WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG141/4 
22 June 2004 
 (04-2699) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:   English 
  
 
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – JORDAN EURO-MEDITERRANEAN AGREEMENT 
 
Questions and Replies
 
   
 The following communication, dated 3 June 2004, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegations of the European Communities and Jordan.   This document reproduces the questions addressed  to the Parties and the responses submitted. 
The questions and replies set out below are or ganized in accordance with document WT/REG141/3. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE AGREEMENT 
1. Membership And Dates Of Signature, Ratification And Entry Into Force 
1. Why did the notification to the WTO take place 7 months after  the date the agreement 
took effect? 
 The Parties to the Agreement recognize Japan’ s concerns regarding the time period between 
entry into force and notification. At the same time  they note that GATT Article XXIV (Territorial 
Application – Frontier Traffic – Customs Unions and Free Trade Areas) does not foresee any explicit 
timeframe for notification. The clarification of this  timeframe is an issue that should be addressed in 
the framework of the DDA negotiations on Rules.  
3. Scope 
 
2. What is the percentage of product coverage  under the agreement on the bases of trade 
value and tariff lines?  In particular, we woul d like to know the tariff lines of those industrial 
products that are NOT covered by the agreement. 
 The Association Agreement provides for tariff di smantling in order to cover substantially all 
trade between Jordan and the EU. Since 1978, according to the Co-operation Agreement between 
Jordan and the EC, all Jordanian industria l exports to the EU enjoy duty free access. 
 
 
II. TRADE PROVISIONS 
1. Import Restrictions  1.1 Duties And Charges 
 WT/REG141/4 
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 3. The progressive elimination of customs duti es and charges does not apply to products 
listed in Annex 4.   The arrangements on these products shall be re-examined after 4 years. 
 As regards the products listed in Annex IV, the arrangements to be applied shall be re-
examined by the Association Council four years after th e date of entry into force of the Agreement. At 
the time of that re-examination, the Associati on Council shall establish a tariff dismantling schedule 
for the products appearing in Annex IV ( as referred to in article 11 paragraph 5). 
 
4. Please describe the products in Annex 4, the value of trade they represent in EC-Jordan 
bilateral trade, and the reasons for leavi ng the timetable open on these products. 
 Please see attached Annex 1. Source for globa l trade figures for year 2002 in the attached 
annex: Eurostat (Comext). 
 
3. Rules Of Origin 
5. Regarding rules of origin, please describe the concept of originating products as set out 
in Protocol 3 and describe the cumulation of origin that is foreseen in the agreement. 
 The concept of “originating products” and th e methods of administrative cooperation relating 
to them are set out in Protocol 3.  The rules of  origin set the minimum requirements of working or 
processing to be carried out on non-originati ng materials to confer originating status. 
  The following products shall be considered as originating in the Community or in Jordan: 
 
(a) Products wholly obtained in the Community or in Jordan; and/or 
(b) Products obtained in the Community or in Jo rdan incorporating materials which have 
not been wholly obtained there, provide d that such materials have undergone 
sufficient working or processing in the Comm unity or in Jordan in accordance with 
the conditions set out in the list in Annex II of protocol 3. 
 The EU-Jordan Association Agreement provides for a system of bilateral cumulation between 
Jordan and EU.  The bilateral cumulation system co nsiders materials originating in the Community as 
materials originating in Jordan wh en incorporated into product obtained there and vice versa. It shall 
not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided they have undergone working or processing going be yond a list of insufficient operations. 
 5. Safeguards 
6. In the Standard Format for the Europe an Communities - Jordan Euro-Mediterranean 
Agreement (WT/REG141/3), the Safeguards sectio n describes two safeguards, one that may be 
applied only by Jordan, and the other that may be applied by both members. 
(a) What is the difference in injury standards between the two safeguards?  
 The standards that have to be met are spelt out  in the relevant provisions of the Agreement, 
i.e. Article 13 and Article 24 respectively.   Pursuant to Article 13 of the Agreement, Jord an can apply exceptional measures to deal with 
situations concerning infant industries or certain sectors undergoing restructuring or facing serious difficulties, particularly where these difficulties pr oduce major social problems. Recourse to       WT/REG141/4 
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 Article 13 is limited to very specific circumstances of  structural adjustment or development of infant 
industries.   Article 24 of the Agreement provides for safe guard measures to be applied when increased 
imports cause: 
 
- serious injury or threat thereof to the dom estic producers of like or directly competitive 
products in all or part of the territory of one of the Parties, or 
 - serious disturbances or threat thereof in any sector of the economy. 
 
 Unlike Article 13, recourse to Article 24 is not limited to circumstances of structural adjustment or infant industry. It can apply to an y injurious situation, provided either of the two 
standards “serious injury” or “serious disturba nces” is met. However, Article 24 contains an 
additional condition, that imports must have incr eased “in such increased quantities and under such 
conditions”. 
 
(b) What is the difference in possible remedies between the two safeguards?  
 Under Article 13 of the Agreement, measures can only assume the form of an increase or a 
reintroduction of customs duties and their scope is limited to preferential trade. 
 
 The type of remedies that can be envisag ed under Article 24 of the Agreement is not 
specified, but Article 26 states that “priority must be  given to those which least disturb the functioning 
of the Agreement” and that “measures must not exc eed the scope of what is necessary to remedy the 
difficulties which have arisen”.  
 It should be noted that, since the entry into force of the Agreement, neither party has taken 
measures under these Articles.  
8. Sector-Specific Provisions 
 Agricultural products
 
 
7. According to the document WT/REG141/3, II. 8 Sector-Specific Provisions, under 
Agricultural Products it is stated that “more than 250 tariff lines (8-digit tariff lines, notably fruit 
and vegetables) originating in Jordan cust oms duties are eliminated or reduced,”  while 
“Agricultural products originating in the Commu nity benefit on import into Jordan from the 
provisions set out in Protocol 2. Jordan appli es reduced customs duties to the Community for 105 
tariff lines.”  And the document goes on to say that “The Agreement specifies that the EC and 
Jordan will gradually implement a greater liberaliza tion of their trade in agricultural products.”  
We would like to know the length of time during which the EC and Jordan envisage that this 
“greater liberalization” will occur. The document s ays that the transitional period could last a 
maximum of 12 years.  Does this mean that by the end of this 12 year period, almost all products, including agricultural produc ts, will be subject to liberalization? 
 Article 6 of the EU-Jordan A ssociation Agreement lays down the basic principles of the pace 
of liberalisation of the trade, as regards both industr ial and agricultural products. It is made explicit 
that free trade area is to be achieved over a transitional period of a maximum of 12 years starting from the date of entry into force of the Agreement, i.e. until 30 April 2014, and respecting the provisions of the GATT. 
 
 WT/REG141/4 
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 “Article 6 
 
The Commission and Jordan shall gradually establish a free trade area over a transitional period 
lasting a maximum of 12 years starting from the da te of the entry into fo rce of this Agreement in 
accordance with the provisions of this Agreement  and in conformity with those of the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1994), hereinafter referred to as the GATT." 
 
 In respect of agricultural products, the liber alisation of trade should be made gradually, 
following successive rounds of negotiation in mentioned in Article 17.  
“Article 17 
 
1. From 1 January 2002, the Community and Jordan shall assess the situation with a view to 
determining the liberalisation measures to be applied to the Commun ity and Jordan with 
effect from 1 January 2003 in accordance with the objective set out in Article 15. 
 
2. Without prejudice to the provisions of the preceding paragraph and taking account of the 
patterns of trade in agricultural products betw een the Parties and the particular sensitivity of 
such products, the Community and Jordan may exami ne in a regular basis in the Association 
Council, product by pr oduct and on a reciprocal basis, the possibilities of granting each 
other further concessions.” 
 
 Due to the late entry into force of the Agreemen t, it is now anticipated that the first revision of 
the agricultural chapter of the Agre ement, initially scheduled for the y ear 2002, will be carried out in 
the course of 2004, with effect from 1 January 2005.  
 
III. GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT 
4. Relation With Other Trade Agreements 
 
8. How does the EC intend to foster/encourage  liberalization and greater integration 
among its bilateral partners, i.e., between Jorda n and Morocco, in the Euro Med agreements?  
To what extent is such integration occurring? 
 The EU and its Mediterranean partners entere d in 1995 in a new partnership phase, called the 
“Euro-Mediterranean Partnership” or the Barcelona Process. One of the main goals of the Barcelona 
Process is to create an area of shared prosperity  through the progressive establishment of a free trade 
area between the EU and its partners and among the Mediterranean Partners themselves, accompanied 
by substantial EU financial support for economic  transition and for the social and economic 
consequences of the reform proce ss. In addition to the bilateral di mension (EU-Mediterranean) of the 
Partnership, the Mediterranean Partners are co mmitted to implement free trade among them (South-
South integration).   As an example of further south-south integra tion, the Euro-Mediterranean Partners endorsed a 
new Protocol on rules of origin extending the Pan-European system of cumulation to the 
Mediterranean countries. The harmonisation of ru les of origin in the Euro-Mediterranean area 
represents a major step forward. It will signifi cantly facilitate trade in the Euromed region and 
contribute to the creation of a Free Trade Area.  
 Furthermore, the Agreement on a Mediterran ean Arab Free Trade Area between Egypt, 
Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, known as the ‘Agadi r Agreement’, was signed on 25 February 2004 in 
Agadir by the Foreign Ministers of the four countries involved. The agreement will create an  WT/REG141/4 
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 integrated market of more than 100 million people in  the four participating countries, which have all 
signed an Association Agreement with the EU. It is a crucial step towards the envisaged creation of a 
Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area and towards th e implementation of the forthcoming Pan-Euro 
Mediterranean system of origin cumulation.  
 Also, this initiative has received political support from the EU ever since the Agadir 
Declaration was signed in May 2001, and a MEDA funded assistance programme of € 4 million will 
be provided.   In addition, regional initiatives and programmes play a key role in enhancing and supporting 
the ties between the MED partners. The MEDA programme  is the principal financial instrument of the 
EU for the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean  Partnership. The bilateral dimension of MEDA 
is complemented and reinforced by a number of regional programmes. As an example, the Euromed 
Market Programme aims at facilitating the establishm ent of the Euro-Mediterranean free trade area as 
well as to promote deeper economic co-ope ration among the Mediterranean Partners. 
 
 
IV. OTHER 
9. Please describe the provisions of the agreemen t relating to services and how these relate 
to the parties’ GATS obligations. 
 The Association Agreement confirms that the tr eatment granted by either Party to the other 
with respect to trade in services be in no case more fa vourable than that accorded by any of the Parties 
under the provisions of the GATS and this in resp ect of each service sector, sub-sector and mode of 
supply (Article 44).   The EC and Jordan undertake to consider de velopment of the relevant provisions of the 
Association Agreement (in particular Article 37) w ith a view to the establishment of an “economic 
integration agreement” as define d in Article V of the GATS. 
  The Agreement also specifies that the Association Council will make the necessary 
recommendations for the implementation of this obj ective and further that the Council should make a 
first assessment of the achievement of this objec tive no later than five years after the Agreement 
enters into force. 
 
10. What actions have been taken by the parties in relation to each other’s procurement 
policies? 
 The Agreement sets as a common objective a reciprocal and gradual liberalisation of public 
procurement contracts and provides that the Asso ciation Council shall take the steps necessary to 
implement this objective.   Also, Jordan is currently conducting ne gotiations to join the GPA under the WTO 
commitments.  
 
     
 WT/REG141/4 
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 ANNEX 1 (question 4) 
  EU exports EU imports Total trade
 Total trade EU-Jordan 2002 1.724.799 223.365 1.948.164
              '1000 €  
  
 Annex IV products EU exports EU imports Total trade
  13.350 196 13.546
NC code Description                  % Annex IV / Total trade 0,77% 0,70%
     
21032000 tomato ketchup and other tomato sauces  
22030010 malt beer, in containers holding > 10 l  
24021000 cigars, cheroots and cigarillos containing tobacco  
57021000 kelem, schumacks, karamanie and similar handwoven rugs, whether or not made-up  
57023100 carpets and other floor coverings,  of wool or fine animal hair, wov en, not tufted or flocked, of pile 
construction, not made-up (excl. kelem, schum acks, karamanie and similar handwoven rugs)  
57024100 carpets and other floor coverings,  of wool or fine animal hair, wov en, not tufted or flocked, of pile 
construction, made-up (excl. kelem, schumacks, karamanie and similar handwoven rugs, plus 
axminster and wilton carpets)  
57025100 carpets and other floor coverings, of wool or fi ne animal hair, woven, not tufted or flocked, not of 
pile construction, not made-up (excl. kelem,  schumacks, karamanie and similar handwoven rugs)  
57025900 carpets and other floor coverings, of vegetable te xtile materials or coarse animal hair, woven, not 
tufted or flocked, not of pile construction, not  made-up (excl. kelem, shcumacks, karamanie and 
similar handwoven rugs, and floor coverings of coconut fibres "coir")  
57029900 carpets and other floor coverings, of vegetable te xtile materials or coarse animal hair, woven, not 
tufted or flocked, not of pile construction, made-up (excl. kelem, schumacks, karamanie and similar handwoven rugs, and floor coverings of coconut fibres "coir")  
57031000 carpets and other floor coverings, of wool or fine animal hair, tufted "needle punched", whether or 
not made-up  
61032200 men's or boys' ensembles of cotton, knitted or  crocheted (excl. ski ensembles and swimwear)  
61032300 men's or boys' ensembles of synthetic fibres , knitted or crocheted (excl. ski ensembles and 
swimwear)  
61032900 men's or boys' ensembles of textile materials (excl. wool, fine animal hair, cotton or synthetic 
fibres, ski ensembles and swimwear)  
61041200 women's or girls' suits of cotton, knitted or  crocheted (excl. ski overalls and swimwear)  
61041300 women's or girls' suits of synthetic fibres, knitt ed or crocheted (excl. ski overalls and swimwear)  
61042300 women's or girls' ensembles of synthetic fibr es, knitted or crocheted (excl. ski ensembles and 
swimwear)  
61043100 women's or girls' jackets and blazers of wool or fine animal hair, knitted or crocheted (excl. wind-
jackets and similar articles)  
61043900 women's or girls' jackets and bl azers of textile materials, knitted or crocheted (excl. of wool, fine 
animal hair, cotton or synthetic fibres, wind-jackets and similar articles)  
61044400 women's or girls' dresses of artificial fibres, knitted or crocheted (excl. petticoats)  
61044900 women's or girls' dresses of textile materials,  knitted or crocheted (excl. of wool, fine animal hair, 
cotton, synthetic or artificial fibres and petticoats)  
61045900 women's or girls' skirts and divided skirts of te xtile materials, knitted or crocheted (excl. of wool, 
fine animal hair, cotton or synthetic fibres, and petticoats)  
61061000 women's or girls' blouses, shirts and shirt-blouse s of cotton, knitted or crocheted (excl. t-shirts and 
vests)  
61081100 women's or girls' slips and petticoats of man-m ade fibres, knitted or crocheted (excl. t-shirts and 
vests)  
61082900 women's or girls' briefs and panties of textile materials, knitted or crocheted (excl. cotton or man-
made fibres)   WT/REG141/4 
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 61119000 babies' garments and clothing accessories of textile  materials, knitted or crocheted (excl. of wool, 
fine animal hair, cotton or synthetic fibres, and hats)  
61122000 ski-suits, knitted or crocheted  
61149000 special garments for professional, sporting or other purposes, n.e.s., of textile materials, knitted or 
crocheted (excl. of wool, fine animal hair, cotton and man-made fibres)  
61169100 gloves, mittens and mitts, of wool or fine anima l hair, knitted or crocheted (excl. for babies)  
61169300 gloves, mittens and mitts, of synthetic fibres, knitted or crocheted (excl. impregnated, coated or 
covered with plastics or rubber, and for babies)  
61171000 shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, ve ils and the like, knitted or crocheted  
61172000 ties, bow ties and cravats, knitted or crocheted  
61179000 parts of garments or clothing accessor ies, knitted or crocheted, n.e.s.  
62011900 men's or boys' overcoats, raincoats, car-coat s, capes, cloaks and similar articles, of textile 
materials (excl. of wool or fine animal hair, cotton or man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted)  
62019900 men's or boys' anoraks, incl. ski-jackets, wind-c heaters, wind-jackets and similar articles of textile 
materials (excl. of wool, fine animal hair, cotton or man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted, suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers and trousers)  
62021900 women's or girls' overcoats, raincoats, car- coats, capes, cloaks and similar articles, of textile 
materials (excl. of wool or fine animal hair, cotton or man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted)  
62029100 women's or girls' anoraks, incl. ski-jackets, wind-cheaters, wind-jackets and similar articles, of 
wool or fine animal hair (excl. knitted or cr ocheted, suits, ensembles,  jackets, blazers and 
trousers)  
62029900 women's or girls' anoraks, incl. ski-jackets, wind-cheaters, wind-jackets and similar articles, of 
textile materials (excl. of wool, fine animal hair,  cotton or man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted, 
suits, ensembles, jack ets, blazer s and trousers)  
62061000 women's or girls' blouses, shirts and shirt-blouse s of silk or silk waste (excl. knitted or crocheted 
and vests)  
62064000 women's or girls' blouses, shirts and shirt-blouses of man-made fibres (excl. knitted or crocheted 
and vests)  
62071100 men's or boys' underpants and briefs of cotton (excl. knitted or crocheted)  
62082100 women's or girls' nightdresses and pyjamas of cotton (excl. knitted or crocheted, vests and 
nugligus)  
62082200 women's or girls' nightdresses and pyjamas of  man-made fibres (excl. knitted or crocheted, vests 
and nugligus)  
62082900 women's or girls' nightdresse s and pyjamas of textile materials (excl. cotton and man-made fibres, 
knitted or crocheted, vests and nugligus)  
62089200 women's or girls' singlets and other vests, br iefs, panties, nugligus, bathrobes, dressing gowns, 
housecoats and similar articles of man-made fibres (excl. knitted or crocheted, slips, petticoats, 
nightdresses and pyjamas, brassieres, gi rdles, corsets and similar articles)  
62089900 women's or girls' singlets and other vests, br iefs, panties, nugligus, bathrobes, dressing gowns, 
housecoats and similar articles of textile material s (excl. of cotton or man-made fibres, knitted or 
crocheted, slips, petticoats, ni ghtdresses and pyjamas, brassieres , girdles, corsets and similar 
articles)  
62091000 babies' garments and clothing accessories of wool  or fine animal hair (excl. knitted or crocheted 
and hats)  
62099000 babies' garments and clothing accessories of text ile materials (excl. of wool or fine animal hair, 
cotton or synthetic fibres, knitted or crocheted and hats)  
62104000 men's or boys' garments of textile fabrics,  rubberised or impregnated, coated, covered or 
laminated with plastics or other substances (e xcl. of the type described in subheading 6201,11 to 
6201,19 and babies' garments and clothing accessories)  
62105000 women's or girls' garments of textile fabrics, rubberised or impregnated, coated, covered or 
laminated with plastics or other substances (e xcl. of the type described in subheading 6202,11 to 
6202,19 and babies' garments and clothing accessories)  
62111100 men's or boys' swimwear (excl. knitted or crocheted)  
62111200 women's or girls' swimwear (excl. knitted or crocheted)  
62113100 men's or boys' track suits and other garments, n.e.s. of wool of fine animal hair (excl. knitted or WT/REG141/4 
Page 8  
 
 crocheted)  
62113900 men's or boys' track suits and ot her garments, n.e.s. of textile mate rials (excl. of wool, fine animal 
hair, cotton or man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted)  
62114100 women's or girls' track suits and other garments, n. e.s. of wool or fine animal hair (excl. knitted or 
crocheted)  
62114900 women's or girls' track suits and other garments  n.e.s. of textile materials (excl. of wool, fine 
animal hair, cotton or man-made fibres, knitted or crocheted)  
62122000 girdles and panty-girdles of all types of textile ma terials, whether or not elasticated, incl. knitted or 
crocheted (excl. belts and corselets made entirely of rubber)  
62123000 corselettes of all types of textile materials, whet her or not elasticated, incl. knitted or crocheted  
62129000 corsets, braces, garters, suspenders and similar articles and parts thereof, incl. parts of 
brassieres, girdles, panty girdles and corselettes, of  all types of textile materials, whether or not 
elasticated, incl. knitted or crocheted (excl. complete brassieres, girdles, panty girdles and 
corselettes)  
62139000 handkerchiefs of textile materials, of which no side exceeds 60 cm (excl. of silk, silk waste or 
cotton, knitted or crocheted)  
62160000 gloves, mittens and mitts of all types of textile materials (excl. knitted or crocheted and for babies)  
62179000 parts of garments or clothing accessories, of all types of textile materials, n.e.s. (excl. knitted or 
crocheted)  
63090000 worn clothing and clothing acce ssories, blankets and travelling rugs, household linen and articles 
for interior furnishing, of all types of textile ma terials, incl. all types of footwear and headgear, 
showing sings of appreciable wear and presented in  bulk or in bales, sacks or similar packings 
(excl. carpets, other floor coverings and tapestries)  
64021900 sports footwear with outer soles and uppers of r ubber or plastics (excl. waterproof footwear or 
heading 6401, ski-boots, cross-country ski footwear , snowboard boots and skating boots with ice 
or roller skates attached)  
64022000 footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or plastics, with upper straps or thongs assembled 
to the sole by means of plugs (excl. toy footwear)  
64023000 footwear, incorporating a protective metal t oe-cap, with outer soles and uppers of rubber or 
plastics (excl. waterproof footwear of heading 6401, sports footwear and orthopaedic footwear)  
64029100 footwear covering the ankle, with outer soles a nd uppers of rubber or plasti cs (excl. incorporating 
a protective metal toecap, waterproof footwear of heading 6401, sports footwear, orthopaedic 
footwear and toy footwear)  
94012000 seats for motor vehicles  
94015000 seats of cane, osier, bamboo or similar materials  
94016100 upholstered seats, with wooden frames (excl. convertible into beds)  
94016900 seats, with wooden frames (excl. upholstered)  
94017100 upholstered seats, with metal frames (excl. seat s for aircraft or motor vehicles, swivel seats with 
variable height adjustments and medical, dental or surgical furniture)  
94017900 seats, with metal frames (excl. upholstered , swivel seats with variable height adjustments and 
medical, dental or surgical furniture)  
94018000 seats, n.e.s.  
94035000 wooden furniture for bedrooms (excl. seats)  
94038000 furniture of cane, osier, bamboo or similar ma terials (excl. of metal, wood and plastics)  
Source: COMEXT EUROSTAT 
 
 
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