WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/REG151/1
8 April 2003
(03-1934)
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:  English
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN BULGARIA AND LATVIA
The following text reproduces the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the
Republic of Bulgaria and the Government of the Republic of Latvia.1
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FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN
THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA
PREAMBLE
The Republic of Latvia  and the Republic of Bulgaria  (hereinafter called the Contracting
Parties),
Reaffirming  their commitment to the principles of market economy, which constitutes the
basis for their relations,
Considering  their common desire to participate actively in the process of international
economic integration,
Expressing  their readiness to co-operate in finding the means and ways for strengthening of
this process;
Considering  the rights and obligations arising out of the Europe Association Agreement
between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of
Latvia, of the other part, and the Europe Association Agreement between the European Communities
and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Bulgaria, of the other part,
Resolved  to this end to eliminate progressively th e obstacles to substantially all their mutual
trade, in accordance with the provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1994)
and the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO),
Convinced  that this Agreement will create a new climate for their economic relations and, in
particular, for the development of trade, investments and economic and technical co-operation,
Firmly decided  that this Agreement will promote the intensification of mutually beneficial
trade between them and will contribute to the process of integration in Europe;
Considering  that no provision of this Agreement may be interpreted as exempting the Parties
from their obligations under other international agreements, especially the Agreement establishing the
WTO,
                                                     
1 The full text of the Agreement together with its annexes and protocols  has been submitted to the
Secretariat for consultation by interested Members (office 1174).WT/REG151/1
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Recalling  their firm commitment to the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Co-
operation in Europe, the Paris Charter, and, in particular, the principles contained in the final
document of the Bonn Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe,
Have agreed  as follows:
Article 1
Objectives
1. The Contracting Parties shall establish a free trade area in accordance with the provisions of
the present Agreement and in conformity with those of the GATT 1994, in particular Article XXIV ofthe GATT 1994, and the Agreement establishing the WTO.
2. The objectives of the present Agreement are:
(a) to promote through the expansion of mutual trade the harmonious development of
economic relations between the Contracting Parties and thus to foster the advance of
economic activity in the Contracting Parties, the improvement of living andemployment conditions and increased productivity and financial stability.
(b) to ensure fair conditions of competition in the trade between the Contracting Parties,
(c) to contribute in this way, by removal of barriers to trade, to the harmonious
development and expansion of the world trade,
(d) to enhance the co-operation between the Contracting Parties.
CHAPTER I: INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
Article 2
Scope
1. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to the industrial products originating in one of the
Contracting Parties.
2. For the purpose of this Agreement the term "industrial products" means products falling
within Chapters 25 to 97 of the Harmonized Comm odity Description and Coding System, with the
exception of the products listed in Annex I to this Agreement.
Article 3
Customs Duties On Imports
1. Customs duties on imports applied in the Republic of Bulgaria to products originating in the
Republic of Latvia shall be abolished on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
2. Customs duties on imports applied in the Republic of Latvia to products originating in the
Republic of Bulgaria shall be abolished on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
3. No new customs duties on imports shall be introduced in the trade between the Contracting
Parties from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.WT/REG151/1
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Article 4
Charges Having Equivalent Effect To Import Duties
1. No new charges having an effect equivalent to customs duties on imports shall be introduced
in the trade between the Contracting Parties from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
2. All charges having an effect equivalent to customs duties on imports shall be abolished on
the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
Article 5
Fiscal Duties
The provisions of Article 3 shall also be applied to customs duties of a fiscal nature.
Article 6
Customs Duties On Exports And Charges Having Equivalent Effect
1. No new customs duties on exports or charges having an effect equivalent to customs duties on
exports shall be introduced in the trade between th e Contracting Parties from the date of entry into
force of this Agreement.
2. All customs duties on exports and charges having an effect equivalent to customs duties on
exports shall be abolished on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.
Article 7
Quantitative Restrictions On Exports And Measures Having Equivalent Effect
1. No new quantitative restrictions on exports or measures having equivalent effect shall be
introduced in the trade between the Contracting Part ies from the date of entry into force of this
Agreement.
2. All quantitative restrictions and measures having equivalent effect on exports of products
originating in the Contracting Parties shall be abolished on the date of entry into force of this
Agreement.
Article 8
Quantitative Restrictions On Imports And Measures Having Equivalent Effect
1. No new quantitative restrictions on imports or measures having equivalent effect shall be
introduced in the trade between the Contracting Part ies from the date of entry into force of this
Agreement.
2. All quantitative restrictions and measures having equivalent effect on imports of products
originating in the Contracting Parties shall be abolished on the date of entry into force of this
Agreement.WT/REG151/1
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Article 9
Technical Barriers To Trade
1. The rights and obligations of the Contracting Parties related to standards or technical
regulations and the respective measures shall be stipulated as governed by the Agreement on
Technical Barriers to Trade of the WTO.
2. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate and exchange information in the field of
standardization, metrology, conformity assessment and accreditation, with the aim of reducing
technical barriers to trade.
CHAPTER II: AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Article 10
Scope
1. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to ag ricultural products originating in one of the
Contracting Parties.
2. For the purpose of this Agreement the term “agricultural products” means products falling
within Chapters 1 to 24 of the Harmonized Commod ity Description and Coding System, including the
products listed in Annex I to this Agreement.
Article 11
Exchange Of Concessions
1. The Contracting Parties grant each other the concessions, specified in Protocol 1 in
accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and those laid down in this Protocol.
2. The Contracting Parties declare their readiness to foster, in so far as their agricultural policies
allow, the harmonious development of trade in agricultural products and to discuss this issue
periodically within the Joint Committee.
Taking account of:
− the role of agriculture in their economies,
− the development of trade in agricultural products between the Contracting Parties,
− the particular sensitivity of the agricultural products,
− the rules of their agricultural policies,
− the results of the multilateral trade negotiations under the GATT and of the WTO,
the Contracting Parties shall examine within the framework of the Joint Committee the possibilities of
granting each other further concessions.
Article 12
Concessions And Agricultural Policies
1. Without prejudice to the concessions granted under Protocol 1 to this Agreement, the
provisions of this Chapter shall not restrict in any way the pursuance of the respective agriculturalWT/REG151/1
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policies of the Contracting Parties or taking of any measures under such policies, including the
implementation of the respective provisions of the Agreement on Agriculture within the framework of
the WTO and the Agreement establishing the WTO.
2. The Contracting Parties shall notify each other through the Joint Committee of changes in
their respective agricultural policies pursued or measures applied which may affect the conditions ofagricultural trade among them as provided for in this Agreement. Prompt consultations shall be held,
upon request of any Contracting Party, to examine the situation.
Article 13
Specific Safeguards
Notwithstanding other provisions of this Agr eement and, in particular, Article 26 (General
safeguards), if, given the particular sensitivity of the agricultural products, imports of products
originating in a Contracting Party, which are subject to concessions granted under this Agreement,
cause serious disturbance to the markets of the other Contracting Party, the Contracting Party
concerned shall immediately enter into consultations to find an appropriate solution. Pending such
solution, the Contracting Party concerned may take the measures it deems necessary.
Article 14
Veterinary, Sanitary And Phytosanitary Measures
1. The Contracting Parties shall apply their regulations in veterinary, sanitary and phytosanitary
matters in a non-discriminatory fashion and shall not introduce any new measures that have the effect
of unduly obstructing trade.
2. The veterinary and sanitary measures and the work of the veterinary services will be in
accordance with international conventions in this field.
3. The phytosanitary measures and the work of the plant protection service will be in accordance
with international conventions in this field.
CHAPTER III: GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 15
Rules Of Origin And Co-Operation In Customs Administration
1. Protocol 2 to this Agreement lays down the rules of origin and related methods of
administrative co-operation.
2. The Contracting Parties shall take appropriate measures, including regular reviews in the Joint
Committee and arrangements for administrative co-operation, to ensure that the provisions of Protocol
2 and Articles 3 (Customs duties on imports) to 8 (Quantitative restrictions on imports and measures
having equivalent effect), 12 (Concessions and agricultural policies), 16 (Internal taxation) and 27
(Structural adjustment) of the Agreement are effectively and harmoniously applied, and to reduce, as
far as possible, the formalities imposed on trade, as well as to achieve mutually satisfactory for bothContracting Parties solutions to any difficulties arising from the operation of those provisions.
3. The mutual assistance between administrative authorities in customs matters shall take place
in accordance with the provisions of Protocol 3 to this Agreement.WT/REG151/1
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Article 16
Internal Taxation
1. The Contracting Parties shall refrain from any measure or practice of an internal fiscal nature
establishing, whether directly or indirectly, discrimination between the products originating in the
Contracting Parties.
2. Products exported to the territory of one of the Contracting Parties may not benefit from
repayment of internal taxation in excess of the amount of direct or indirect taxation imposed on them.
Article 17
General Exceptions
This Agreement shall not preclude prohibitions or restrictions on the imports, exports or
goods in transit justified on grounds of public morality, public order or public security; the protection
of health and life of humans, animals and plants; the protection of environment; the protection of
national treasures possessing artistic, historic or archaeological value; the protection of the intellectualproperty or the rules relating to gold or silver or the conservation of exhaustible natural resources, if
such measures are made effective in conjunction with restrictions on domestic production or
consumption. Such prohibitions or restrictions shall not, however, constitute a means of arbitrary
discrimination or a disguised restriction on the trade between the Contracting Parties.
Article 18
Security Exceptions
Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent a Co ntracting Party from taking any measure which
it considers necessary:
1. to prevent the disclosure of information contrary to its essential security interests;
2. for the protection of its essential security interests or for the implementation of international
obligations or national policies:
(a) relating to the traffic in arms, ammunition and implements of war, provided that such
measures do not impair the conditions of competition in respect of products notintended for specifically military purposes, and to such traffic in other goods,
materials and services as is carried on directly or indirectly for the purpose of
supplying a military establishment; or
(b) relating to the non-proliferation of biological and chemical weapons, nuclear weapons
or other nuclear explosive devices; or
(c) taken in time of war or other serious international tension, constituting threat of war.
Article 19
State Monopolies
1. The Contracting Parties shall adjust progressively any State monopoly of a commercial
character so as to ensure that by the end of the y ear following the entry into force of this Agreement,
no discrimination regarding the conditions under which goods are procured and marketed existsWT/REG151/1
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between nationals of the Contracting Parties. The Joint Committee shall be informed about the
measures adopted to implement this objective.
2. The provisions of this Article shall apply to any body through which the competent authorities
of the Contracting Parties, in law or in fact, either directly or indirectly supervise, determine or
appreciably influence imports or exports between the Contracting Parties. These provisions shalllikewise apply to monopolies delegated by a Contracting Party to other bodies.
Article 20
Payments
1. Payments in freely convertible currencies relating to trade in goods between the Contracting
Parties and the transfer of such payments to the te rritory of the Contracting Party to this Agreement,
where the creditor resides, shall be free from any restrictions.
2. The Contracting Parties shall refrain from any ex change or administrative restrictions on the
grant, repayment or acceptance of short and medium term credits related to trade in goods in which a
resident of a Contracting Party participates.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, any measures concerning current payments
connected with the movement of goods shall be in  conformity with the co nditions laid down under
Article VIII of the Agreement of the International Monetary Fund.
Article 21
Rules Of Competition Concerning Undertakings
1. The following are incompatible with the proper functioning of this Agreement in so far as
they may affect trade between the Contracting Parties:
(a) all agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings and
concerted practices between undertakings which have as their object or effect theprevention, restriction or distortion of competition;
(b) abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position in the territories of the
Contracting Parties as a whole or in a substantial part thereof.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall apply to the activities of all undertakings including public
undertakings and undertakings to which the Contra cting Parties grant special or exclusive rights.
Undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest or having the
character of a revenue-producing monopoly, shall be subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 insofaras the application of these provisions does not obstruct the performance, in law or  in fact, of the
particular public tasks assigned to them.
3. With regard to products referred to in Chapter II the provisions stipulated in paragraph 1 (a)
shall not apply to such agreements, decisions and practices which form an integral part of a national
market organization.
4. If a Contracting Party considers that a given practice is incompatible with paragraphs 1, 2 and
3 of this Article, and if such practice causes or threatens to cause serious prejudice to the interest of
that Contracting Party or material injury to its domestic industry, the Contracting Party concerned
may take appropriate measures under the conditions and in accordance with the procedure laid down
in Article 30 (Procedure for the application of safeguard measures).WT/REG151/1
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Article 22
State Aid
1. Any aid granted by a State being a Contracting Party to this Agreement or through State
resources in any form whatsoever which distorts or threatens to distort competition by favouring
certain undertakings or the production of certain goods shall, in so far as it may affect trade between
the Contracting Parties, be incompatible with the proper functioning of this Agreement.
2. The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply to products referred to in Chapter II.
3. Тhe criteria on the basis of which the practices contrary to paragraph 1 shall be assessed, as
well as the rules for their implementation, have to be  compatible with the respective criteria applied
within the European Union and the implementing rules agreed between each of the ContractingParties and the European Union.
4. The Contracting Parties shall ensure transparency in the area of state aid measures, inter alia
by reporting annually to the Joint Committee on the total amount and the distribution of the aid given
and by providing to the other Contracting Party, upon request, information on aid schemes and on
particular individual cases of state aid.
5. If a Contracting Party considers that a particular practice:
− is incompatible with the terms of paragraph 1, or
− causes or threatens to cause serious prejudice to the interest of that Contracting Party
or material injury to its domestic industry,
it may take appropriate measures under the conditions of and in accordance with the provisions laid
down in Article 30 (Procedure for the application of safeguard measures). Such appropriate measuresmay only be taken in conformity with the proce dures and under the conditions laid down by the
GATT 1994 and by the Agreement establishing the WTO and any other relevant instruments
negotiated under the auspices of the WTO which are applicable between the Contracting Parties.
Article  23
Public Procurement
1. The Contracting Parties consider the liberalization of their respective public procurement
markets as an objective of this Agreement. The Contracting Parties aim at opening up of the award ofpublic contracts on the basis of non-discrimination and reciprocity.
2. The Contracting Parties will progressively develop their respective rules, conditions and
practices on public procurement and shall grant suppliers of the other Contracting Party access to
contract award procedures on their respective public procurement markets not less favourable than
that accorded to companies of any third country.
3. The Contracting Parties to this Agreement shall endeavour to accede to the WTO Agreement
on Government Procurement.WT/REG151/1
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Article 24
Protection Of Intellectual Property
1. The Contracting Parties confirm their will to respect the obligations arising from the WTO
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, constituting Annex Ic to the
Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO, as well as other conventions on intellectual property
protection, which are signed by both Contracting Parties, and listed in Annex II to this Agreement.
2. For the purpose of this Agreement the term "intellectual property" refers to all categories of
intellectual property such as: copyright and related rights, trademarks, geographical indications
including appellations of origin, industrial designs and models, patents, lay-out designs of integrated
circuits and undisclosed information including trade secrets.
3. In fulfilment of their commitments under internat ional agreements and legislation in the field
of intellectual property rights, the Contracting Parties to this Agreement shall not grant to nationals of
the state of the other Contracting Party treatment le ss favourable than that accorded to nationals of
any third state.
4. The Contracting Parties shall co-operate in matters of intellectual property. Upon request of a
Contracting Party, they shall hold consultations of experts on these matters, in particular with respect
to activities, relating to the existing or to future international conventions on the harmonization,
administration and vindication of intellectual property rights, and on activities in international
organizations, such as the WTO, World Intellectual  Property Organization, as well as concerning the
relations of the Contracting Parties with third countries with respect to the intellectual propertymatters.
5. The implementation of this article shall be regularly assessed by the Contracting Parties.
Upon difficulties in trade in relation to the rights of intellectual property, any of the Contracting
Parties may request urgent consultations for finding mutually acceptable solution.
Article 25
Dumping
If a Contracting Party to this Agreement finds that dumping within the meaning of Article VI
of the GATT 1994 is taking place in  the trade relations governed by this Agreement, it may take
appropriate measures against that practice in accordance with Article VI of the GATT 1994 and the
Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT 1994, and in accordance with the procedurelaid down in Article 30 (Procedure for the application of safeguard measures).
Article 26
General Safeguards
Where any product is being imported in such increased quantities and under such conditions
as to cause or threaten to cause:
(a) serious injury to the domestic producers of like or directly competitive products in the
territory of the importing Contracting Party, or
(b) serious disturbances in any related sector of the economy or difficulties which could
cause serious deterioration in the economic situation of a region,WT/REG151/1
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the Contracting Party concerned may take appropriate measures under the conditions and in
accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 30 (Procedure for the application of safeguard
measures).
Article 27
Structural Adjustment
1. Exceptional measures of a limited duration which derogate from the provisions of Article 4
may be taken by any of the Contracting Parties in the form of increased customs duties.
2. These measures may only concern infant industries, or certain sectors undergoing
restructuring or facing serious difficulties, particularly where these difficulties produce importantsocial problems.
3. Customs duties on imports applicable in the Contracting Party concerned to products
originating in the other Party introduced by these measures may not exceed 25 % ad valorem  and
shall contain an element of preference for products originating in the other Contracting Party. The
total value of imports of the products subject to these measures may not exceed 15% of the totalimports of industrial products from the other Contracting Party as defined in Article 2 during the last
year for which statistics are available.
4. These measures shall be applied for a period not exceeding three consecutive years.
5. No such measures shall be introduced in respect of a product if more than three years have
elapsed since the entry into force of this Agreement.
6. The Contracting Party concerned shall inform the Joint Committee of any exceptional
measures it intends to take and, at the request of the other Contracting Party, consultations shall be
held within the Joint Committee on such measures and the sectors to which they apply before their
introduction. When taking such measures the Contracting Party concerned shall provide the Joint
Committee with a schedule for the elimination of the customs duties introduced under this Article.This schedule shall provide for a phasing out of these duties starting at the latest one year after their
introduction, at equal annual rates. The Joint Committee may decide on a different schedule.
Article 28
Re-Export And Serious Shortage
1. Where compliance with the provisions of Articles 6 (Customs duties on exports and charges
having equivalent effect) and 7 (Quantitative restrictions on exports and measures having equivalent
effect) leads to:
(a) re-export towards a third country against which the exporting Contracting Party
maintains for the product concerned quantitative export restrictions, export duties or
measures or charges having equivalent effect; or
(b) a serious shortage, or threat thereof, of a product essential to the exporting
Contracting Party;
and where the situations above referred give rise or are likely to give rise, to major difficulties for the
exporting Contracting Party, that Contracting Party may take appropriate measures under the
conditions and in accordance with the procedur es laid down in Article  30 (Procedure for the
application of safeguard measures).WT/REG151/1
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2. Measures taken as a result of the situation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be eliminated when
the conditions no longer justify their maintenance and in the case of the situation referred to in
paragraph 1(b) shall be applied in a non-discriminatory manner.
Article 29
Fulfilment Of Obligations
1. The Contracting Parties shall take all necessary measures required to fulfil their obligations
under the Agreement. They shall ensure to it that the objectives set out in the Agreement are achieved.
2. If a Contracting Party considers that the other Contracting Party has failed to fulfil an
obligation under this Agreement, the Contracting Party concerned may take appropriate measuresunder the conditions and in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article  30 (Procedure for the
application of safeguard measures) .
Article 30
Procedure For The Application Of Safeguard Measures
1. Before initiating the procedure for application of safeguard measures set out in the following
paragraphs of the present Article, the Contracting Parties shall endeavour to solve any differences
between them through direct consultations.
2. If a Contracting Party subjects the imports of products liable to give rise to the situation
referred to in Article 26 (General safeguards) to an administrative procedure, the purpose of which is
the rapid provision of information on the trend of  trade flows, it shall inform the other Party.
3. Without prejudice to paragraph 7 of the present Article, a Contracting Party which considers
resorting to safeguard measures shall promptly notify the other Contracting Party thereof and supply
all relevant information. Consultations between the Contracting Parties shall take place without delaybut not later than 30 days after requesting such consultations in the Joint Committee with a view to
finding a mutually acceptable solution.
4. (a) As regards Articles 25 (Dumping), 26 (General safeguards) and 28 (Re-export and
serious shortage) the Joint Committee shall examine the case or the situation and may
take any decision needed to put an end to the difficulties notified by the Party
concerned. In the case of the absence of such decision within thirty days of the matter
being referred to the Joint Committee, the Contracting Party concerned may adopt themeasures necessary in order to remedy the situation,
(b) As regards Article 29 (Fulfilment of obligations), the Contracting Party concerned
may take appropriate measures after the consultations have been concluded or after a
period of three months has elapsed from the date of the first notification to the other
Contracting Party,
(c) As regards Article 21 (Rules of competition concerning undertakings) and 22 (State
aid), the Contracting Party concerned shall give the Joint Committee all the assistance
required in order to examine the case and, where appropriate, eliminate the practice
objected to. If the other Contracting Party fails to put an end to the practice objected
to within the period fixed by the Joint Committee or if the Joint Committee fails toreach an agreement within thirty working da ys, of the matter being referred to it, theWT/REG151/1
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Contracting Party concerned may adopt the appropriate measures to deal with the
difficulties resulting from the practice in question.
5. The safeguard measures taken shall be notified immediately to the Joint Committee. They
shall be limited with regard to their extent and to their duration to what is strictly necessary in order to
rectify the situation giving rise to their application and shall not be in excess of the injury caused bythe practice or the difficulty in question. Priority shall be given to such measures that will least disturb
the functioning of this Agreement.
6. The safeguard measures taken shall be the object of periodic consultations in the Joint
Committee with a view to their relaxation as soon as  possible or abolition when conditions no longer
justify their maintenance.
7. Where exceptional circumstances requiring immediate action make prior examination
impossible, the Contracting Party concerned may, in the cases of Articles 25 (Dumping), 26 (General
safeguards)  and 28 (Re-export and serious shortage), apply forthwith the provisional measures
strictly necessary to remedy the situation. The measures shall be notified without delay and
consultations between the Contracting Parties shall take place as soon as possible in the Joint
Committee.
Article 31
Balance Of Payments Difficulties
1. The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to avoid the imposition of restrictive measures
including measures relating to imports for balance of payments purposes.
2. Where one of the Contracting Parties is in serious balance of payments difficulties, or under
imminent threat thereof, the Party concerned may, in accordance with the conditions established under
the GATT 1994 and Article VIII of the IMF Agreement, adopt restrictive measures, including
measures related to imports, which shall be of limited duration and may not go beyond what is
necessary to remedy the balance of payments situation. The measures shall be progressively relaxedas balance of payments conditions improve and they shall be eliminated when conditions no longer
justify their maintenance. The Contracting Party c oncerned shall inform the other Contracting Party
forthwith of their introduction and, whenever practicable, of a time schedule for their removal.
Article 32
Customs Unions, Free Trade Areas And Frontier Trade
1. This Agreement shall not prevent the maintenance or establishment of customs unions, free
trade areas or arrangements for frontier trade to such an extent that these do not negatively affect the
trade regime of the Contracting Parties and in particular the provisions concerning the rules of origin
provided for in this Agreement.
2. Upon request, consultations between the Contract ing Parties shall take place within the Joint
Committee, in order the Contracting Parties to inform each other about any agreement establishing
such customs union or free trade area.WT/REG151/1
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CHAPTER IV: INSTITUTIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 33
The Joint Committee
1. A Joint Committee is hereby established in which each Contracting Party shall be represented.
2. The Joint Committee shall be responsible for the administration of this Agreement and shall
ensure its proper implementation.
3. For the purpose of the proper implementation of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall
exchange information and, at the request of any Cont racting Party, shall hold consultations within the
Joint Committee. The Joint Committee shall keep under review the possibility of further removal ofthe obstacles to trade between the Contracting Parties.
4. The Joint Committee may, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3 of Article 34
(Procedures of the Joint Committee), take decisions in the cases provided for in this Agreement. On
other matters the Committee may make recommendations.
Article 34
Procedures Of The Joint Committee
1. For the proper implementation of this Agreement the Joint Committee shall meet whenever
necessary but at least once a year. Each Contracting Party may request a meeting to be held.
2. The Joint Committee shall act by common agreement.
3. If a representative in the Joint Committee of a Contracting Party to this Agreement has
accepted a decision subject to the fulfilment of internal legal requirements, the decision shall enter
into force, if no later date is contained therein, on the first day of the second month following the
receipt of a written notification as to the fulfilment by that Contracting Party of such requirements.
4. For the purpose of this Agreement the Joint Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure
which shall, inter alia , contain provisions for convening meetings and for the designation of the
Chairman and his term of office.
5. The Joint Committee may decide to set up such subcommittees and working groups as it
considers necessary to assist it in accomplishing its tasks.
Article 35
Evolutionary Clause
Where a Contracting Party considers that it would be useful in the interests of the economies
of the Contracting Parties to develop and deepen the relations established by this Agreement by
extending them to fields not covered thereby, it shall submit a reasoned request to the otherContracting Party. The Contracting Parties may instruct the Joint Committee to examine such a
request and, where appropriate, to make recommendations, particularly with a view to opening
negotiations.WT/REG151/1
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Article 36
Amendments, Annexes And Protocols
1. Amendments to this Agreement other than those decided upon in accordance with paragraph 3
of Article 34 and which are approved by the Joint Committee shall enter into force on the first day of
the second month following the receipt of the latter diplomatic note confirming that the internal legal
requirements of each Contracting Party for their entry into force have been fulfilled.
2. Annexes and  Protocols to this Agreement are an integral part of it.
3. The Joint Committee may decide to amend the Annexes and Protocols, taking into account the
procedure mentioned in paragraph 3 of Article 34.
Article 37
Validity And Denunciation
1. This Agreement is concluded for an unlimited period of time.
2. Each Contracting Party to this Agreement may denounce this Agreement by means of a
written notification to the other Contracting Party. The termination shall take effect on the first day of
the sixth month following the date on which the notification was received by the other Contracting
Party.
3. Both Contracting Parties agree that in the ev ent of a Contracting Party to this Agreement
becoming a member of the European Union, that Contracting Party will withdraw from thisAgreement at the latest the day before membership takes effect, and without any compensation to the
other Contracting Party.
Article 38
Entry Into Force
1. This Agreement is subject to ratification.
2. This Agreement shall enter into force on the fi rst day of the second month following the date
on which the Contracting Parties have notified each other through diplomatic channels that their
internal legal requirements for the entry into force of this Agreement have been fulfilled.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorized thereto, have
signed the present Agreement.
DONE  at Riga this 16th day of October, 2002, in duplicate copies in the Latvian, Bulgarian and
English languages, each of these texts being equally authentic. In case of divergences the English text
shall prevail.
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