WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONGATS/EL/126
16 April 1999
(99-1512)
Trade in Services
LATVIA
Final List of Article II (MFN) Exemptions
(This is authentic in English only)
_______________GATS/EL/126
Page2LATVIA - FINAL LIST OF ARTICLE II (MFN) EXEMPTIONS
Sector or subsector Description of measure
indicating its inconsistency with
Article IICountries to which the measure
appliesIntended duration Conditions creating the need for
the exemption
Road transport;
passengers and
freightProvisions in existing or future
bilateral or plurilateral
agreements on international
road transport (including
combined transport - road/rail)
reserving or limiting the
provision of a transport service
into, in, across and out of the
Republic of Latvia to the
contracting parties to vehicles
registered in each contracting
party, and providing for tax
exemption for such vehicles.All countries with which
Latvia has a bilateral or
plurilateral agreement on road
transport in forceIndefinite The need for exemption is
linked to the region
characteristics of road transport
services
Sale and marketing
of air transport
services and
computer
reservation systemsPreferential market access
resulting from bilateral air
transport agreementsAll countries Indefinite Reciprocal provisions
concerning supply of air
transport services as a result of
bilateral air transport
agreements
Audiovisual
Services
- Production and
distribution of
audiovisual works
through
broadcasting or
other forms of
transmission to the
publicMeasures which define works
of European origin, in such a
way as to extend national
treatment to audiovisual works
which meet certain linguistic
and origin criteria regarding
access to broadcasting or
similar forms of transmissionParties to the Council of
Europe Convention on
Transfrontier Television or
other European countries with
whom an agreement may be
concludedIndefinite.
Exemption needed, for certain
countries, only until an
economic integration
agreement is concluded or
completedThe measures aim, within the
sector, to promote cultural
values both within EC Member
States, and with other countries
in Europe, as well as achieving
linguistic policy objectivesGATS/EL/126
Page3Sector or subsector Description of measure
indicating its inconsistency with
Article IICountries to which the measure
appliesIntended duration Conditions creating the need for
the exemption
Audiovisual
services
- Production and
distribution of
cinematographic
works and
television
programmesMeasures based upon
government-to-government
framework agreements on
coproduction of audiovisual
works, which confer national
treatment to audiovisual works
covered by these agreements,
in particular in relation to
distribution and access to
fundingAll countries with whom
cultural cooperation may be
desirableIndefinite The aim of such agreements is
to promote cultural links
between the countries
concerned
Audiovisual
services
- Production and
distribution of
television
programmes and
cinematographic
worksMeasures granting the benefit
of any support programmes
(such as Action Plan for
Advanced Television Services,
MEDIA or EURIMAGES) to
audiovisual works, and
suppliers of such works,
meeting certain European
origin criteriaEuropean countries Indefinite.
Exemption needed, for certain
countries, only until an
economic integration
agreement is concluded or
completedThese programmes aim at
preserving and promoting the
regional identity of countries
within Europe which have long-
standing cultural links
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