RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/SPEC/MOL/7 
11 April 2000 
 (00-1454) 
Working Party on the  
Accession of Moldova Original:   English 
 
 
 
ACCESSION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA 
 
Summary of the Commitments of the Republic of Moldova  
 
 
 The Ministry of the Economy of the Repub lic of Moldova has submitted the following 
Summary of the Commitments of the Republic of Moldova contained in the draft Report of the 
Working Party on the Accession of Moldova (WT/ACC/SPEC/MOL/4/Rev.2; 20 October 1999) and 
the progress in implementing those Commitments as of 31 March 2000. 
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para.• Commitment Action And Time Frame Action to date Action remaining and timeframe 
1. 17 Some members of the Working Party requested 
information on the basic provisions regulating investment and any restrictions or registration measures affecting foreign investment. Law "On Foreign Investments" plus 
amendments and Government Decision  “On Improving the Mechanism of Regulating Foreign Trade” plus 
amendments were sent to the Working 
Party Members; Action completed 
2. 28 The Government of Moldova would provide annual 
reports on other issues rela ted to its economic reform 
as relevant to its obligations under the WTO. Reports on privatization were presented 
till year 1999. Report on privatization for 1999 to be 
elaborated and submitted Timeframe: by May 2000 
3. 31 The Government of Moldova would review the current 
legislation and would reduce the incidence of price controls in its economy A draft Law on prices is being prepared.  
Amendments to the Government Decision in force are being prepared focused on the reduction of the 
incidence of price controls. The draft 
Law will be presented to the Government for approval in April 2000. As stipulated in paragraph 30 of Working 
Party, the reduction of incidence of price control is part of future plans of Moldova. The draft Law referred to will be adopted 
later this year. 
4. 34 Request for information on the manner in which 
Moldova’s Law "On Monopoly Activities Limitation and the Development of Competition" dealt with vertical and horizontal rest raint arrangements, and the 
recourse foreign firms ha d if opportunities were 
impaired by such arrangements. The text of the Law and additional 
information were provided to the Working Party. Action completed 
5. 46 All fiscal, financial and budgetary activities performed 
by local governments would be in compliance with Article III of the GATT 1994 The laws in force or being prepared 
contain no provisions granting local governments autonomous authority over issues of subsidies, taxation, trade policy or any other measures covered by WTO All fiscal, financial and budgetary activities 
carried out by local authorities under the authority of the central government will be in compliance with Article III of GATT 1994. 
6. 49 Request for information on “activity licensing” 
requirements. The text of the Law “On licensing of 
certain types of activities” and additional 
information were provided to the 
Working Party. Action completed 
                                                      
• This column identifies the relevant  paragraph in WT/ACC/SPEC/MOL/4/Rev.2.  
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7. 52 The Budget Law (BL) 2000 brings all internal taxes 
and other internal charges, in particular those applied in relation to the licensing of the activity of storage or wholesale of imported alcoholic beverages, into conformity with WTO requirements. The Draft BL 2000 brings all internal 
taxes and other charges were brought into conformity with WTO requirements. The BL 2000 was submitted to the 
Parliament for adoption on 29 February 2000. Action will be completed when the BL 2000 is adopted 
8. 53 The representative of Moldova confirmed that after 
ratification of the Accession Protocol by the Moldovan 
Parliament, the Moldovan Go vernment would set the 
custom tariffs within the agreed ceiling levels. The Draft BL 2000 establishes applied 
customs duties within the agreed ceiling 
levels contained in Moldova’s schedule 
of tariff bindings The same has to be done every subsequent 
year. 
9. 58 Moldova committed that import duty exemptions 
would only be granted to th ird countries in accordance 
with WTO provisions. Moldova is presently in full compliance 
as regards import duty exemptions granted to third countries. None 
10. 61 Moldova agreed to bind at zero other duties and 
charges in its Schedule of Tariff Concessions. The Draft BL 2000 does not establish 
any duties or charges other than ordinary customs duties The BL 2000 was submitted to the 
Parliament for adoption on 29 February 2000.  
11. 62 
and  
63 Moldova would modify its customs system to remove 
the 0.25 per cent customs user fee and would introduce a flat fee reflecting the appr oximate cost of processing a 
customs declaration. The Draft BL 2000 establishes a flat 
customs user fee as was also presented in Table 8 of the Working Party Report The BL 2000 was submitted to the 
Parliament for adoption on 29 February 2000. Action will be completed when the BL 
2000 is adopted 
12. 64 Starting on 1 January 2000 Moldova would eliminate 
the import surcharge to ensure full application of the provisions of the WTO Agreement  The Draft BL 2000 eliminates the 
surcharge The BL 2000 was submitted to the 
Parliament for adoption on 29 February 2000. Action will be completed when the BL 2000 is adopted 
13. 65 After accession all duties and charges applied on 
imports other than ordinary customs duties and charges for services rendered would be in accordance with the WTO provisions. The representative of Moldova stated 
that from the date of accession Moldova would ensure 
that all charges applied to imports were applied in a 
manner consistent with the requirements of the Understanding on Balance-o f-Payments Provisions of 
the GATT 1994, as well as Article XII of the GATT 
1994. The Draft BL 2000 does not establish 
any duties or charges other than ordinary customs duties The BL 2000 was submitted to the 
Parliament for adoption on 29 February 2000.  
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14. 69 Moldova confirmed that VAT application would be 
brought into full WTO conformity. The exemption from VAT of products from crop farming and animal husbandry in unprocessed form and on a live-weight basis did not extend to imports of similar products. The 
final text of the Law on Budget 1999 provided the 
same exemption in Article 26 (e) but this practice would be discontinued with the new Budget Law starting from 1 January 2000. According to Article 26 of the Draft BL 
2000 products from crop farming and animal husbandry in unprocessed form and on a live-weight basis are no longer exempt from VAT. The BL 2000 was submitted to the 
Parliament for adoption on 29 February 2000. Action will be completed when the BL 2000 is adopted 
15. 70 
and  
74 Member countries asked the excise tax regime be 
brought into conformity with the WTO provisions as Moldova recognized that the previous excise tax 
regime treated some domestic and imported goods 
differently. Annex 5 of the Draft BL 2000 
establishes uniform excise taxes for domestic and imported products subject 
to excise tax. The BL 2000 was submitted to the Parliamen
t
for adoption on 29 February 2000. Action wil l
be completed when the BL 2000 is approved 
16. 76 Moldova confirmed that, from the date of accession, it 
would apply its domestic taxes, including those on products listed in paragr aphs 70-75 in strict 
compliance with Article III of the GATT 1994 and in a non-discriminatory manner to imports regardless of 
country of origin. BL 2000 changes the internal taxes 
regime in a manner to comply with the provisions of Article I and Article III of GATT 94 The BL 2000 was submitted to the Parliamen
t
for adoption on 29 February 2000. Action wil l
be completed when the BL 2000 is approved 
17. 80 The Republic of Moldova would not introduce or 
apply quantitative restricti ons on imports and other 
restrictions having equivalent  effect that could not be 
justified under the provisions of the WTO Agreements Moldova has not established any 
quantitative restrictions on imports and 
other restrictions having equivalent effect and has no plans to do so. None 
18. 85 Moldova confirmed that from the date of accession, it 
would not introduce, re-introduce or apply other non-tariff measures such as licensing, quotas, prohibitions, bans and other restrictions ha ving equivalent effect that 
could not be justified under the provisions of the WTO 
Agreements. If balance-of-payment measures were ever necessary in the future, Moldova would impose them in a manner consistent with the relevant WTO provisions, including Article XII of the GATT 1994 and the Understanding on Balance-of-Payments 
Provisions of the GATT 1994. Moldova has not introduced non-tariff 
measures such as licensing, quotas, prohibitions, bans or other restrictions on imports, nor has it reintroduced 
balance-of-payments measures and has 
no plans to do so. None  
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19. 87 
to 
93 Moldova confirmed that, from the date of accession, it 
would apply fully the WTO provisions concerning customs valuation, including in addition to the Agreement on the Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994, the provisions on the Treatment of 
Interest Charges in Customs Value of Imported Goods 
and for the Valuation of Carrier Media Bearing Software for Data Processing Equipment. In accordance with these latter provisions, only the cost of the carrier medium itself would be accounted for in the customs value. He added that, as an international 
agreement, the provisions of the WTO Agreement on 
the Implementation of Ar ticle VII of the GATT 1994 
would supersede domestic law. The amendments to the Customs Tariff 
Law and the new draft Customs Code bring Moldovan Customs legislation into conformity with WTO provisions. The draft Customs Code passed its first 
reading in the Parliament.  Amendments to the Law on Customs Tariff 
were scheduled to be approved by the Government on 29 March 2000 and then submitted to the Parliament. The draft Customs Code is expected to be passed by 
the Parliament in the near future.  
20. 96 
and 
97 Moldova would adopt legal provisions for rules of 
origin that comply fully with the requirements of the WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin. The representative of Moldova confirmed that from the 
date of accession Moldova’s preferential and non-
preferential rules of origin would comply fully with the WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin, and that the requirements of Article 2(h)  and Annex II, paragraph 
3(d) of the Agreement, which require provision upon 
request of an assessment of the origin of the import 
and outline the terms under which it will be provided, would be established in Moldova's legal framework prior to accession. The drafts amendments to the Customs 
Tariff Law bring Moldova’s rules of origin into conformity with WTO provisions. The amendments to the Law on Customs 
Tariff were scheduled to be approved by the Government on 29 March 2000 and than submitted to the Parliament. 
21. 99 In utilizing pre-shipment inspection service providers, 
Moldova would ensure that the requirements of the Agreement on Pre-shipment inspection were 
implemented in full. The Governmental Decision No. 747 
and the Draft Agreement between Moldova and PSI Company follow the 
PSI Agreement. The Government will exercise constant 
surveillance over the PSI company  
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22. 101 In the elaboration of any legislation concerning anti-
dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures Moldova would insure their full conformity with relevant WTO provisions. The draft Law “On anti-dumping, 
countervailing and safeguard measures” is fully compliant with the WTO provisions and has had its second reading by Parliament. Action will be completed when the Law will 
be approved by Parliament. 
23. 103 Moldova confirmed that it abolished the license fee of 
0.1 for export purposes being replaced by a flat fee, 
which represents the approximate cost of the services 
rendered. The Draft BL 2000 introduces a flat fee 
system on exports. The BL 2000 was submitted to the 
Parliament for adoption on 29 of February 
2000. Action will be completed when the BL 
2000 is adopted 
24. 108 Moldova stated that from the date of accession it 
would not maintain any subsidies, including export subsidies, which met a definition of a prohibited subsidy within the meani ng of Article 3 of the 
Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, 
and would not introduce such prohibited subsidies 
from the day of accession. Moldova has no subsidy measures 
prohibited by the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and will not introduce such measures None 
25. 113 Moldova stated that any subsidy programs provided by 
its Government after accession would be administered in conformity with the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and that all necessary information on noticeable programs would be notified 
to the Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing 
Measures according to Article 25 of the Agreement upon entry into force of Moldova's Protocol of Accession Moldova has not established subsidy 
measures covered by the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures None 
 114 
to 
123 TBT Implementation as described in Table 14 of the Working Party Report: 
26.  a. Draft Law on standardization Was approved by the Government for 
submission to the Parliament Is before Parliament and will be adopted by 
end April 2000 
27.  b. Draft Law on certification Was passed by Parliament and published 
in “Monitorul Oficial” on 3 February 
2000. Action completed 
28.  c. Draft Law on TBT Was approved by the Government for 
submission to the Parliament Is before Parliament and will be adopted by 
end April 2000  
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29.  d. Draft Law on protection of consumer rights The Law passed the normal procedure of 
elaboration and has been sent to the Government to be approved for submission to the Parliament It will be approved by the Parliament by end 
May 2000 
30.  e. Setting up the inquiry point People are being trained to operate 
within the inquiry point. Moldova has contracted technical assistance from 
donor community to provide equipment 
in this respect. It is expected that the inquiry point will be 
fully operational within the period of March – July 2000 
31.  f. Implementation of the Code of Good Practice The Department of Standards has 
elaborated a Checklist for the implementation the Code of Good Practice in the national legislation. Some of the items of the checklist already are 
accomplished. A translated copy of the 
Checklist will be submitted shortly. January 2001 
32.  g. Implementation of the Plan on development of 
voluntary standards Technical assistance has been secured to 
help identify areas requiring technical regulations and in the drafting of technical regulations, schedule is presently being elaborated. On the base of foreign experts report a 
strategy for elaboration of technical requirements and conve rsion of mandatory 
standards into voluntary standards is being elaborated.  
Timeframe: years 2000 - 2002 
 124 
to 
133 SPS implementation as described in Table 16 of the Working Party: 
33.  a. Amendments to Governmental Decision No. 967 
establishing the Statute of the State Phytosanitary Quarantine Service The draft Governmental Decision is 
before the Government for approval It is expected that the document will be 
approved by the middle of April 2000 
34.  b. Amendments to Governmental Decision No. 816 
“On sanitary – epidemiological state supervision rules” The draft Governmental Decision is 
before the Government for approval It is expected that the document will be 
approved by the end of April 2000 
35.  c. Amendments to Governmental Decision No. 378 
establishing the Statute of the State Veterinary Service The draft Governmental Decision is 
being elaborated jointly by the Ministry of Economy and Reforms and Veterinary Service  It has to be circulated for comments to public 
institutions and sent to the Government for approval. It is expected it will be approved by end of April 2000.  
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36.  d. Ratification of the Plant Protection Convention The Parliament Decision was elaborated 
by the Phytosanitary Quarantine Service and circulated to other interested parties for comments and sent to the Parliament for ratification It is expected that the Convention will be 
ratified before December 2000. 
37. 134 The Government of Moldova would ensure that any 
trade related investment m easures introduced in the 
future would be fully in conformity with the 
requirements of the WTO Agreement on TRIMs. Moldova submitted the Law “On foreign 
investments”, including amendments, to 
Members of the Working Party. None 
38. 139 Moldova stated that if it were  to introduce state trading 
as defined by the Understanding on Interpretation of Article XVII of the GATT 1994, it would ensure that all relevant regulations were  in conformity with the 
requirements of Article XVII of the GATT 1994 and 
the Understanding on Interpretation of Article XVII of 
the GATT 1994, including those provisions requiring the application of "commerc ial considerations" in the 
sale and purchase of state traded commodities. He confirmed that Moldova would observe the provisions of Article XVII of the GATT 1994, the WTO 
Understanding on that Article , and Article VIII of the 
GATS regarding State trading. Moldova has not introduced state trading 
as defined by the understanding on Article XVII, and has no plans to do so. None 
39. 143 Moldova confirmed that in the administration of the 
free zones established within its territory, the free zones would be fully subject to the coverage of Moldova's commitments taken in its Protocol of Accession to the WTO Agreement, and that Moldova 
would ensure enforcement of its WTO obligations in 
those free zones.  In addition, goods produced in the free zones under tax and tariff provisions that exempted imports and imported inputs from tariffs and certain taxes would be subject to normal customs 
formalities when entering the rest of Moldova,  
including the application of tariffs and taxes. According to the Law No. 1415 of 
25 May 1993, goods imported from FEZ to the rest of the territory, or exported from the rest of the territory to FEZ are subject to normal customs formalities, 
including the application of tariff and 
taxes. None  
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40. 148 Moldova confirmed that it would become an observer 
to the Agreement on Government Procurement upon accession and would begin negotiations for membership in the Agreement. None The Government will initiate negotiations for 
membership immediately after acceding to WTO 
41. 151 Moldova stated that its Governments would consider 
the issue of joining the Plurilateral Trade Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft upon accession. None The Government will initiate negotiations for 
membership immediately after acceding to WTO 
 161 The representative of Moldova said that Moldova was 
prepared to implement the TRIPS Agreement from the 
date of accession. A detail ed program of specific 
legislation required to be im plemented would be shortly 
presented to the Government for approval. A list of specific le gislation required was 
presented to the Government. The list is 
spelled out in a) to g), below See a) to g), below 
42.  a. Draft Law “On modificati on of various laws in the 
field of industrial protection”. The Draft Law was approved by the 
Government and submitted to the Parliament in March 2000. It is expected to be approved by the 
Parliament by end – April 2000.  
43.  b. Draft Law on Protection of Topographies of 
Integrated Circuits. The Law was passed by the Parliament 
and is in force since 6 January 2000 Action completed 
44.  c. Draft Law “On modification and completion of the 
Law on Copyrights and neighboring rights”.  The Draft Law is being reviewed by the 
Government. It was approved by the Government and 
submitted to the Parliament. Adoption is 
expected by end – April. 
45.  d. Draft Parliament Decision “On accession of the 
Republic of Moldova to the Convention on protection 
of phonograms producers against illicit reproduction of their phonograms”. (Geneva, 29 October 1971) The Convention was ratified by the 
Parliament on 10 of February 2000 
through Parliament Decision No. 1452. Action completed 
46.  e. Draft Governmental Decision “On authors’ 
remuneration for use of their copyrights”.  The draft Governmental Decision has 
been submitted to the Government. Is scheduled to be approved by the Government 
by end of April 2000 Action will be completed after the document is approved and published in 
“Monitorul Oficial 
47.  f. Draft Governmental Decision “On approval of the 
Rules of the State Agency  for Copyrights of the 
Republic of Moldova”.  The draft Governmental Decision has 
been submitted to the Government. Is scheduled to be approved by the Government 
by the end of April 2000 Action will be 
completed after the document is approved and 
published in “Monitorul Oficial  
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48.  g. Draft Governmental Decision “On state registration 
of works protected by copyrights and neighboring rights”. The draft Governmental Decision has 
been submitted to the Government. Is scheduled to be approved by the Government 
by the end of April 2000 Action will be completed after the document is approved and 
published in “Monitorul Oficial" 
49. 215 The representative of Moldova stated that Moldova 
would comply with all the provisions of the Agreement 
on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights from the date of accession to the WTO without recourse to any transitional period. The Working Party 
took note of this commitment. Presently Moldova is bringing TRIPS 
related legal framework into full conformity with WTO provisions The action will be completed within the 
timeframes indicated above. 
50. 226 The representative of Moldova said that Moldova 
would observe all WTO provisions, including those of 
Article XXIV of the GATT 1994 and Article V of the GATS in the trade agreements, and would ensure that the provisions of these WTO Agreements for notification, consultatio n and other requirements 
concerning free trade areas and customs unions of 
which Moldova was a member were met from the date of accession. He confirmed that Moldova would, within 6 months after accession, submit  notifications and copies of its Free Trade Area and Customs Union Agreements to the Committee on Regional Trade 
Agreements (CRTA). He further confirmed that these 
Agreements would be consistent with the provisions of the WTO and would, in any case, be notified to the CRTA during its examination of the same. The Working Party took note of this commitment The Government is preparing the 
information on FTAs in the standard 
format of WTO. Moldova will address properly all 
commitments included in this paragraph   
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51. 230 The representative of Moldova stated that a schedule 
on notifications required by  Agreements constituting 
part of the WTO Agreement had been submitted in document WT/ACC/SPEC/MOL/6 with information about deadlines of all notifications required upon 
accession and immediately after accession. Any 
regulations subsequently enacted by Moldova which gave effect to the laws enacted to implement any Agreement constituting part of the WTO Agreement would also conform to the requirements of that Agreement. The Working Party took note of this 
commitment Moldova is preparing to meet the 
notification requirements contained in the document WT/ACC/SPEC/MOL/6. Regulations to give effect  to laws enacted to implement WTO obligations 
are being drafted and will be fully 
consistent with those obligations.  Regulations to give effect  to laws enacted to 
implement WTO obligations are being drafted and will be fully consistent with those obligations. 
  
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