PURPOSE : to apply a scheme of generalised preferences for trade with developing countries during the period 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2008.
LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Regulation 980/2005/EC applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences.
CONTENT : the Council adopted this Regulation applying a scheme of generalised preferences for trade with developing countries during the period 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2008. The German
delegation abstained.
This Regulation provides for:
a) a general arrangement;
b) a special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance;
c) a special arrangement for least developed countries.
As regards the general arrangement, the Regulation states that Common Customs Tariff duties on products listed in Annex II of the Regulation as non-sensitive products shall be entirely suspended, except for agricultural components. Common Customs Tariff ad valorem duties on products
listed in Annex II as sensitive products shall be reduced by 3,5 percentage points. For products of sections XI(a) and XI(b), this reduction shall be 20 %.
On the issue of the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance, the Regulation states that Common Customs Tariff ad valorem duties on all products listed in Annex II which originate in a country included in the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance shall also be suspended.
The special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance of Section 2 of Chapter II of this Regulation as well as the provisions applied in conjunction with that arrangement shall enter into force on 1 July 2005. That arrangement repeals with effect from its entry into force the special arrangements to combat drug production and trafficking of Title IV of Regulation 2501/2001/EC and the provisions of Regulation 2501/2001/EC applied in conjunction with those arrangements. The other provisions of this Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 2006 and repeal with effect from that date those provisions of Regulation 2501/2001/EC then still in force. This Regulation shall apply until 31 December 2008. However, this date shall not apply to the special arrangements for least developed countries, nor, to the extent that they are applied in conjunction with those arrangements, to any other provisions of this Regulation.
ENTRY INTO FORCE : 1 January 2006.