RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/REG11/2
30October 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-4757)
Original: English Committee onRegional Trade Agreements
CENTRAL EUROPEAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
Communication bytheParties
Thefollowing communication hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent Mission oftheRepublic
ofSlovenia, initscharacter ofPresident oftheCentral European FreeTrade Agreement, withtherequest
thatitbedistributed toWTO Members.
_______________
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ONTHE AGREEMENT
1. Membership, dates ofsignature, ratification andentry intoforce
On21December 1992theCzech Republic, Hungary, Poland andtheSlovak Republic signed
theCentral European FreeTrade Agreement. On1March 1993, theAgreement wasapplied ona
provisional basis bythefoursignatory countries untilratification procedures would beconcluded.
On11September 1995, theoriginal Parties totheAgreement agreed tosignanAgreement
Amending theCEFTA. AnewArticle 39(a)wasadded totheAgreement which provided alegal
basis foraccessions totheAgreement. Asaresult Agreements ofAccession were negotiated with
Slovenia (signed on25November 1995andapplied from1January 1996) andwithRomania (signed
on12April1997andappliedfrom1July1997).Thetwoagreements,withtheirProtocolsandAnnexes,
willbecome anintegral partofCEFTA when theycome intoforce.
Before theconclusion oftheAgreement onAccession, Slovenia hadnegotiated bilateral free
trade agreements witheachoftheoriginal CEFTA countries. From thedateofapplication ofthis
Agreement, thebilateral freetrade agreements between Slovenia andtheCzech Republic, Hungary,
Poland andSlovak Republic, bymutual consent oftheParties, either ceased tobeapplied ordidnot
enterintoforce. Similarly, Romania concluded bilateral freetradeagreements withtheCzech Republic
andSlovak Republic. These agreements ceased tobeapplied aftertheconclusion oftheAgreement
onAccession between CEFTA andRomania.
Theoriginal textoftheCEFTA wasjointly notified bytheCzech Republic, Hungary, Poland,
andtheSlovak Republic, onthebasis ofArticle XXIV:7(a) oftheGATT 1947, on30June1994,
including alltheAnnexes andProtocols, which wereanintegral partoftheAgreement1.TheCouncil
1SeeL/7495 andAdd.1.WT/REG11/2
Page2
forTrade inGoods wasnotified, on22May1996, thattheParties toCEFTA amended theAgreement
on11September 1995 inorder toallow accessions byother interested parties2.
Inthecourse ofapplication oftheCEFTA, fiveadditional Protocols wereagreed on.Following
theirtrade interests, theParties toCEFTA introduced newconcessions onindustrial andagricultural
products. Thiswasareflection ofthedynamic nature ofCEFTA andthedesire toaccelerate the
process ofeconomic integration oftheCentral-European countries. Anoverview oftheagreements
andprotocols isattached tothisNote (seeAnnex).
Thepurpose ofthisNote istoprovide general information ontheCEFTA inaconcise and
consolidated manner inorder tofacilitate anexamination oftheAgreement inlightofArticle XXIV
ofGATT 1994. Forthispurpose basic tradedataandstatistical information isprovided. Inlinewith
theterms ofreference fortheexamination ofthisAgreement, thisNote includes some relevant
information fortransparency purposes andfromconsistency aspects oftheexamination process, which
primarily relates totrade disciplines applied onthebasis ofCEFTA.
2. Introduction andGeneral Assessment ofCEFTA
ThePreambletoCEFTAandArticle1clearlystatethepurposesandintentionsoftheAgreement,
i.e.toincrease trade among member countries. TheAgreement isameans ofactive participation in
theprocesses ofeconomic integration inEurope, byprogressively eliminating theobstacles to
substantially allthetrade inaccordance withtheprovisions oftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs and
Trade.
These goals, inparticular, theexpansion ofCEFTA andtheaccelerated paceofelimination
ofobstacles totrade, havebeenachieved inasignificant degree inonlyafewyears.
Thepreferences intradeprovided byCEFTA andtheadditional protocols apply toallchapters
oftheHarmonized System (HS), withfewexceptions. Thetrade creation effect wasfeltalready in
1993, aftersome CEFTA countries experienced adecline inmutual trade. Infact,CEFTA reversed
thetrend ofdecline orslowgrowth oftrade andintensified theturnover growth. Atthesame time
itgenerated agreater demand forinvestment goods, which inturnbegan toimprove thestructure of
trade. Theaverage share oftrade withCEFTA countries foreachParty totheAgreement began to
grow significantly. Thegrowth oftrade between theCEFTA countries soonexceeded thegrowth of
foreign trade ofeachParty.
TheParties totheAgreement eliminated customs duties onmostindustrial products andagreed
toaccelerated dutyreductions andother concessions onagricultural products. Asaresult ofthese
measures, thetariff barriers intrade inindustrial products havebeenlifted atafaster pace. Fora
fewproducts, thelongest transition period is1January 2002. Onlyafewfoodstuff items arenotcovered
byconcessions.
Atthestartofimplementation oftheAgreement, on1March 1993, duties wereabolished for
between 54percentand60percentofindustrial goods. By1996 almost 80percentoftrade in
industrial products wastraded freeofimport duties; in1997duties wereabolished forafurther 10per
centofindustrial products. Reductions fortheremaining share oftrade havealready commenced.
Preferences apply tofourfifths oftradeinagricultural products between theCzech Republic, Hungary,
Poland, Romania andtheSlovak Republic. Additional Protocol No.3introduced additional concessions
2SeeG/M/10.WT/REG11/2
Page3
inthetrade ofagricultural products. Slovenia willadjust itsagricultural concessions totherules of
liberalization applied within theprovisions oftheAdditional Protocol No.3 totheCEFTA bytheend
of1997. Furthermore, Additional Protocol No.6 isexpected tobesigned onthissubject, witha
provisional application asof1January 1998. Some exemptions willbeallowed forSlovenia within
atransitional period of3years. These exemptions willbeabolished on1January 2000.
Since 1993, theoverall trade within theCEFTA grew from roughly 6billion USdollars to
approximately 11billion USdollars in1996, which isariseofover80percentinoverall volume.
Thespecific increases inthevolume oftrade differ onacountry tocountry basis.
Statistical datashows thatCEFTA fulfilled theexpectations concerning trade. Itadded anew
dimension totheindividual economies. Development ofcooperation between CEFTA countries is
highontheagenda ofeachofitsgovernments. Thegovernments, recently, agreed toaccelerate bilateral
negotiations oncertification ofindustrial products, tocontinue toexamine theprospects ofliberalized
trade inservices, tocontinue toexamine mutual cooperation towards freermovement ofcapital, and
tocontinue tosupport andpromote investment opportunities intheCEFTA countries. Bulgaria indicated
itsintention tojoinCEFTA.
TheCEFTAisaconsumermarketofnearly90millionpeople.TheAgreementisalsosignificant
fromtheaspects ofstability inEurope andforthepotential thatitprovides foreconomic development
inaverywidegeographical area.
3. Objectives
Theprimary objective ofCEFTA istoestablish afreetrade areawithin aperiod notending
laterthan1January 2001. Thefullplans forthereductions tozerotariffs onsubstantially allthetrade
between theParties arecontained intherelevant articles oftheAgreement andintherelevant annexes
andprotocols. Itistheintention ofCEFTA countries toalsoeasetheflowofcapital (although this
isnotspecified bytheAgreement) andcreate aneconomic baseforthedevelopment ofunrestricted
trade inservices. TheAgreement isseenasafoundation fortheintegration intoEurope.
4. Scope andProduct Coverage
Theintegral CEFTA covers allgoods (chapters 1to97oftheHS). There areafewagricultural
products which areexcluded from preferential treatment.
Thedegree andpaceofliberalization ofother products isbased onconcessions thattheParties
granted eachother, which arespecified intherelevant protocols.
Forsensitive industrial products suchastextiles, steelgoods, cars,aslower paceofreductions
wasagreed untilfullelimination ofduties by1January 2001.
Thedynamics ofliberalization oftrade inindustrial products were changed several times.
Thepurpose ofthechanges wastoensure thatonlythemostsensitive products would enjoy longer
transition periods.
TheAgreement alsocontains provisions, interalia,onstatemonopolies, competition, state
aid,government procurement, protection ofintellectual property, andothers asitisevident fromthe
summary ofthestructure oftheAgreement included intheAnnex.WT/REG11/2
Page4
ThetextofCEFTA didnotspecifically provide forthecomplete liberalization oftrade in
agricultural andprocessed products. However, theAdditional Protocol No.3,signed bytheoriginal
signatory countries inDecember 1995, introduced anaccelerated liberalization ofthese products and
setoutnewconcessions andconditions oftrade inthese products.
Thefollowing summary indicates theproducts which arecovered bytheAgreement:
(a) allproducts falling within HSChapters 25to97(except products listed inAnnex I
totheAgreement)
(b) theproducts contained inProtocols 4,5,6,11,12,13,18,19,20and21tothe
Agreement andannexes tothem.
II. TRADE PROVISIONS
1. Industrial Products
1.1 Import restrictions
1.1.1 Duties andcharges
ForeachproductthebasicdutytowhichthesuccessivereductionisappliedistheMostFavoured
Nation rateofdutyapplied on29February 1992. However, ifafterentry intoforce oftheAgreement,
anytariffreduction isapplied onanergaomnes basis, inparticular reductions implemented asaresult
oftheUruguay Round ofmultilateral trade negotiations, suchreduced duties willreplace thebasic
duties.
Customs duties arebeing abolished inaccordance withtheprovisions inProtocols 1,2,3,
8,9and10,which constitute anintegral partofAdditional Protocol no.5totheCEFTA. With the
accession ofRomania toCEFTA, customs duties arebeing abolished alsoinaccordance withthe
provisions inProtocols 14,15,16and17totheAgreement onAccession ofRomania totheCEFTA.
TheParties toCEFTA abolished, intheirindustrial products trade, allcharges having equivalent
effecttoimportduties,withtheexceptionofRomaniawhichwilldosonotlaterthan31December1997.
Theprovisions concerning theprohibition andabolition ofcustoms duties onimports alsoapply to
customs duties ofafiscal nature.
Czech Republic andSlovak Republic
Customs duties onimports applicable intheCzech Republic andtheSlovak Republic toproducts
originating intheRepublic ofHungary listed inAnnex AtoProtocol 1arebeing progressively reduced.
Duties were reduced to60percentofthebasic dutyrateon1January 1997. Theremaining duties
willbegradually eliminated by1January 2000. Fortheproducts notlisted inAnnex A,zerocustoms
duties areapplied from 1January 1997.
Customs duties onimports applicable intheCzech Republic andtheSlovak Republic toproducts
originating intheRepublic ofPoland listed inAnnex AtoProtocol 2arealsobeing progressively
reduced. Duties were reduced to60percentofthebasic dutyon1January 1997. Theremaining
duties willbegradually eliminated by1January 2001.WT/REG11/2
Page5
Fortheproducts notlisted inAnnex A,zerocustoms duties areapplied from1January 1997.
Intrade between theCzech Republic andtheSlovak Republic andtheRepublic ofSlovenia
allcustoms duties onimports ofindustrial products were abolished.
Customs duties onimports applicable intheCzech Republic andtheSlovak Republic toproducts
originating inRomania listed inAnnex AtoProtocol 14totheAgreement onAccession ofRomania
totheCEFTA arebeing progressively reduced from 1July1997 (to80percentofthebasic duty)
andwillbeeliminated on1January 2001. Forallother products zerocustoms dutyratesareapplied
from 1July1997.
TheRepublic ofHungary
Intrade withtheCzech Republic andSlovak Republic andtheRepublic ofPoland most of
thecustoms duties onimports applicable intheRepublic ofHungary wereabolished. Customs duties
onimports ofsensitive products werereduced to60percentofthebasic dutyon1January 1997 and
willbegradually abolished by1January 2000or2001(Annex BtoProtocol 1andAnnexes AandB
toProtocol 3).
Intrade between theRepublic ofHungary andtheRepublic ofSlovenia mostofthecustoms
dutiesonimportsofindustrialproductswereabolished.Customsdutiesonimportsforsensitiveproducts
werereduced to60percentofthebasic dutyon1January 1997 andwillbegradually abolished by
1January 2001 (Annex BtoProtocol 9).
Customs duties onimports applicable intheRepublic ofHungary toproducts originating in
Romania arebeing progressively reduced forsome sensitive products from1July1997(to70percent-
80percentofthebasic duty). Remaining duties willbegradually eliminated by1January 2000and
1January 2002 (Annexes D,EandFtoProtocol 15). Allother customs duties were abolished.
TheRepublic ofPoland
TheRepublic ofPoland abolished mostofthecustoms duties onimports ofindustrial products.
Poland isstillkeeping itscustoms duties oncars. They willbeabolished by1January 2002(Annex B
toProtocol 2,Annex DtoProtocol 3,Annexes AandBtoProtocol 10,Annexes CandDto
Protocol 16).
Poland isalsokeeping itscustoms duties forsomeproducts originating inRomania andHungary
(Annex CtoProtocol 3,Annexes A,B,E,F,GtoProtocol 16). These duties willbeabolished
between 1999 and2002 atthelatest.
TheRepublic ofSlovenia
TheRepublic ofSlovenia abolished allcustoms duties fortheproducts originating inPoland,
except forsome sensitive products. Forthese products customs duties werereduced to70percent
ofbasic duties andwillbeabolished on1January 2001 (Annex CtoProtocol 10).
Intradebetween Slovenia andtheCzech Republic andtheSlovak Republic allcustoms duties
onimports ofindustrial products were abolished.
Intrade between Slovenia andHungary most ofthecustoms duties onimports ofindustrial
products wereabolished. Customs duties onimports forsensitive products werereduced to60percentWT/REG11/2
Page6
ofthebasic dutyrateson1January 1997andwillbegradually abolished by1January 2001(Annex A
toProtocol 9).
Customs duties applicable inSlovenia tosensitive products originating inRomania willbe
progressively reduced bytheyear2001 (Annexes DandEtoProtocol 17).
Romania
Customs duties onimports applicable inRomania toproducts originating intheCzech Republic
andtheSlovak Republic listed inAnnex BtoProtocol 14arebeing progressively reduced from
1July1997 (to80percentofthebasic dutyrates) by1January 2001. Forallother products zero
tariffs areapplied from 1July1997.
Customs duties onimports applicable inRomania toproducts originating inHungary arebeing
progressively reduced forsome sensitive products (listed inAnnexes A,BandCtoProtocol 15)from
1July1997(to70percent-80percentofthebasic dutyrates). Remaining duties willbegradually
eliminated by1January 2000 and1January 2002. Allother customs duties were abolished.
Romania iskeeping customs duties forsome products originating inPoland (Annexes H,J,
KandLtoProtocol 16). These duties willbeabolished between 1999 to2002 bythelatest.
Customs duties applicable inRomania tosensitive products originating inSlovenia willbe
progressively reduced bytheyear2001 (Annexes A,BandCtoProtocol 17).
1.1.2. Quantitative restrictions
Czech Republic andSlovak Republic Alimited number ofproducts (listed inAnnex III/a). Tobe
abolished bytheendofthetransition period.
Hungary Alimited number ofproducts (listed inAnnex III/b). Tobe
abolished bytheendofthetransition period (annual ceilings
havebeenestablished forproducts originating intheCzech
Republic, theRepublic ofPoland, Romania andtheSlovak
Republic).
Poland Theprohibition ofimports ofcars,chassis andbodies often
years orolder, motor vehicles forthetransport ofgoods six
years orolderandtwostroke engines (Annex III/c). Abolition
by1January 2002.
Slovenia There arenoquantitative restrictions.
Romania There arenoquantitative restrictions.
1.2 Export restrictions
1.2.1 Duties andcharges
TheParties totheAgreement abolished intheirindustrial products trade allcustoms duties
andcharges having anequivalent effect.WT/REG11/2
Page7
1.2.2. Quantitative restrictions
Czech Republic and
Slovak Republic Alimited number ofproducts (waste andscrap listed inAnnex IV/a).
Hungary Alimited number ofproducts (waste andscrap listed inAnnex IV/b).
Poland Alimited number ofproducts (waste andscrap listed inAnnex IV/c).
Slovenia There arenoquantitative restrictions.
Romania Prohibition ofexport foralimited number ofproducts (wood, steel...)
andexport quotas -listed inAnnex toArticle 9oftheAgreement on
Accession ofRomania totheCEFTA. Abolition by1January 1998.
2. Agricultural Products
TheParties totheAgreement granted eachother concessions specified inProtocols 4,5,6,
11,12,13,18,19,20and21totheCEFTA.
Intrade between theRepublic ofSlovenia andtheCzech Republic andtheSlovak Republic
customs duties onimports ofsomeagricultural products werereduced by50percenton1January 1996
within thelimits oftariff quotas. Customs duties onaselected number ofagricultural goods were
reduced on1January 1997 to60percentofthebasic dutyrates andwillbefurther reduced to
50percenton1January 1998. Therateofdutyonbeerwasreduced to15percentintheCzech
Republic andtheSlovak Republic andto12percentinSlovenia (Protocol 11).
Intradebetween Slovenia andHungary customs duties onimports werereduced by50percent
within thelimits ofquotas on1January 1996 (Protocol 12).
Intradebetween Slovenia andPoland customs duties onimports werereduced by50percent
within thelimits oftariff quotas on1January 1996 (Protocol 13).
Intradebetween Romania andSlovenia customs duties onimports wereabolished foralimited
number ofproducts (listed inAnnex AtoProtocol 21)by1July1997, customs duties foralimited
number ofproducts werereduced substantially (Annex BtoProtocol 21)bybothsidesandsome bilateral
concessions havebeengranted foralimited number ofproducts (Annexes CandDtoProtocol 21).
Intrade between theCzech Republic andtheSlovak Republic andHungary; Czech Republic
andSlovak Republic andPoland; Czech Republic andSlovak Republic andRomania; Hungary and
Poland; Hungary andRomania; Poland andRomania, customs duties forsome products wereabolished
(Annex AtoProtocols 4,5,6)by1January 1996 or(Annex AtoProtocols 18,19and20)by
1July1997.
Foralimited number ofproducts customs duties werereduced substantially by1January 1996
(Annex BtoProtocols 4,5,and6)orby1July1997 (Annex BtoProtocol 18,19and20).Besides
these reductions additional bilateral concessions havebeengranted between twoParties separately
(Annexes CandDtoProtocols 4,5,6,18,19and20).WT/REG11/2
Page8
3. Rules ofOrigin
Therules oforigin andcooperation incustoms administrative procedures were agreed in
Protocol 7totheCEFTA. ThisProtocol wasreplaced bytheAdditional Protocol No.4totheCEFTA,
which wassigned on13September 1996andisprovisionally applied from1January 1997. Thenew
rulesoforigin areharmonized withtherulesapplied between theEuropean Communities andcountries
thatsigned Association Agreements. ThisProtocol contains provisions onamultilateral cumulation
oforigin between theCEFTA countries andthePan-European diagonal cumulation oforigin.
4. Safeguards
4.1 Balance ofpayments difficulties (Article 32)
Article 32ofCEFTA enables theapplication ofrestrictive measures toprotect thebalance of
payments inaccordance withtheWTO rules.
4.2 Structural adjustment (Article 28)
Customs duties onimports applicable intheParty introduced bystructural adjustment measures
concerning infant industries, orcertain sectors undergoing restructuring orfacing serious difficulties
maynotexceed 25percentadvalorem andshould maintain anelement ofpreference. Thetotalvalue
ofimports oftheproducts which aresubject tothese measures maynotexceed 15percentoftotal
imports ofindustrial products during thelastyearforwhich statistics areavailable. These measures
maybeapplied foraperiod notexceeding fiveyears, unless alonger duration isauthorized bythe
JointCommittee. Themeasures should cease toapply bytheendofthetransition period bythelatest.
4.3 General safeguards (Article 27)
Where anyproduct isbeing imported insuchincreased quantities andunder suchconditions
astocause orthreaten tocause serious injury todomestic producers oflikeordirectly competitive
products intheterritory oftheimporting Party, orserious disturbance inanyrelated sector ofthe
economy, theParty concerned maytakeappropriate measures under theconditions andinaccordance
withtheprocedure laiddown inArticle 31oftheCEFTA. These measures aretobeapplied within
therulesofArticle XIXoftheGATT andinparticular inaccordance withtheAgreement onSafeguards
unless theyarebased onArticle XX.
4.4 Specific safeguards (Article 14)
If,given theparticular sensitivity ofagricultural markets, imports ofproducts originating in
aParty, which arethesubject ofconcessions granted onthebasisofCEFTA, cause serious disturbances
inthemarket oftheanother Party, theParties concerned mayimmediately enter intoconsultations
tofindanappropriate solution. Pending suchasolution, theParties concerned maytakemeasures
thattheydeem necessary.
5. Anti-dumping measures (Article 26)
ThePartiestotheAgreementmayonlytakeanti-dumpingmeasuresinaccordancewithArticleVI
oftheGATT under conditions andinaccordance withtheprocedures setoutinArticle 31ofCEFTA.WT/REG11/2
Page9
6. Subsidies andstate-aid (Article 23)
Such measures maybetaken concerning subsidies andstate-aid schemes thatcause “serious
prejudice ”and“material injury ”thatareinconformity withtheconditions andprocedures setoutby
appropriate articles oftheGATT andrelated WTO agreements. Anyaidgranted byaParty toCEFTA,
which distorts orthreatens todistort competition byfavouring production ofcertain goods, is
incompatible withtheAgreement. These provisions, however, donotapply toagricultural products.
7. Sector specific provisions
Sector specific provisions arecontained inChapter IIoftheAgreement which isrelevant to
agricultural products. Thischapter defines thescope oftheproducts, themanner ofexchange of
concessions between theParties, theuseofspecific safeguards, andtheapplication ofsanitary and
phytosanitary measures.
III. GENERAL PROVISIONS OFTHE AGREEMENT
1. Exceptions andreservations
1.1 General exceptions
CEFTA doesnotpreclude theuseofprohibitions orrestrictions onimports, exports orgoods
intransit which arejustified onthegrounds ofpublic morality, public security, theprotection ofhealth
andlifeofhumans, animals orplants, theprotection ofnational treasure (articles possessing artistic,
historical orarchaeological value), protection ofintellectual property. Suchprohibitions orrestrictions
should notconstitute ameans ofarbitrary discrimination oradisguised restriction ontrade between
theParties andmaybeintroduced inconjunction withArticle XXofGATT 1994.
1.2 Security exceptions
Nothing inCEFTA prevents aParty from taking anymeasures which itconsiders necessary
toprevent thedisclosure ofinformation contrary toitsessential security interests andfortheprotection
ofitsessential security interests offortheimplementation ofinternational obligations ornational policies
(within theprovisions ofArticle XXIofGATT 1994).
2. Accession
Provisions oftheAgreement Amending theCEFTA (which isanintegral partofCEFTA) allow
anyEuropean country toaccede toCEFTA byconsent ofalltheParties. Theterms andconditions
ofaccession should besetoutinanAgreement onAccession concluded between alltheParties on
theonesideandtheacceding Party ontheother side.
4. Relations withother trade agreements
TheCEFTA doesnotapply totrade relations between theCzech Republic andtheSlovak
Republic which maintain acustoms union between them. TheAgreement doesnotpreclude theParties
from entering intoother freetrade arrangements.WT/REG11/2
Page10
5. Institutional framework
Thesingle jointbody under CEFTA istheJointCommittee which meets atleastonceayear
andisusually convened atthelevelofministers. TheJointCommittee isauthorized tosupervise the
implementation ofCEFTA anditsadministration. OneParty toCEFTA assumes presidency ofthe
Joint Committee byannual rotation.
IV. OTHER PROVISIONS
Other provisions totheAgreement refertothefollowing:
- Article 17:Internal taxation -nopractices ormeasures ofaninternal fiscal nature areapplied
bytheParties, implying directly orindirectly discrimination against theproducts oftheParties.
- Article 20:State monopolies ofcommercial character -existing monopolies ofthisnature
should beadjusted within aperiod offiveyears from thedateofentry intoforce ofthe
Agreement sothatnodiscrimination willexistbetween nationals oftheParties.
- Article 22:Rules ofcompetition concerning undertakings -these prohibit theabuse ofcertain
practices andthedominant position ofcertain enterprises which mayaffect thetrade between
theParties.
- Article 24:Government procurement -liberalization ofthegovernment procurement markets
isanobjective oftheAgreement.
- Article 25:Protection ofintellectual property -there isafiveyeartransition period forthe
improvement ofprotection ofintellectual property rights inaccordance withthesubstantive
standards ofthemultilateral agreements specified inAnnex VIofCEFTA.
- Article 29:Re-export andserious shortage -anyexport restrictions introduced under these
provisions should beapplied within Article XIoftheGATT 1994 unless theyarebased on
Article XX.
- Article 33:Evolutionary clause -thisprovision isthebasisforafuture deepening andextension
ofcoverage oftheAgreement.WT/REG11/2
Page11
ANNEX
Summary oftheStructure oftheAgreement
including Annexes andProtocols
(a)CEFTA
Preamble andObjectives Article 1
Chapter I.-Industrial products
Scope
Customs duties onimports
Basic duties
Charges equivalent toduties
Fiscal duties
Customs duties onexports and
charges having anequivalent effect
Quantitative restrictions onimports
andmeasures having anequivalent effect
Quantitative restrictions onexports
andmeasures having anequivalent effect
Information procedure ondrafttechnical
regulationsArticle 2
Article 3andProtocols 1,2and3
Article 4
Article 5andAnnex II
Article 6
Article 7
Article 8andAnnexes III/a, III/b, andIII/c
Article 9andAnnexes IV/a, IV/b, andIV/c
Article 10andAnnex V
Chapter II.-Agricultural products
Scope
Exchange ofconcessions
Concessions andagricultural
policies
Specific safeguards
Sanitary andphytosanitary measuresArticle 11
Article 12andProtocols 4,5and6
Article 13
Article 14
Article 15
Chapter III.-General provisions
Rules oforigin andcooperation in
customs administration
Internal taxation
General exceptions
Security exceptions
State monopolies
Payments
Rules ofCompetition concerning
undertakings
State Aid
Government procurement
Protection ofintellectual property
Dumping
General Safeguard
Structural adjustment
Re-export andserious shortage
Fulfilment ofobligationsArticle 16andProtocol 7
Article 17
Article 18
Article 19
Article 20
Article 21
Article 22
Article 23
Article 24
Article 25andAnnex VI
Article 26
Article 27
Article 28
Article 29
Article 30WT/REG11/2
Page12
Procedure fortheapplication ofsafeguard
measures
Balance ofpayments difficulties
Evolutionary clause
TheJoint Committee
Procedures oftheJoint Committee
Trade relations governed bythisandother
agreements
Annexes andProtocols
Territorial application
Amendments
Entry intoforce
Validity andwithdrawal
Depository
Record ofUnderstandings
Joint DeclarationArticle 31
Article 32
Article 33
Article 34
Article 35
Article 36
Article 37
Article 38
Article 39
Article 40
Article 41
Article 42
(b)Additional Protocol totheCEFTA
Preamble
Replacement ofProtocols 1to6tothe
CEFTA andAnnexes tothem
(c)Additional Protocol No.2totheCEFTA
Preamble
Replacement ofProtocols 1to3tothe
CEFTA
(d)Agreement Amending theCEFTA
Preamble
Accession totheAgreement
NewArticle 39(a)
(e)Agreement onAccession oftheRepublic of
Slovenia totheCEFTA
Preamble
Accession
Provisions onabolition of
customs duties onimports
Provisions forgranting mutual
agricultural concessions
Annexes toArticles 6and7Articles 1,2and3
Article 4andProtocols 8,9and10
Article 5andProtocols 11,12,13
(f)Additional Protocol No.3totheCEFTA
Preamble
Replacement ofProtocols 4,5and6totheCEFTA andAnnexes tothem
(g)Additional Protocol No.4totheCEFTA
Preamble
Replacement ofProtocol 7totheCEFTA andAnnexes toitWT/REG11/2
Page13
(h)Additional Protocol No.5totheCEFTA
Preamble
Replacement ofProtocols 1,2,3,8,9and10totheCEFTA andAnnexes tothem
(i)Agreement ontheAccession ofRomania to
theCEFTA
Preamble
Accession
Provisions fortheabolition
ofcustoms duties onimports
Provisions forgranting ofmutual
agricultural concessions
Annexes toArticles 8,9,10and11Articles 1and2
Article 5andProtocols 14,15,16and17
Article 6andProtocols 18,19,20and21WT/REG11/2
Page14
Other Information ontheAgreement
Document Signature Originally Signed By Applied asof
CEFTA 21.12.1992,
Krakow, PolandCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak RepublicCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Romania1.3.1993
1.3.1993
1.3.1993
1.3.1993
1.6.1996
1.7.1997
Additional Protocol 29.4.1994,
Budapest,
HungaryCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak RepublicCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Romania1.7.1994
1.7.1994
1.7.1994
1.7.1994
1.6.1996
1.7.1997
Additional Protocol
No.218.8.1995,
Warsaw, PolandCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak RepublicCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Romania1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.7.1997
Agreement
Amending the
CEFTA11.9.1995,
Brno, Czech
RepublicCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak RepublicCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Romania11.9.1995
11.9.1995
11.9.1995
11.9.1995
1.1.1996
1.7.1997
Additional Protocol
No.321.12.1995
Warsaw, PolandCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak RepublicCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Romania1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.7.1997
Agreement on
Accession ofthe
Republic of
Slovenia tothe
CEFTA25.11.1995
Ljubljana,
SloveniaCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
SloveniaCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Romania1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.1.1996
1.7.1997
Additional Protocol
No.413.9.1996,
Jasna, Slovak
RepublicCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
SloveniaCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Romania1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.7.1997WT/REG11/2
Page15
Document Signature Originally Signed By Applied asof
Additional Protocol
No.513.9.1996,
Jasna, Slovak
RepublicCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
SloveniaCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Romania1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.7.1997
Agreement on
Accession of
Romania tothe
CEFTA12.4.1997,
Bucharest,
RomaniaCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
RomaniaCzech Republic
Hungary
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Romania1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.1.1997
1.7.1997