. /.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/REG115/M/2
18 March 2002
(02-1407)
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements
Thirty-First Session
EXAMINATION OF THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
Note on the Meeting of 19 February 2002
Chairman:   Mr. A.J. Dumont (Argentina)
1. The meeting was convened in document WTO/AIR/1714.
2. Under Agenda Item B.II of its Thirty-First Session, the Committee on Regional Trade
Agreements (CRTA) took up the examination of the Free Trade Agreement (Agreement) between
Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
3. The Chairman noted that this was the second round of examination of the Agreement between
Turkey and FYROM.  The proceedings of the first round, which had taken place in September 2001,
had been distributed in document WT/REG115/M/1.  He drew the Committee's attention to a revised
Standard Format which had been circulated in document WT/REG115/3/Rev.1 and to the recent
exchange of questions and replies which had been distributed in document WT/REG115/4.
4. The representative of Australia observed that the trade data provided in the Annex to the
Standard Format related to different years, the latest of which was for 2000, although the Agreement
had only come into force in 2000.  He agreed with the comments made by some Members during the
last round of examination that the coverage of agriculture appeared minimal.  He asked the Parties to
provide trade figures for 2001, in particular showin g the percentages of trade at MFN, less-than-MFN
and duty-free rates in order that the coverage of this sector could be better examined.  The
representative of Turkey agreed to provide figures for 2001 shortly.
5. The representative of Korea asked whether the Agreement established preferential rules of
origin for all items and tariff lines, or if any specific rules of origin applied to specific items.
Secondly, regarding the sufficient working or processing criteria, he asked whether the Parties applied
the value-added or other criteria.  Thirdly, regarding the global application of safeguard measures, he
asked the Parties to explain what they meant by "serious disturbance in any sector" and how thiswould be applied, as it seemed to him to be an  additional requirement.  Lastly, regarding anti-
dumping measures, the Standard Format made reference to the rules and procedures established in
Article 21 of the Agreement, but given that Article 21 related to the "Procedure for the Application of
Safeguard Measures", he asked for further clarification.  The representative of Turkey agreed to
provide written replies to these questions.
6. The Chairman said that the second round of examination had allowed the Committee to
clarify a number of issues.  Some additional questions had been raised, to which Turkey would
provide written replies.  He asked delegations to submit any additional questions to the Secretariat by
15 March to which the Parties should submit replies in writing no later than 30 April. He considered
that the factual examination had been completed.  Once the replies had been circulated, any requestWT/REG115/M/2
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for additional information could be dealt with without having to hold an additional round of
examination.  The Secretariat could then begin drafting the examination report.
7. The Committee took note of the comments made.
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