WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/REG82/1
1 October 1999
(99-4093)
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:  English
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA, BELARUS,
GEORGIA, MOLDOVA, KAZAKHSTAN, THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION, UKRAINE,
UZBEKISTAN, TAJIKISTAN AND THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC
The following text reproduces the Free Trade Agreement between Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and
the Kyrgyz Republic and the Protocol on Amendments and Supplements to the Agreement on the
Creation of a Free-Trade Area of 15 April 1994
_______________
AGREEMENT ON THE CREATION OF A FREE-TRADE AREA
The Member States  of this Agreement, hereinafter referred to as the Contracting Parties,
Confirming  their adherence to free development of a mutual economic cooperation,
Introducing in practice  the principles of market economy,
Acting towards  the successive implementation of provisions of the Agreement on the Creation
of Economic Union, as of 24 September 1993, the city of Moscow,
Forming  the conditions for a free transference of goods and services,
Providing  mutual trade balance and stabilization of domestic economic condition of the
participating states,
Promoting  the growth of economic potential of the Member States on the basis of the
development of mutually beneficial cooperation relations and cooperation,
Being guided by  aspiration to the regular increase of living standard of the population of their
states,
Proceeding from  a stage-by-stage creation of the Economic Union,
Entering  into the Agreement on the Creation of a Free-trade area, further referred to as the
Agreement,
Hereby agreed as follows:WT/REG82/1
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Article 1
General
1. For the achievement of the objectives of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties shall provide
cooperation in solving concrete tasks of the first stage of the creation of the Economic Union, directed
at:
- a gradual cancellation of customs duties, taxes and levies which have equivalent
effect and quantitative restrictions in mutual trade;
- elimination of other barriers to a free transfer of goods and services;- creation and development of an effective system of mutual settlements and payments
on trade and other transactions;
- coordination of trade policy with respect to the countries which are not signatories to
this Agreement;
- coordination of economic policy to that extent to which this is necessary to achieve
the objectives of the Agreement (in the area of industry, agriculture, transport,
finance, investment, social sphere, development of fair competition, and etc.);
- promotion of cooperation of different branches, intra-branch and scientific technical
cooperation:
- harmonization and/or unification of legislation of the Contracting Parties to that
extent to which this is necessary for the proper and efficient functioning of a
free-trade area.
2. Territory of the Agreement shall cover customs territories of the Contracting Parties.3. If the meaning of terms is not specifically defined in the Agreement or by any other
arrangement of the Contracting Parties, then in th eir interpretation the Contracting Parties will follow
the provisions of the Vienna Convention on the Right of International Agreements of 1969.
Disagreements in connection with the interpretation of the Agreement or of its individual
terms will be settled by the procedure accepted for the regulation of disputes in connection with this
Agreement.
4. The Contracting Parties will refrain from actions that contradict the provisions of this
Agreement and prevent from achieving its objectives.  This provision concerns, in particular, terms
and conditions of participation of the Contracting Parties in other regional economic groups, as well
as other issues connected with the regulation of relations within the framework of the Agreement.
Article 2
Regime with respect to non-member states
The Contracting Parties shall reserve the right to a self-dependent and independent
determination of a regime of foreign economic relations with the States which are not signatories to
this Agreement.WT/REG82/1
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Article 3
Customs duties, taxes and levies which have equivalent effect and quantitative restrictions
1. The Contracting Parties shall not apply customs duties, taxes and levies which have
equivalent effect and quantitative restrictions to importation and/or exportation of goods originating in
customs territory of one of the Contracting Parties and intended for customs territory of other
Contracting Parties.  Exceptions to this trade regime shall be formulated in the form of documents
which are integral part of this Agreement.
2. In compliance with paragraph 1 of this Article the Contracting Parties will develop and
coordinate within six months from the date of entry into force of this Agreement a general Scheduleof exceptions to free trade regime and methods of application and of a stage-by-stage cancellation of
such exceptions for a transitional period before the creation of a free-trade area.
3. Before the general Schedule of exceptions is agreed, current bilateral agreements on free trade
and protocols on exceptions to this regime will be applied in relations between the Contracting
Parties, unless otherwise provided by bilateral agreements.
4. The country of origin of a commodity shall be  determined in compliance with the Rules of
Determining a Country of Origin of Goods which ar e integral part of this Agreement (Annex I).
Article 4
Technical and other special requirements (restrictions)
1. For purposes of eliminating technical barriers and other restrictions of similar nature in
mutual trade, the Contracting Parties will seek the harmonization of technical and other special
requirements and the agreement of their policy in this area.
2. The Contracting Parties will instruct their competent bodies to develop relevant proposals for
the implementation of the provisions of the first paragraph hereof on a multilateral or bilateral basis.
Article 5
Goods importation and exportation related levies and formalities
1. All levies and payments (except customs duties, taxes, and levies equivalent to them)
established in mutual trade by the Contracting Parties in connection with importation or exportation ofgoods should not exceed within reasonable limits immediate actual costs.
2. The Contracting Parties will inform of the kinds of levies and payments and will seek an
agreed reduction of their number and rates.
3. The Contracting Parties shall seek simplification and unification of administrative formalities.
4. The provisions of this Article shall apply in pa rticular to levies and formalities relating to:
quantitative restrictions; licensing; currency control; statistical accounting; documents,
documentation, and certification of documents; analyses and inspection; quarantine, sanitary service,fumigation, and other.WT/REG82/1
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Article 6
Unification and/or harmonization of customs procedures
1. The Contracting Parties will take measures for a maximum simplification and unification of
customs formalities, in particular, by introducing single forms of customs and goods accompanying
documentation, being guided by current international agreements and arrangements.
2. The Contracting Parties will instruct their competent bodies to develop proposals concerning
the harmonization of customs procedures and a mutual admission of customs documents and customs
sealing or fixing identification marks.
Article 7
Goods nomenclature
1. In implementing measures of tariff and non-tariff regulation, maintaining statistical
accounting and exchanging statistical information, as well as for customs control and clearance, the
Contracting Parties will apply Goods Nomenclatures of foreign economic activity based on the
Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding Syst em.  And for their own needs the Contracting
Parties shall, if necessary, carry out further development of national goods nomenclatures.
2. The Russian Federation shall carry out the maintenance of a standard copy of the Harmonized
Commodity Description and Coding System through the existing representative offices in relevant
international organizations, until other Contracting Parties declare their independent maintenance of
the standard copy.
Article 8
Domestic taxes and other fiscal levies
1. The Contracting Parties will not directly or indirectly impose taxes and fiscal levies on goods
originating in customs territory of other Contracting Parties in the amount exceeding their level for
national goods.
2. The Contracting Parties will present full information on all current taxes and other fiscal
levies.
Article 9
Subsidies
The Contracting Parties have agreed not to provide export and other subsidies to the
enterprises located on their territories if as a result of providing such subsidies terms and conditions offair competition are violated.WT/REG82/1
Page 5
Article 10
Transit
1. The Contracting Parties agree that the observance of the principle of free transit is the most
important condition for achieving the objectives of this Agreement and an essential element of the
process of attaching them to the system of international division of labour and cooperation.
2. Transit transportation should not be subject to groundless delays or restrictions.3. Conditions for transit including tariffs on transportation by any kind of transport and
rendering services should not be worse than the conditions provided by the Contracting Parties fortheir own consignors and consignees and for their goods, as well as for carriers and vehicles for this
Contracting Party, or provided to consignors, consignees, their goods, carriers and vehicles of any
other foreign State, unless otherwise provided by bilateral agreements.
Article 11
Re-exportation
1. No Contracting Party will permit a non-sanctioned re-exportation of goods for export of
which other Contracting Parties, on the territory of  which these goods originate, shall apply measures
of tariff and/or non-tariff regulation.
2. The Contracting Parties will not prevent business entities from including into contracts
provisions affecting re-exportation of goods.
3. The issues concerning re-exportation of goods shall be regulated in compliance with the
Agreement on Re-exportation of Goods and Procedure of Granting a Permit for Re-exportation
(Annex II) which is integral part of this Agreement.
Article 12
Production cooperation and scientific technical cooperation
The Contracting Parties will further the development of production cooperation and scientific
technical cooperation on the interstate (inter-branch, regional) level and on the level of business
entities, as well as by providing different forms of state support.
Article 13
Exceptions
General Exceptions
1. This Agreement shall not hamper the right of any of the Contracting Parties to accept
measures of state regulation in the area of foreign economic relations generally accepted in
international practice, that it considers necessary for the protection of its vital interests or which are
undoubtedly necessary for the implementation of international agreements of which it is a signatory oris intended to become a signatory, if these measures concern:
- protection of public moral and order;
- protection of life and health of people;WT/REG82/1
Page 6
- protection of animals and plants;
- protection of environment;
- protection of artistic, archeological and historical values which are national
treasure/property;
- protection of industrial and intellectual property;- trade in gold, silver or other precious metals and stones;
- preservation of exhaustible natural resources;
- limitations of products export if domestic prices for them are lower than the world
prices as a result of implementation of State support programmes;
- violation of balance-of-payments.
Exceptions for the reasons of safety
2. Nothing in this Agreement shall hamper the right of any of the Contracting Parties to accept
any measures of state regulation that it considers necessary, if these measures concern:
- ensuring national security, including the prevention of leakage of confidential
information that relates to a State's secret;
- trade in weapons, military equipment and ammunitions and rendering military
services, transfer of technologies and rendering services for the production of arms
and military equipment, and for other military purposes;
- delivery of fissionable materials and sources of radio-active substances, utilisation of
radio-active wastes;
- measures applied in military time or under other extraordinary circumstances in
international relations;
- actions for the fulfilment of obligations on the basis of the UN's Charter to preserve
the international peace and safety.
Article 14
The procedure of introducing measures of state regulation
1. The Contracting Party shall in advance notify  other Contracting Parties about the reasons,
nature and expected terms of introduction and validity of measures of state regulation.
2. The Contracting Parties shall conduct preliminary consultations and shall work out
recommendations.  In the event that it is impossible to make an agreed decision within a 6-monthly
period, the Contracting Party mentioned in paragraph 1 hereof shall have the right to introduce
measures of state regulation as it thinks best.
3. In specific cases which brook no delay, the Contracting Party shall have the right to introduce
measures of state regulation in the area of foreign economic activity, notifying at the same time and
subsequently and immediately conducting consultations with other Contracting Parties.
Article 15
Cooperation in the area of export control
The Contracting Parties shall cooperate and carry out agreed actions in the issues of export
control.WT/REG82/1
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Article 16
Coverage of the agreement with respect to goods
Free-Trade Area regime shall apply to goods originating in customs territory of the
Contracting Parties and intended for customs territory of the Contracting Parties.
Article 17
Services
1. The Contracting Parties will, on the basis of mutuality, seek a gradual cancellation of
restrictions with a view to create conditions for free rendering services within the territory of the
Agreement.
2. The Contracting Parties will determine types of services which are subject to this Article and
will single out priority types of services in the area of immediate service of trade turnover with respectto which the issues of liberalization of importation and exportation are to be immediately solved.
3. The Contracting Parties shall reserve the right to coordinate issues connected with rendering
services both on a multilateral and bilateral basis.
Article 18
Exchange of information on legal regulation of foreign economic relations
The Contracting Parties shall, in accordance with agreed procedure, provide each other with
information on domestic legal regulation of foreign economic relations.
Article 19
Procedure of dispute settlement
1. Any disputes and disagreements between the Contracting Parties concerning the interpretation
and/or application of provisions of this Agreement, as well as other disputes affecting rights and
obligations of the Contracting Parties under this Agreement or in connection with it, shall be settled in
the following way:
- the interested Contracting Parties conduct immediate consultations between each
other or by mutual consent with the participation of representatives of other
Contracting Parties;
- within the framework of a special conciliatory procedure (by creating working parties
to study materials of dispute and work out recommendations);
- in the Economic Court of the CIS;- within the framework of other procedures provided by international law.
2. Transition to the subsequent procedure is possible by mutual consent of the Contracting
Parties between which disputable questions or disagreements arose, or by the order of one of them if
agreement is not reached within six months from the day of the beginning of the procedure.WT/REG82/1
Page 8
Article 20
Correlation of this agreement with other obligations and rights of the contracting parties
1. Nothing in this Agreement can be consider ed as something that prevents any of the
Contracting Parties from fulfilling the taken obligat ions in compliance with any other international
agreement of which this Contracting Party is a signatory or may be a signatory, provided these
obligations do not contradict the provisions and objectives of this Agreement.
2. The provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the rights and advantages provided within
the framework of a regional cooperation, frontier and coastal trade, preferences, free economic and
customs areas regulated by domestic legislation or on the basis of international agreements.
3. The Contracting Party that intends to conclude preferential trade and integration agreements
with Non-Member States of this Agreement shall in advance notify other Contracting Parties about
this and shall inform them of expected conditions of its participation in the mentioned agreements.
4. For the purpose of this paragraph, the Contracting Parties shall be the Contracting Parties who
signed this Agreement and the States that joined it.
Article 21
Transition to a customs union
A free-trade area shall be considered a transitional stage to the formation of a customs union.
A customs union can be created by the States which will express their desire to continue
cooperation within its framework and will fulfill the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Article 22
Amendments and supplements
1. This Agreement may be supplemented and amended by mutual consent of the Contracting
Parties.
2. Reservations to this Agreement shall not be permitted.
Article 23
Entry into force
1. This Agreement is temporarily applied on the day it is signed and shall come into force on the
date of giving a depositary a third notification on the fulfilment by the signatory Contracting Partiesof all necessary interstate procedures.
2. The Republic of Belarus is the depositary of this Agreement.3. Upon the expiration of one year from the date of signing of this Agreement, the Contracting
Parties for which the Agreement has come into force may take a decision regarding the participation
in the Agreement of the Contracting parties for which the Agreement is temporarily applied.WT/REG82/1
Page 9
Article 24
Joining
1. This Agreement shall be open for any Member State of the Community of Independent States
for joining that recognizes the provisions of th e Agreement effective on the moment of joining and
expresses its readiness to fulfill them in full volume.
2. The joining shall be carried out on terms and according to procedure established in a separate
agreement with a joining state that is preliminarily ag reed and is to be approved by all the Contracting
Parties in compliance with their interstate procedures.
Article 25
Termination of participation in the agreement
1. Any Contracting Party may terminate its participation in the Agreement by sending,
six months before leaving, an official written notification to other Contracting Parties concerning its
intention to leave the Agreement.
2. In the event that any of the Contracting Parties violates the provisions of this Agreement that
causes a serious damage for the achievement of its objectives, other Contracting Parties shall have theright to make a decision on the suspension of validity of the Agreement or of its individual provisions
with respect to this Contracting Party or to make a decision on its individual provisions with respect to
this Contracting Party or to make a decision on its exclusion from the number of the Agreement
Members.
3. For purposes of settling possible disputes and claims, as well as those of material nature, the
provisions of this Agreement continue to be effective with respect to the Contracting Party that
terminated its participation up to the full regulation of all the requirements.
Done in the city of Moscow on 15 April 1994, in one original copy, in the Russian language.
The original copy is with the Archive of the Government of the Republic of Belarus that will send the
Contracting Parties, signatories of this Agreement, its certified copy.WT/REG82/1
Page 10
ANNEX I
Decision on Rules of Determining a Country of Origin of Goods
(in the wording of the Decision as of 15 April 1994 and the Decision as of 18 October 1996)
The Council of the Heads of the Governments of the Community of Independent States (CIS)
with a view to develop foreign economic activity of Member States of the CIS decided:
- to approve the Rules of Determining a Country of Origin of Goods (attached).Done in the city of Moscow on 24 September 1993, in one original in the Russian language.
The original is kept with the Archive of the Govern ment of the Republic of Belarus that will send its
certified copy to the Sates which signed this Decision.
(Signatures)
ATTACHMENT
Approved by the Decision of the Council of the Heads of the Governments of the
Community of Independent States on Rules of Determining a
Country of Origin of Goods, as of 24 September 1993
Rules of determining a country of origin of goods
1. These Rules are effective with respect to goods originating in the CIS States and circulating in
the trade between these States.
For the purposes of these Rules:(a) the term "CIS States" shall mean States of the Community of Independent States that
signed the Agreement on Cooperation in the Area of Foreign Economic Activity(15 May 1992, Tashkent);
(b) the term "country of origin of goods" shall mean a CIS State where a product was
fully produced or subject to sufficient processing.  For using the criterion of sufficient
processing, a cumulative principle of origin can be used, i.e. in sufficient processingof a product in the CIS States, these States shall, for purposes of determining origin,
be considered as one whole;
(c) the term "criterion of sufficient processing" shall mean a criterion according to which
a product, in the production of which two or more countries participate, is consideredoriginating in the country in which it was subject to the last considerable processing
that is enough to give the product its characteristics;
(d) the term "customs control" shall mean the whole complex of measures carried out by
national customs bodies with a view to provide the observance of the nationalcustoms business legislation, as well as national legislation and international
agreements the implementation of which is controlled by the customs bodies;WT/REG82/1
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(e) the term "goods" shall mean any movable property, as well as thermal, electric and
other kinds of power transferred through customs border;
(f) the term "goods nomenclature" shall mean Goods Nomenclature of Foreign
Economic Activity (GN FEA) applied in th e CIS Member States on the basis of the
Harmonized Commodity Description and C oding System and the Combined Tariff
Statistical Nomenclature of the EC.
The procedure of determining a country of origin of goods imported to customs territory of
the CIS Member States from third countries and exported from these States shall be regulated by
national legislation of the CIS Member States.
2. A country of origin of a product is considered a State where the product was fully produced or
subject to sufficient processing.
3. The following goods shall be considered fully produced in this country:
(a) natural resources mined on its territory or in its territorial waters, on its continental
shelf and in sea insides if the country has exclusive rights to the development of these
insides;
(b) vegetable products grown and gathered on its territory;
(c) alive animals born and raised in it;(d) products got in this country, of animals raised in it;
(e) products of hunting, fishery and sea business produced in it;
(f) products of sea business mined and/or produced in the World Ocean by vessels of this
country or vessels that it rents (freights);
(g) secondary raw material and wastes which are the result of performed and other
operations being carried out in this country;
(h) products of high technologies got in open space on space vessels which belong to this
country or this country rents them;
(i) goods produced in this country using exclusively the products mentioned in
sub-paragraphs "a"-"h" of paragraph 2.
4. Where two or more countries participate in the production of a product, its origin shall be
determined in compliance with the criterion of "sufficient processing".
5. The criterion of "sufficient processing" may be manifested by:
(a) Rule that requires changes of tariff lines of the relevant goods nomenclature with a
list of exceptions;
1
(b) Schedule of production or technological processes sufficient or insufficient for the
product to be considered originating in that country where these processes took place;
(c) Rule of " ad valorem  portion" when an interest part of value of the materials used or
added value reaches a fixed limit of ex-mill price of the delivered product;
                                                     
1List of exceptions can contain:
(a) the schedule of production or technological operations which, though cause a change of tariff
line, are not considered a sign of sufficient pr ocessing or are considered such only if certain
conditions are followed;
(b) the schedule of production or technological operations which, though do not cause a change in
tariff line, are considered a sign of sufficie nt processing if certain conditions are followed.WT/REG82/1
Page 12
The conditions mentioned in sub-paragraphs "a" and "b" may relate to both operations
performed with a product and to the rule of " ad valorem  portion".
6. In the event that for specific goods or a specific country (countries) the criteria of origin of
goods are not specially specified, a general rule shall be applied, in compliance with which a productis considered to be subject to sufficient processing if its heading (the classification code of the
product) according to the Goods Nomenclature on the level of any of the first four digits changed.
The following is not considered to meet the criterion of "sufficient processing":(a) operations on providing safety of goods during storage or transportation;
(b) operations on preparing goods for sale and transportation (dividing a shipment,
forming shipments, sorting, re-packing);
(c) simple assembling operations;
(d) mixing goods (components) without giving to the obtained product characteristics
essentially different from its initial constituents;
(e) combination of two or the greater number of the afore-mentioned operations;(f) slaughter of cattle.
7. Where the criterion of "sufficient processing" is manifested through the ad valorem  portion,
cost indexes are calculated:
(a) for imported materials – on the basis of customs value, i.e. a value subject to customs
taxation during importation (on the basis of CIF) or, in the event that origin is
unknown – on the basis of fixed price of the first sale on the territory of the country
where production is carried out;
(b) for final products – on the basis of ex-mill price or the seller's export price.
8. Articles disassembled or unassembled and delivered in several lots, when due to production
or transport conditions their shipment in one lot is impossible,
2 must be considered in accordance with
importer's desire as a single article for determining origin.3
9. For purposes of determining origin of goods, origin of thermal and electric power, machinery,equipment and tools used for their production shall not be taken into account.
10. A product is considered originating in customs territory of a Member State of the Agreement
on the Creation of a Free Trade Zone, as of 15 April 1994, if it corresponds to the criteria of origin
established by these Rules and is exported by a resident of a Member State of this Agreement andimported by a resident of one of the Member States of this Agreement from customs territory of
another Member State of this Agreement.  A resident shall mean an organization created on the
territory of this State, or a natural person who permanently lives on the territory of this State.
                                                     
2This rule shall also be applied in those cases where a shipment is divided to several shipments by
mistake or by virtue of incorrect addressing.
3The conditions for applying this rule shall be:
- a preliminary notification of Customs for Importation about the dividing of a disassembled or
unassembled product to several shipments, indicating the reasons for such dividing and adetailed specification of each shipment in addition to the GN FEA, cost and country of originof goods which are part of each shipment;
- delivery of all lots from one country, by one exporter;- importation of all lots through one Customs;
- delivery of all lots of goods within the term not exceeding six months from the date of the first
shipment.WT/REG82/1
Page 13
11. To prove origin of a product in customs territory of a Member State of the Agreement on the
Creation of a Free Trade Zone, it is necessary to submit to the customs bodies of the State of
Importation a declaration-certificate of origin of the product (the form ST-1 is attached) granted by
the authorized body of the country of origin – a Member of the Agreement on the Creation of a
Free-Trade Zone.
12. In the exportation of goods from member States of the CIS a certificate of origin shall be
granted by the body of the country of origin of the product which is authorized in compliance with
national legislation.
The CIS Member States shall exchange specimens of seals/stamps of the bodies and
signatures of persons authorized to certify certificates.  If the mentioned specimens are not provided,certificates shall be considered invalid, and the preferences provided by agreements on trade regime
shall not apply to goods.
13. The certificate should contain the following necessary information concerning the product for
which it is granted:
(a) name and address of the exporter;
(b) name and address of the importer;
(c) vehicles and route (as far as it is known);
(d) number of places and type of packing, description of the product that contains all
information necessary for the identification of the product;
(e) gross weight and net.
4
14. Certificate of origin should simply testify that this product originates in the relevant country,
i.e. it should contain:
(a) a written declaration of the exporter that shows that the product meets the relevant
criterion of origin;
(b) a written certificate of the competent body that has granted a certificate that says
information in the certificate provided by the exporter corresponds to reality.
15. Certificate of origin shall be submitted to the customs bodies in the typed form, with no
corrections and in Russian.
16. Certificate of origin shall be submitted together with cargo customs declaration and other
documents necessary during customs clearance.
17. In the event of losing the certificate of origin, its officially certified duplicate (copy) shall be
accepted.
18. To prove the origin of small shipments of goods (cost of which is up to US$5,000), the
exporter may declare the country of origin of the goods on invoice or other accompanying documentsattached to the goods.
19. In the event of doubts concerning the irreproachability of the certificate of origin or
information in it, the customs bodies may refer to the authorized organizations that certified the
                                                     
4The indexes may be replaced by other ones, such as a number of units or volume when weight of the
product considerably changes during tr ansportation or these units are applied in a unified manner to this kind of
the product.WT/REG82/1
Page 14
certificate or to other competent bodies of the country, specified as the country of origin of goods,
with a motivated request to inform them of further or specifying information.
20. A product shall not be considered originating in this country until due confirmation of origin
or the requested information are provided.
21. As a general rule, non-submission of a duly prepared certificate of origin shall not be the
ground for not passing through the shipment.
Customs may refuse to pass through only if there are sufficient grounds to suppose that the
cargo originates in the country whose goods are not to be passed through to the country of importation
in compliance with international agreements effective for this State and/or its national legislation.
Taking into account the provisions of the second paragraph of this item, goods whose origin
is not determined for sure shall be passed through to the country of importation, paying customs
duties at maximum customs tariff rates of the country of importation.
22. The most-favoured-nation treatment or the preferential regime may be applied (restored) to
the goods mentioned in the third paragraph of item 20, provided that a proper certificate on their
origin is received no later than in a year after delivery (release) of the product.WT/REG82/1
Page 15
ANNEX II
Agreement on Re-export of Goods and Procedur e of Granting Permissions for Re-export
The Governments of signatory States to this Agreement, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,
Proceeding  from the provisions of the Agreement on Cooperation in the Area of Foreign
Economic Activity, of 15 May 1992, and of the Ag reement on the Creation of Economic Union, of
24 September 1993.
Aspiring  to assist each other in providing and protecting their mutual interests in the area of
foreign economic activity,
Hereby agreed as follows:
Article 1
The subject of this Agreement is re-export of goods.  With respect to export of these goods
planned for re-export, the Parties of the customs territory from which these goods originate shall
apply measures of tariff and/or non-tariff regulation or shall grant foreign economic privileges during
their export from customs territory.
Re-export of the goods specified in Part I of this Article may be carried out only if there is a
properly prepared written permission issued by an authorized agency of the country of origin of the
goods.
The Parties shall exchange schedules of goods, whose re-export may be carried out only if
there is such a properly prepared written permission.
This Agreement shall not apply to re-export of specific goods (arms, drugs, medicine,
precious metals and stones, and etc.), re-export of which is carried out in accordance with a specific
procedure.
Re-export of other goods shall be carried out in accordance with rules generally accepted in
international trade.
Article 2
For the purposes of this Agreement, re-export  shall mean the export of goods which originate
from within the customs territory of one of the Par ties, into the customs territory of a second Party
with the view to further export the goods to a customs territory of a country not a Party to this
Agreement.
A sanctioned re-export shall mean the re-export of goods carried out having a properly
prepared written permission available, issued by the authorized agency of the country of origin of the
goods.
A non-sanctioned re-export shall mean the re-export of goods declared by the Parties in the
schedules, that is carried out without having a properly prepared permission issued by the authorized
agency of the country of origin of the goods.WT/REG82/1
Page 16
Country of Origin of Goods shall be defined in accordance with the Rules of Country of
Origin of Goods approved by the Decision/Resolution of the Government Heads' Council of the
Community of Independent States, of 24 September 1993,
Article 3
The Parties shall not permit a non-sanctioned re-export.
Article 4
The Parties have agreed:
When granting permissions for re-exporting goods, the authorized agency of the country of
origin of goods shall be guided by national legislation, agreements on trade economic cooperation and
trade regime with a re-exporting Sate, and norms of international law;
To obtain a permission for re-exporting goods, interested business entities shall refer to the
authorized agency of the country of origin of goods with a motivated application for re-export, to
which a copy of the Contract on Acquiring Goods and substantial terms and conditions of the
re-export transaction (a country of destination, quantity, prices and quality of goods to be re-exported,
basis of delivery, time of delivery, a code of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding
System) are attached;
The authorized agency of the country of origin of goods shall, within ten days from the date
on which the application has been received, consider the request and inform the interested entities and
the authorized agency of the re-exporting State of the decision made, and if the decision is
positive - of terms and conditions of re-export.
As one of the terms and conditions, the country of origin of goods can require from a
re-exporting business entity to take a commitment on reimbursing a part, but not more than a half, of
difference between the transaction value of the re-export of goods and the transaction value of the
export of goods from the country of origin, by transferring this difference in currency of the Goods
Re-export Transaction to the account specified by the authorized agency of the country of origin of
the goods.
In the event that the interested business ent ity agrees with the terms and conditions of
re-export, the authorized agency of the country of  origin of goods shall, within a two-week period,
grant a properly prepared written permission for the re-export of the goods.
The authorized agency of the country of origin of goods shall have the right, if a positive
decision is made, to refer to the authorized agency of the re-exporting State requesting to control the
fulfilment of the re-export contract, officially notifying about the actual compliance of the substantial
terms and conditions of the re-export transaction that are declared [specified] in the motivated
application of the business entity.
Article 5
The Parties have agreed that refusal of permissions may be, if:
- inadequate data on the transaction are deliberately provided;
- dumping prices or other elements of unfair trade practice are used, causing damage to
the economic interests of the country of origin of goods;WT/REG82/1
Page 17
- there are restrictions on the part of third countries with respect to the importation of
relevant goods to their customs territory.
Article 6
In case of a non-sanctioned re-export, the country of origin of goods may require indemnity
and apply sanctions.
The Parties shall favour the adoption of national normative acts that provide responsibility of
business entities for a non-sanctioned re-export.
Article 7
The Parties have agreed that in cases where the volume of a non-sanctioned re-export of
goods inflicts economic damage to the country of origin of goods, the Party suffered may suspend
deliveries of these goods to the State whose business entities have carried out a non-sanctioned
re-export, or it may apply other sanctions provided by norms of international law.
The authorized agency of the country of origin of goods shall prove the fact of a
non-sanctioned re-export.  It should provide the authorized agency of the re-exporting State with
necessary and sufficient exhibits of violation of this Agreement by specific business entities.
Article 8
The Parties have agreed that the authorized agency of the re-exporting State shall render
assistance to the authorized agency of the country of origin of goods in establishing facts of a
non-sanctioned re-export and punishing business entities, that have carried out that, in accordancewith its national legislation.
Article 9
The Parties have agreed that any disputes and disagreements, while the Parties fulfill mutual
commitments of this Agreement, shall be settled by way of consultations between the authorized
representatives of the Parties.
Article 10
This Agreement shall be open to any member State of the Community of Independent States
to join.
Article 11
This Agreement shall come into force from the date on which the third notification on the
fulfilment by the Parties of necessary inner-State procedures is given to a depositary for keeping.
The Agreement is concluded for the period of five years and shall be automatically extended
for the following five-year period.  Any Party may leave this Agreement by sending the depositary,
six months before leaving, an official notif ication on its intention to leave the Agreement.
Done in the city of Moscow on 15 April 1994, in on e original, in Russian.  The original of the
Agreement shall be kept in the Archive of the Government of the Republic of Belarus, the depositary
of this Agreement, that will send its certifie d copy to the signatories to this Agreement.WT/REG82/1
Page 18
PROTOCOL
On Amendment and Supplements to the Agreement on the Creation of a
Free-Trade Area of 15 April 1994
States-Signatories of the Agreement on the Creation of a free-trade area, of 15 April 1994
(hereinafter referred to as the Agreement),
With the view to develop and deepen [expand] the provisions of this Agreement, and to speed
up the processes of forming a free-trade area,
Hereby agreed to make the following amendments and supplements to the Agreement:
1. In Article 1, item 1, after the words "in solving concrete tasks", replace the words "of the first
stage of the creation of the Economic Union" by the words "of the creation of a free-trade area".
2. In Article 1, item 1, the second bullet should have the following content:  "abolishment of
customs duties, and also taxes and levies, that have effect equivalent to them, and quantitative
restrictions."
3. In Article 1, item 1, the fifth and sixth bullets should be united and should have the following
content:  "cooperation in carrying out trade and economic policy for achieving the objectives of this
Agreement in the area of industry, agriculture, tran sport, finance, investments and social sphere, and
in the development of fair competition, and etc.".
4. In Article 1, item 2, should have the following content:  "2.  This Agreement shall be applied
on customs territories of the Contracting Parties, as they are defined by their national legislation."
5. In Article 1, item 3, the first paragraph, after the words "the Vienna Convention on the Right
of International Agreements of 1969" add "and agreements of GATT/WTO."
6. Add new Article 1(a) of the following content to the Agreement:
"Article 1(a)
Body that coordinates actions of the contracting parties for the
fulfilment of the Agreement's provisions
To achieve the objectives of this Agreement, the Inter-State Economic Committee of the
Economic Union (further referred to as the Committee) shall perform the supervision of the course of
the fulfilment of this Agreement by the Contracting Parties, working out proposals on the
development of their trade and economic cooperation, agreement and coordination of the economic
policy."
7. Exclude Article 2.8. The name of Article 3 should be changed to the following:
"Customs Duties, and also Taxes and Levies which have Effect Equivalent to them,
and Quantitative Restrictions".WT/REG82/1
Page 19
9. In Article 3, item 1 should have the following content:
"1. The Contracting Parties shall not apply customs duties, and also taxes and
levies, which have effect equivalent to them, and quantitative restrictions to
the importation and (or) exportation of goods originating from the customsterritory of one of the Contracting Parties and intended for customs territories
of other Contracting Parties."
10. In Article 3, item 2 should have the following content:
"2. In trade between the Contracting Parties, from the date on which this Protocol
comes into force for them, new quantitative and tariff import and (or) exportrestrictions, as well as measures that have equivalent effect, shall not be introduced in
addition to those previously fixed in bilateral agreements.
Exceptions to the trade regime provided for in item 1 of this Article shall be applied
on the basis of bilateral documents in which the Contracting Parties shall, within a12-month period from the date of entry into force of this Protocol, coordinate their
stage-by-stage abolishment and shall notify the Committee and the Agreement's
depository about this."
11. In Article 3, item 3 should have the following content:
"3. For the objectives of this Agreement, quantitative restrictions and other
administrative measures shall mean any measures which create while being applied a
material barrier or restriction with re spect to the importation of a commodity,
originating from the territory of one Contracting Party, into the territory of the otherContracting Party, or with respect to the exportation of a commodity, originating
from the territory of one Contracting Party, to the territory of the other Contracting
Party, including quoting, licensing, control of prices or other terms of delivery, other
specific export or import requirements that directly or indirectly restrict the rights of
the exporter or importer in comparison to the rights of the seller or the buyer of a
similar good who is located on the territory of the country of origin of the commodity
and who carry out a purchase or sale on this territory.  The provisions of this Articleshall be applied without prejudice to and by no means affect the right of the
application by any of the Contracting Parties of measures provided for in Articles 13
and 13(a) hereof, as well as measures applied by any of the Contracting Parties for
purposes of fulfilling its commitments under other international agreements."
12. Article 4 should have the following content:
"1. Each of the Contracting Parties shall grant to the goods, that originate from the
customs territory of any other Contracting Party and are imported to its territory, a
treatment not worse than that applied to national goods or goods of any third countrywith respect to technical and quality requirements.
2. The provisions of item 1 of this Article shall be applied without prejudice to
measures which can be applied by any of the Contracting Parties for the purposes of
implementing agreements on mutual recognition of tests' results, quality certificatesand other similar agreements, as well as in cases of threat or likelihood of threat to
life and health of people, flora and fauna.WT/REG82/1
Page 20
3. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate and exchange information in the area of
standardization, metrology and certificati on with the view to eliminate technical
barriers and other special requirements (restrictions) in trade."
13. In Article 5, item 2, after the word "inform" add the word "Committee".14. In Article 5, item 4, after the word "fumigation" add the words "and other import- and
export-related procedures".
15. In Article 7, item 1, the second sentence, after the words "Contracting Parties" exclude the
words "if necessary".
16. In Article 8, item 1 should be added with the following:
"These goods shall be granted a treatment no less favourable than that granted to
similar domestic goods in respect of all laws, rules and requirements that affect their
sale in the domestic market, offer for sale, purchase, transportation, distribution oruse."
17. Add new Article 8(a) of the following content to the Agreement:
"Article 8(a)
Procedure of applying indirect taxes
1. In mutual trade, the Contracting Parties shall not impose indirect taxes (VAT, excise) on
goods (works, services) exported from customs territor y of one of the Contracting Parties to customs
territory of the other Contracting Party.
2. The provision provided for in item 1 of this Article shall mean the imposition of VAT at a
zero rate, as well as exemption of exported goods from excises.  In the States-Signatories of this
Agreement in which national legislation does not provide for the imposition of VAT at a zero rate, the
exemption of goods (works, services) from VAT shall be applied.
3. The procedure of applying indirect taxes provid ed for in this Article shall come into force in
accordance with national legislation of the Contracting Parties from 1 January 2000."
18. Add the following items to Article 9:
"2. The Contracting Parties shall provide transparency of measures on providing
subsidies by exchanging information at the request of any of the Contracting Parties.
3. The Committee shall carry out the supervision of the situation of using subsidies
different from the State's assistance to exportation, and shall develop rules thatregulate their use being guided by international practice.
4. If any of the Contracting Parties considers that the practice of using subsidies is not
compatible with item 1 of this Article, it may apply relevant measures according to
the conditions and procedures stated in Article 13(a) of this Agreement."WT/REG82/1
Page 21
19. In Article 10, item 3 should be considered item 4 of the following content:
"4. The conditions of transit, including tariffs on transportation by any kinds of
transport and rendering of services, shall be determined by a separate agreement."
20. Article 10 should be added with item 3 of the following content:
"3. Transit via the territory of each Contracting Party shall be carried out on the basis
of the transit freedom principle by ways [tracks, routes, roads] more appropriate for
international transit transportation and transit transportation to or from the territories
of other Contracting Parties without any distinction or discrimination based on the
flag of ships and place of origin, shipment, putting in, leaving or destination, or basedon some circumstances relating to title to goods, ships or other transport facilities."
21. Article 11 should have the following content:
"The re-export of goods being delivered within the framework of this Agreement
shall be regulated by the Agreement on the Re-export of Goods and Procedure of
Granting Permissions for Re-export, of 15 April 1994, between the member States of
the Community of Independent States."
22. In Article 13, item 1, after the words "of which it is a signatory or is intended to become a
signatory", replace the words "if these measures concern" by "if these measures are not applied on an
arbitrary or discriminatory basis and concern:" and further according to the text.
23. Add new Article 13(a) of the following content to the Agreement:
"Article 13(a)
Special trade measures
1. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent any Contracting Party, after an appropriate
investigation has been performed, from applying special trade measures with respect to the
importation of goods originating from the territories of other Contracting Parties in casewhere this importation is carried out in such quantities and under such terms and conditions
that cause damage to the Contracting Party or create inevitable threat of damage, as well as in
connection with a dumping and subsidized importation that causes damage to the Contracting
Party or creates inevitable threat of damage.
2. Special trade measures can be introduced in the form of quantitative import
restrictions or in the form of special import duties, anti-dumping and countervailing duties for
a period necessary for removing damage or threat of damage in accordance with the
provisions of this Article and (or) national legislation of the Contracting Party.
2.1 A special trade measure may be introduced only after holding consultations
between the interested Contracting Parties.  A Contracting Party that intends to
introduce an emergency measure shall, in good time but no later than 30 days before
the planned introduction of the measure, info rm the interested Contracting Parties of
this and shall propose to conduct consultations.  The proposal on conductingconsultations shall be submitted in writing with the materials attached that confirm
the fact of damage because of importation or inevitable threat of such damage.WT/REG82/1
Page 22
For the objectives of this Agreement, damage shall mean a significant damage to a
branch of economy, threat of a significant damage to the branch or a serious barrier to
the creation or development of such a branch.
2.2 Confirmation of the fact of damage should be based on available actual data
and should include an objective analysis both of imports volume and its influence on
the market prices for a similar or directly competing commodity, and consequences of
such imports for the producers of the branch of the affected Contracting Party.
2.3 The volume of imports shall be considered from the point of view of its
substantial increase in absolute and relative values with respect to the level of
production and consumption of a competing commodity on the territory of theaffected Contracting Party.
2.4 Influence of imports on the market prices shall be determined by establishing
the fact of a considerable difference between the import prices and the prices for
similar competing domestically produced goods, or the fact of other substantialinfluence of imports on these prices that leads or can lead to their decrease or
prevents or will prevent from increasing such prices that would take place in case of
absence of importation.
2.5 The evidence of influence of importation on a branch of economy should be
based on the evaluation of all significant economic factors that affect the condition of
the branch, including, in particular, the decrease in sales, profit and volume of
production, share in the market, productivity, recoupment of capital investments, and
exploitation of production capacities that has taken place or is possible in the near
future, and of the factors that affect domestic prices, actual and potential influence onincome, stocks in warehouses, occupation, salary, rates of growth, and possibility of
increasing an overall authorized capital of enterprises of the branch or increasing their
capital investments.
2.6 The evidence of damage or threat of damage to a branch of economy should
be also based on the study of factors (other than import), which negatively affect the
condition of the branch, as well as the volume of and level of prices for importationcarried out on normal conditions, the change in demand, change in consumption,
consequences of a restrictive trade practice and competition between foreign and
domestic producers, technological inventions, and export and production indicators of
the branch of economy.  Damage caused by such factors should not be considered as
one that occurs because of importation to which the application of emergencymeasures is possible.
2.7 The establishment of threat of damage to the branch of economy shall be
based exclusively on facts.  In this respect, the following facts should be considered:
- the dynamics of increase in imports that testifies to the real possibility of
continuing a substantial increase in imports;
- availability of free production capacities or an inevitable obvious
development of the exporter's production capacities that testifies to the realpossibility of a substantial increase in imports to the territory of the affected
Contracting Party, taking into account the potential capacity of other sales
markets;WT/REG82/1
Page 23
- such level of import prices that gives a substantial overwhelming effect on
prices of domestic producers and can lead to further growth of imports
demand;
- the volume of stocks of a competing commodity.2.8 No one of the factors or facts mentioned in this Article in itself should be a
mandatory ground for concluding that there is damage or threat of damage.  The
conclusion on the presence or absence of damage or threat of damage shall be made
on the basis of the study of the whole complex of all the factors or facts.  In some
cases when damage or threat of damage is caused by only a sharp increase in imports,
or in the absence of such increase, by the fact that import is carried out at prices or onconditions that cause damage to the branch of economy, a special trade measure can
be taken if there is a casual and consequential relationship between damage or threat
of damage to the branch of economy and a sharp increase in imports or the carrying
out of importation on specific conditions.
3. In the course of consultations, the Contracting Parties shall aspire to find a mutually
acceptable solution of the problem.
4. In case where such a solution is not found, a Contracting Party, that has proposed to
conduct consultations, shall have the right to take special trade measures.
5. In case of urgency, special trade measures may be taken before conducting
consultations, provided the conducting of such  consultations will be immediately organized.
6. Nothing in this Article shall cause damage or somehow affect the taking by any
Contracting Party of special, anti-dumping or countervailing measures in accordance with
generally accepted international rules and (or) national legislation of the Contracting Party.
- In respect of investigations that precede the introduction of special, anti-dumping and
countervailing measures, each Contracting Party agrees to study what is presented by
the other Contracting Party and shall inform the interested Contracting Parties of
important facts and considerations on the basis of which final decisions will be made.
- Before the decision on the introduction of special, anti-dumping or countervailing
measures is taken, the Contracting Parties will take all possible steps for the
constructive solving of the problem.
7. Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent th e Contracting Parties from restricting the
exportation of essentially important competing goods in case of their critical deficit in
the domestic market."
24. Exclude Article 14.25. Exclude Article 15.26. In Article 17, item 1, after the words "Contracting Parties", add "will create conditions for
liberalization of national markets of services and", further – according to the text.
27. Add new Article 17(a) of the following content to the Agreement:WT/REG82/1
Page 24
"Article 17(a)
Competition in entrepreneurial activity
The mentioned below is not compatible with a proper fulfilment of this Agreement in
that degree in which it can affect trade in a free-trade area:
- all agreements between enterprises, and associations of enterprises of which a
conciliatory practice has a purpose or is a consequence of removing,
preventing from, restricting or distorting competition;
- illegal use by one or more enterprises of a dominant position on the territory
of the free-trade area on the whole or in its significant part."
28. Add new Article 17(b) of the following content to the Agreement:
"Article 17(b)
Government procurement
The Contracting parties shall create conditions for liberalization of national markets of
government procurement on the basis of non-discrimination and mutuality."
29. Exclude Article 18.30. Article 19 should have the following content:
"1. The Parties shall take all necessary measures for the fulfilment of their commitments
under this Agreement.
2. Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 13(a) hereof, in case where one of the
Contracting Parties believes that the other Contracting Party does not fulfill its
commitments under this Agreement, and in case where such non-fulfilment of the
commitments damages or threats to damage the economic interests of the firstContracting Party, it may make a request to such other Contracting Party regarding
consultations to be provided within a 2-month period from the date of a written
request with a view to search for a solution acceptable for both Contracting Parties.  A
copy of the relevant request shall be sent to all the other Contracting Parties to this
Agreement, and any of them may, if it believes that the circumstances mentioned inthe first sentence of this item affect its interests, participate in the consultations.
All the information on the essence of the problem shall be attached to the written
request.
3. In case where in the course of the consultations mentioned in item 2 of this Article the
Contracting Parties do not reach a mutually acceptable solution of the problem, the
Contracting Party that has requested the consultations shall have the right to settle
disputes, that affect the rights and obligations of the Contracting Parties, within the
framework of a special conciliatory procedure to be recommended by the Committeewithin 30 days from the date on which it receives the request (by creating working
parties to study dispute materials and develop recommendations).WT/REG82/1
Page 25
4. In case where in the course of the consultations mentioned in item 2 of this Article
and the special procedure mentioned in item 3 of this Article the Contracting Parties
do not reach a mutually acceptable solution of the problem, the Contracting Party that
has requested the consultations shall have the right to deviate from the fulfilment of
its commitments under this Agreement with respect to about equivalent volume oftrade or take other measures which it considers necessary for preventing from damage
to the national economy.  When choosing such measures, preference should be given
to those, which in the least degree break the effect of this Agreement.  The application
of such measures should be immediately suspended as soon as the decisions by the
other Contracting Party, which led to the introduction of those, are annulled.
5. The provision of this Article shall by no means prevent the Contracting Parties from
settling disputes occurring between them within the framework of procedures
provided by international law."
31. In Article 20, item 1, should be added with the second paragraph of the following content:
"This provision shall by no means affect the rights of the Contracting Parties to
independently determine the regime of foreign economic relations with States not
parties to this Agreement."
32. In Article 20, item 2, should have the following content:
"2. The provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the rights and advantages of the
Contracting Parties granted by the Contracting Parties within the framework of
economic associations, frontier trade, and preferences to developing countries and
free economic or customs areas regulated by domestic legislation or on the basis ofinternational agreements."
33. In Article 20, item 3, should be excluded.34. Exclude Article 21.35. In Article 24, item 1, it should have the following content:
"1. This Agreement shall be open to join for any State that admits the provisions of
this Agreement valid on the date of joining and that expresses its readiness to
implement them in full."
36. In Article 25, item 2, should have the following content:
"2. If any of the Contracting Parties breaks the provisions of this Agreement that
causes a serious damage to the achievement of its objectives, the other Contracting
Parties may apply extreme measures by suspending the effect of the Agreement or ofsome provisions of the Agreement with respect to the Contracting Party."
This Protocol shall come into force from the day on which the third notification on the
fulfilment by the signatory Contracting Parties of all necessary inner-State procedures is submitted to
a depository for keeping.
For the Contracting Parties having fulfilled necessary inner-State procedures later, this
Protocol shall come into force on the day when relevant documents are submitted to the depository.WT/REG82/1
Page 26
Done in the city of Moscow on 2 April 1999, in one original, in Russian.  The original shall
be kept in the Executive Secretariat of the Community of Independent States that will send its
certified copy to each State-Signatory of this Protocol.WT/REG82/1
Page 27
RESERVATION OF THE AZERBAIDJAN REPUBLIC
To the Protocol on Amendments and Supplements to the Agreement on the
Creation of a Free-Trade Area, of 15 April 1994
The Azerbaidjan Republic declares that no rights, commitments and provisions stated in the
Agreement on the Creation of a Free-Trade Area of 15 April 1994, and of the Protocol on
amendments and supplements to the aforementioned Agreement will be adopted by the Azerbaidjan
Republic with respect to the Republic of Armenia.
The Azerbaidjan Republic shall keep the right to change or exclude, in any time, the provision
of item 1 of this Reservation, and the other Parties shall be notified in writing of any such changes and
exclusions.
President of the Azerbaidjan Republic
Geidar Aliev
GEORGIA'S SPECIFIC OPINION
To the Draft Protocol on Amendments and Supplements to the Agreement on the
Creation of a Free-Trade Area, of 15 April 1994
Georgia on the whole approves the submitted draft Protocol on Amendments and
Supplements to the Agreement on the Creation of a Free-Trade Area, of 15 April 1994, but at thesame time confirms the Specific Opinion expressed by the State Minister of Georgia at the meeting of
the Council of the Governments' Heads on 1 April 1999.
E. Shevarnadze
SPECIFIC OPINION OF GEORGIA
To the Draft Protocol on Amendments and Supplements to the Agreement on the
Creation of a Free-Trade Area, of 15 April 1994
Georgia on the whole supports the draft Protocol on Amendments and Supplements to the
Agreement on the Creation of a Free-Trade Area of 15 April 1994.
At the same time we consider it necessary to state the second paragraph of item 2 of Article 3
as follows:  "Exceptions to the trade regime provided for in item 1 of this Article shall be applied onthe basis of bilateral documents in which the Contracting Parties coordinate their abolition …", and
further according to the text, as well as in Article 20, item 1, in the first paragraph remove from the
text the final phrase "… provided these obligations do not contradict the provisions and objectives of
this Agreement."
V.Lordkipanidze
__________