. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG124/4 
3 March 2004  
 
(04-0944) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:   English 
   
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND MEXICO 
 
Questions and Replies
 
   The following joint communication, dated 6 Februa ry 2004, is being circulated at the request 
of the Delegations of Israel and Mexico. 
  This document reproduces the questions addressed  to the Parties and the responses submitted. 
The questions and replies set out below are or ganized in accordance with document WT/REG124/3. 
 
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I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE AGREEMENT 
 3. Scope 
 
In addition to the tariff differential and/or  enhanced services commitments created by 
the elimination of duties in the context of th e FTA, does the agreement have other provisions 
that affect the comparative economic market access opportunity of countries that are not 
parties to the agreement? 
 The FTA provides for a clear legal framework th at furthers progressive trade liberalization 
beyond the commitments achieved  in the Uruguay Ro und. In our view, the elimination of trade 
obstacles through the FTA does not hinder trade with countries that are not Parties to the Agreement. 
On the contrary, the FTA contributes to the deepening of trade liberalization as well as to the creation 
of incentives for economic growth and increased trade flows both at the regional and multilateral 
level. The active participation of the Parties in the WTO demonstrates their strong commitment to the 
promotion of multilateral trade liberalization. 
  
II. TRADE PROVISIONS 
1. Import Restrictions 
 1.1 Duties and Charges
 
 
Concerning WT/REG124/3, paragraph II.1, please provide us with the list of specific 
products on which tariff quotas are imposed. 
- Mexico: flowers and kosher coffee 
 
- Israel: milk powder; chickpeas; fruits of the gen es Capsicum or of the genus Pimenta, dried or 
crushed or ground; other vegetables and mixtures of  vegetables, pineapple juice, Juice of any 
other single fruit or vegetable, mixtures of juices. WT/REG124/4 
Page 2  
 
 
3. Rules of Origin  
 
ROO harmonization or cumulation with non-members who are member of similar 
agreements? 
 The FTA does not contain specific provisions on this issue. 
  
IV. OTHER 
Have transparency requirements in Chapter IX led to changes in government practice 
in either party? 
 The provisions established in Chapter IX, make reference to commitments regarding 
publication, notification and admini stration of laws. The Parties ha ve complied with these provisions 
without changes in their governmental practice.  
 For Israel, the relevant Ministries websites (for instance: Ministry of Industry, Trade & Labor, 
Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affair s) contain relevant docum ents and explanations 
concerning trade issues, including information regarding import policy and legislation.   In the case of Mexico, the government has made  important developments in this field. For 
instance, the recent creation of the Federal In stitute of Access to Public Information ( Instituto Federal 
de Acceso a la Información Pública ). The objective of the Institute (IFAI) is to protect the right of 
every person to have access to public governmental in formation. It also has jurisdiction with respect 
to complaints received by the public, in case a governmental entity denies access to certain 
information.  
 Since the entry into force of the Law of Tr ansparency and Access to Public Governmental 
Information ( Ley de Transparencia y Acceso a la Información Pública Gubernamental ), in June 11, 
2002, more than 250 federal entities have the obligati on to grant access to information. Once a request 
to obtain certain information is submitted, the gove rnmental entity shall determine, according to the 
provisions set out in the Law, if the access could be granted or not. In case of a negative answer, the 
person that requested the information may submit a remedy before the IFAI. 
 
 The Law of Transparency and Access to P ublic Governmental Information, establishes 
provisions that improve the right to access informat ion while protecting personal privacy according to 
three principles:  
 1. All governmental information must be pub lic and must be available, except when its 
disclosure may put at risk national affairs, such as national security or public health.  
  2. Ensure that the right to have access to in formation is granted to anyone that requests 
it, without the necessity to justify a legal interest or to submit the grounds of such 
request. 
 
 3. The information about governmental or public institutions' employees is confidential 
in order to protect their right to intimacy. 
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