EU/USA Agreement: modification of concessions in the schedules of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the course of their accession to the EU
PURPOSE: the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the USA pursuant to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedules of Bulgaria and Romania in the course of their accession to the European Union
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision 2013/125/EU on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the United States of America pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedules of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the course of their accession to the European Union
BACKGROUND:
with the accession of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania, the European Union enlarged its customs union. Consequently, the European Union was obliged under WTO rules (GATT Article XXIV:6) to enter into negotiations with WTO Members having negotiating rights in the schedules of any of the acceding Members in order to agree on compensatory adjustment.
Such adjustment is required if the adoption of the EU's external tariff regime results in an increase in tariff beyond the level for which the acceding country has bound itself at the WTO, whilst taking 'due account of reductions of duties on the same tariff line made by other constituents of the customs union upon its formation'.
These negotiations have been concluded and the Agreement was signed on behalf of the European Union on 7 December 2012, subject to its conclusion at a later date, in accordance with Council Decision 2012/644/EU.
The Agreement should now be approved on behalf of the European Union.
CONTENT: under this Decision, the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the United States of America pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedules of the Republic of Bulgaria and Romania in the course of their accession to the European Union (‘the Agreement’) is approved on behalf of the Union.
The implementing regulation shall be adopted by the Commission in accordance with Article 144 of the Regulation on the common organisation of agricultural markets (single CMO Regulation).
ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Decision enters into force on 25 February 2013. The Agreement shall enter into force once the necessary procedures have been completed.