shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of Article 42.
Chapter IV. TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE
Article 13. Technical Barriers to Trade
1. The rights and obligations of the Parties relating to the application of technical barriers to trade, shall be governed by the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, except as otherwise provided for in this Article.
2. The Parties undertake to identify and eliminate unnecessary existing technical barriers to trade within the meaning of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. The Joint Committee, or a special committee on technical barriers to trade issues, that may be established according to Article 41, paragraph 5, shall oversee the process of elimination of unnecessary technical barriers to trade.
3. a. The Parties undertake not to introduce new unnecessary technical barriers to trade. They shall co-operate, in the Joint Committee, or in a special committee on technical barriers to trade issues, to facilitate and harmonise technical regulations, standards and mandatory conformity assessment procedures with the aim of eliminating technical barriers to trade.
b. The Parties shall inform the Joint Committee, or a special committee on technical barriers to trade issues, of any draft text for a new technical regulation (including any mandatory conformity assessment procedures) or standard, at least ninety days prior to its adoption except in case of urgency as referred to in the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. If a Party proposes to transpose a European or international technical regulation or standard, the respective period is thirty days.
c. The Parties are strongly encouraged, without prejudice to the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, to harmonize their technical regulations, standards, and procedures for assessment of conformity with those in the European Community unless their use would be an ineffective or inappropriate means for the fulfilment of the legitimate objective pursued by the Parties.
4. The Parties undertake to enter into negotiations to conclude plurilateral agreements on harmonization of their technical regulations and standards, and the mutual recognition of conformity assessment procedures in accordance with the relevant provisions of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade and other relevant international agreements before 31 December 2010.
5. If a Party considers that any other Party has adopted or is in the process of adopting a measure constituting an unnecessary technical barrier to trade, the Party concerned shall notify the Joint Committee, or a special committee on technical barriers to trade issues, which shall decide on the action to be taken.
6. Any issue arising in the application of this Article shall be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of Article 42 of this Agreement.
Chapter V. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section A. Operating Rules
Article 14. Rules of Origin and Co-operation In Customs Administration
1. Except if otherwise stipulated in this Agreement, Annex 4 lays down the rules of origin for the application of the provisions of this Agreement and the methods for administrative co-operation in customs matters. The Joint Committee may decide to amend the provisions of Annex 4.
2. Annex 5 lays down the common rules on mutual administrative assistance in customs matters.
3. The Parties shall take appropriate measures, including regular reviews by the Joint Committee, to ensure effective and harmonised application of Annexes 4 and 5 and of the related Articles of this Agreement.
4. The Parties shall simplify and facilitate customs procedures and reduce, as far as possible, the formalities imposed on trade. They shall resolve any difficulties arising from the application of these provisions in accordance with the provisions of Article 42.
Article 15. Fiscal Discrimination
1. The Parties shall refrain from any measure or practice of an internal fiscal nature establishing, whether directly or indirectly, discrimination between the products originating in the Parties and shall abolish such measures where existing from the entry into force of this Agreement.
2. Products exported to the territory of one of the Parties may not benefit from repayment of domestic taxation in excess of the amount of indirect taxation imposed on them.
Article 16. Payments
1. Payments in freely convertible currencies relating to trade in goods between the Parties and the transfer of such payments to the territory of the Party, where the creditor resides shall be free from any restrictions.
2. The Parties shall refrain from any exchange or administrative restrictions on the grant, repayment or acceptance of short and medium term credits to trade in goods in which a resident participates.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article, all measures concerning current payments connected with the movement of goods shall be in conformity with the conditions laid down under Article VIII of the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund and shall be applied on a non-discriminatory basis.
Article 17. General Exceptions
This Agreement shall not preclude the prohibition or restriction on imports, exports, or goods in transit justified on grounds of public morality, public policy or public security, the protection of health and life of humans, animal or plants, the protection of national treasures possessing artistic, historic or archaeological value, protection of intellectual property or rules relating to gold or silver or the conservation of exhaustible natural resources, if such measures are made effective in conjunction with restrictions on domestic production or consumption. Such prohibitions or restrictions shall not, however, constitute a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between the Parties.
Article 18. Security Exceptions
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent a Party from taking any measure, which it considers necessary:
1. to prevent the disclosure of information contrary to its essential security interests;
2. for the protection of its essential security interests or for the implementation of international obligations or domestic policies:
a. relating to the traffic in arms, ammunition and implements of war, provided that such measures do not impair the conditions of competition in respect of products not intended for specifically military purposes, and to such traffic in other goods, materials and services as is carried on directly or indirectly for the purpose of supplying a military establishment; or
b. relating to the non-proliferation of biological and chemical weapons, nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; or
c. taken in time of war or other serious international tension constituting threat of war.
Section B. Competition Rules
Article 19. State Monopolies and State Trading Enterprises
1. The Parties shall adjust any State monopolies of a commercial character or State-trading enterprises so as to ensure that, in accordance with WTO provisions, no discrimination exists between enterprises of the Parties regarding the conditions under which products are marketed. The Parties shall inform the Joint Committee about the measures they adopt to implement this provision.
2. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 3 of this Article shall apply to any body through which the competent authorities of the Parties, in law or in fact, either directly or indirectly supervise, determine or appreciably influence imports or exports between the Parties. These provisions shall likewise apply to monopolies delegated by the State to others.
3. The Parties shall refrain from introducing any new measure which is contrary to the principles laid down in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article or which restricts the scopes of the Articles dealing with the prohibition of customs duties and quantitative restrictions between the Parties.
Article 20. Rules of Competition Concerning Undertakings
1. The following are incompatible with the proper functioning of this Agreement in so far as they may affect trade between the Parties:
a. all 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 in the territories of the Parties as a whole or in a substantial part thereof;
b. abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position in the territories of the Parties as a whole or in a substantial part thereof.
2. Any practice contrary to this Article shall be assessed on the basis of the principles of the competition rules applicable in the European Community, in particular Articles 81, 82 and 86 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
3. By 1 May 2010 the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply to the activities of all undertakings, including public undertakings and undertakings to which the Parties grant special or exclusive rights.
Undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest or having the character of a revenue-producing monopoly, shall be subject to provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 insofar as the application of these provisions does not obstruct the performance, in law or fact, of the particular public tasks assigned to them.
4. With regard to products referred to in Chapter III the provisions stipulated in paragraph 1(a) shall not apply to such agreements, decisions and practices which form an integral part of a domestic market organization.
5. The Parties undertake to apply their respective competition laws with a view to removing practices referred to in paragraph 1.
6. The Parties shall notify each other of relevant enforcement activities and exchange information. No Party shall be required to disclose information that is confidential according to its domestic legislation.
Upon request, competition authorities and/or other relevant authorities of the Parties concerned shall enter into consultations in order to facilitate the removal of the practices referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2. The Party addressed shall accord full consideration to that request. This co-ordination shall not prevent the Parties from taking autonomous decisions.
7. If a Party considers that a given practice is incompatible with paragraphs 1 - 4 of this Article and if such practice causes or threatens to cause serious prejudice to the interest of that Party or material injury to its domestic industry, it may take appropriate measures under the conditions and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24.
Article 21. State Aid
1. Any aid granted by a Party or through State resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring certain goods shall, in so far as it may affect trade between the Party concerned and other Parties to this Agreement, be incompatible with the proper functioning of this Agreement.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to products referred to in Chapter III.
3. The Parties undertake to apply their respective laws with a view to ensure the application of the principles referred to in paragraph 1.
4. Any practice contrary to this Article shall be assessed on the basis of the principles of the state aid rules applicable in the European Community, in particular from Article 87 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.
5. If a Party considers that a particular practice is incompatible with the terms of paragraph 1 and causes or threatens to cause serious prejudice to the interest of that Party or material injury to its domestic industry, it may take appropriate measures under the conditions of and in accordance with the provisions laid down in Article 24.
6. Nothing in this Article shall prejudice or affect in any way the taking by any Party of countervailing measures in accordance with the relevant Articles of GATT and the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures or related internal legislation.
7. Each Party shall ensure transparency in the area of state aid, inter alia by reporting annually to the Joint Committee on the total amount and the distribution of the aid given and by providing to the other Parties, upon request, information on aid schemes and on particular individual cases of state aid.
Section C. Contingent Protection Rules
Article 22. Anti-Dumping Measures
1. If a Party finds that dumping is taking place in trade with another Party within the meaning of Article VI of GATT, it may take appropriate measures against the practice in accordance with the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT and under the conditions laid down in the Joint Declaration referring to this Article.
2. The Party will promptly notify any concerned Party and the Joint Committee on the actions and measures it takes and promptly supply all relevant information.
Article 23. General Safeguards
1. The Parties confirm their rights to take a safeguard measure in accordance with Article XIX of GATT and the WTO Agreement on Safeguard Measures under conditions laid down in the Joint Declaration referring to this Article.
2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, where as a result of the obligations incurred by a Party under this Agreement any product is being imported in such increased quantities and under such conditions from a Party to this Agreement as to cause or threaten to cause:
a. serious injury to domestic producers of like or directly competitive products in the territory of the importing Party, or
b. serious disturbances in any sector of the economy which could bring about serious deterioration in the economic situation of the importing Party,
the importing Party may take appropriate bilateral safeguard measures against the other Party to this Agreement under the conditions and in accordance with the relevant procedures laid down in Article 24.
Article 23bis.
Notwithstanding other provisions of this Agreement, and in particular Article 23, given the particular sensitivity of the agricultural market, if imports of products originating in one Party, which are the subject of concessions granted pursuant to Annex 3, cause serious disturbance to the markets or to their domestic regulatory mechanisms, in another Party, both Parties shall enter into consultations immediately to find an appropriate solution. Pending such solution, the Party concerned may take the appropriate measures it deems necessary.
Article 24. Conditions and Procedures for Taking Measures
1. Before initiating the procedure for the application of measures provided for in Articles 20, 21 and 23 the Parties shall endeavour to solve any differences between them through direct consultations.
2. If a Party subjects, to an administrative procedure having as its purpose the rapid provision of information on the trend of trade flows, imports of products that may give rise to a situation referred to in Article 23, it shall inform the Parties concerned.
3. Without prejudice to paragraph 7 of the present Article, a Party, which considers resorting to measures provided for in Articles 20, 21 and 23, shall promptly notify any concerned Party and the Joint Committee thereof and supply all relevant information. The Joint Committee shall examine the case without delay and may make any recommendation needed to put an end to the difficulties notified. In the absence of such recommendation within 30 calendar days of the matter being referred to the Joint Committee, or if the practice objected to is not abolished within the period fixed by the Joint Committee, and if the problem persists, the complaining Party may adopt appropriate measures necessary in order to remedy the situation.
4. Measures as provided for in Articles 21, 23 and 42 shall be restricted with regard to their extent and duration to what is strictly necessary in order to remedy the problem and shall not be in excess of the injury caused by the practice. Priority shall be given to those measures which least disturb the functioning of this Agreement.
5. Bilateral safeguard measures under Article 23, paragraph 2 shall consist of an increase in the corresponding rate of duty applicable under this Agreement. The resulting rate of duty shall not exceed the lesser of:
a. the MFN applied rate of duty in effect at the time the action was taken, or
b. the MFN applied rate of duty in effect on the day immediately preceding the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
Bilateral safeguard measures shall contain clear elements progressively leading to their elimination and shall not be taken for a period exceeding one year. They can be renewable two times at most. No measure shall be applied to the import of a product that has previously been subject to such a measure for a period of two years since the expiry of the measure.
6. Measures taken in accordance with the Articles referred to in paragraphs 4 and 5 shall be notified immediately to the other Parties and to the Joint Committee. The Joint Committee shall monitor the implementation of these measures, in particular with a view to their relaxation or abolition as soon as possible.
7. Where exceptional and critical circumstances requiring immediate action make prior examination or information, as the case may be, impossible, the Party concerned may, in the case of Article 23, paragraph 2 apply forthwith provisional measures strictly necessary to remedy the situation. Such provisional measures may only apply for at most 200 calendar days. Provisional measures shall be notified without delay and consultations between the Parties shall take place as soon as possible within the Joint Committee and in accordance with the relevant paragraphs of this Article.