WT/REG440/M/1  
 
12 December 2023 
(23-8517) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
Hundred and Eighth  Session  Original: English  
 
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT   
BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM  AND GEORGIA  
(GOODS AND SERVICES ) 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 20 NOVEMBER  2023 
Chair: Ambassador H.E. Ms. Clare KELLY (New Zealand)  
1.1.  The 10 8th Session of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (hereinafter "CRTA" or the 
"Committee") was convened in Airgram WTO/AIR/RTA/3 4/Rev. 1 dated 10 November 2023.  
1.2.  Under Agenda Item  I.VII, the CRTA considered the Strategic Partnership and Cooperation 
Agree ment between the United Kingdom and Georgia, goods and services (hereinafter "the 
Agreement") . The Chair  stated that the Factual Presentation had been prepared by the Secretariat 
on its own responsibility in full consultation with the Parties, in accordance with paragraph 7(b) of 
the Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements (document WT/L/671).  
1.3.  The Agreement had entered into force on 1  January 2021 for both parties. It had been notified 
to the WTO by the Parties on 31 December 2020 unde r Articles  XXIV:7(a) of the GATT  1994 and 
Article  V:7(a) of the GATS as an agreement that establishe d a free trade area for trade in goods, 
within the meaning of Article XXIV of the GATT 1994, and for trade in services within the meaning 
of Article V of th e GATS (documents WT/REG440/N/1 and S/C/N/1035 respectively). The text of the 
Agreement, together with its Annexes, was available on the Parties' official websites and in the WTO 
RTA database. The Factual Presentation, document  WT/REG440/1, and questions a nd replies, 
document WT/REG440/2/Rev.1, had been distributed.  
1.4.  The Deputy Minister  of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, speaking also on 
behalf of the United Kingdom , Mr. G. Arveladze, noted that the UK -Georgia  Agreement, or 
Agreement , had been in effect since 1st January 2021. The Parties thanked the CRTA for the review 
of the Agreement  and convey ed particular appreciation to the Secretariat for the preparation of the 
Factual Presentation. He thank ed the UK for its positive contributions in dr afting and approving th e 
statement, as well as to those Members who had demonstrated particular interest and had raised 
questions on the Agreement.  
1.5.  The Agreement  replicate d the trade preferences of the Association Agreement between the 
Member States of the  European Union  (EU) and Georgia. Therefore, since entry into force both 
Parties to the Agreement ha d had access to a wide range of trade preferences that they had benefited 
from under the EU -Georgia Association Agreement.  The Agreement  reaffirm ed the Parties'  bilateral 
relationship and provide d important continuity and predictability to individuals, businesses and 
stakeholders in both countries. Georgia underline d the utmost importance it attached to the strategic 
partnership with the UK with a deep de termination to further enhance the long -standing, close and 
active collaboration. Georgia was delighted that following the UK's exit from the EU their partnership 
and cooperation ha d continued bilateral ly. Thanks to the dedicated diligence of both Parties they had  
managed to accomplish a smooth transition from the EU -Georgia Association Agreement into a 
bilateral format – the Agreement  - laying the foundation for substantially enhanced trade and 
economic relations between their two States.  
1.6.  According to the latest trade data covering eight months of 2023, trade turnover between 
Georgia and the UK was estimated at almost USD 100 million with an increase of 24%compared to WT/REG440/M/1  
 
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  the same period of the previous year. The m ain export commodities from Georgia to the UK were 
precious metals, ferro -alloys, wine, alcoholic beverages, mineral waters and others. The top goods 
exported to Georgia from the UK include d specialized machinery, cars, beverages and 
pharmaceuticals. In 2022, total exports in services to the UK from Ge orgia had amounted to 
USD 143 million , a five times increase compared to the previous year , while imports of services from 
the UK had increased by 97% and amounted to USD 32.4 million. The UK ha d consistently been one 
of the top investors in Georgia for th e past few years with  an estimated USD 440 million in 2022 
and up to USD 145 million in  the first  two quarters of 2023. The dominant investment areas were 
the financial sector, communications, the hospitality sector and transport.  
1.7.  The Agreement  had entered into force on 1 January 2021, with its substance broadly the same 
as the EU -Georgia Association Agreement, which ha d been in effect since September 2014. Th at 
include d the establishment of a number of the institutional arrangements between the Part ies based 
on existing structures, allowing for the ongoing management of the Agreement . Where there were 
differences between trade -related provisions in the Agreement  and in the EU -Georgia Association 
Agreement these had been  necessary to ensure operabilit y in a bilateral UK -Georgia context.  
1.8.  The Agreement  maintain ed the tariff preferences on goods from the EU -Georgia Agreement, 
and the existing tariff -rate quota for garlic had been  resized to 13.6%, a figure used across the UK's 
other trade continuity agreements. The Agreement  contain ed the full range of provisions common 
to most trade agreements. It also replicate d essential elements covering a wide range of issues 
under the EU -Georgia Agreement, including those of particular importance such as human rights, 
democracy and good governance. On rules of origin, the Agreement  allowed EU materials to be used 
and count ed as originating, in UK and Georgian exports to one another. The cumul ation provisions 
were set out in Protocol I of the Agreement . 
1.9.  Most of the institutional provisions and arrangements under the EU -Georgia Association 
Agreement ha d been incorporated into the Agreement . The primary body responsible for overseeing 
the operati on and implementation of the Agreement  was the Strategic Partnership and Cooperation 
Forum. Th e Forum met regularly to discuss trade related matters, with the ambition to further 
strengthen the existing trade relationship between their countries. As part o f that, Georgia ha d been 
pleased to host the UK's delegation in February 2022 for the first face -to-face Trade Committee 
under the Agreement.  
1.10.   Both Parties continue d to work together to further facilitate trade relationship especially 
following Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Georgia and the UK share d a long history and close 
bilateral relations, the UK fully support ed Georgia's Euro -Atlantic aspirations, and co ntinue d to 
support the reforms needed to fulfil the wishes of the Georgian people for progress towards EU and 
NATO membership. Continued trade expansion facilitated by the Agreement  underpinned  their 
strong bilateral relationship and  had establishe d the ne cessary conditions for ties between the UK 
and Georgia to deepen in the future.  
1.11.   The representative of the United Kingdom  thanked Georgia's Deputy Minister for being present 
at the meeting  to deliver the Parties'  joint statement. The UK -Georgia FTA was an e xciting and 
important step in their bilateral relationship . The UK look ed forward to working more closely with 
Georgia to ensure that they continue d to make use of the Agreement’s many benefits.  
1.12.   The representative of the European Union  welcome d the Agreeme nt between the UK and 
Georgia on goods and services that largely replicate d the EU -Georgia Association Agreement as 
mentioned by the representative of Georgia , with minor necessary modifications . Her delegation  
wished both Parties success in the implementation of th e Agreement.  
1.13.   The representative of Japan  recognize d the great efforts of the United Kingdom and Georgia, 
and the Secretariat in having prepar ed the factual report, and thank ed the Members for their 
comprehensive explanations. Japan  sincerely appreciat ed the prompt reply to its written questions.  
1.14.   The representative of the United States  thank ed both Parties for the presentation. He noted 
that Chapter 8 of the Agreement detail ed commitments by the Parties to open their public 
procurement ma rkets to one another above the thresholds listed in Annex 7b. He inquired whether 
either of the Parties had restrict ed participation in public procurement below th at threshold , and 
what restrictions d id the Parties maintain above the threshold to ensure th at there was a benefit to WT/REG440/M/1  
 
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  both each other and other parties with which they ha d procurement agreements . His delegation 
would be very happy to take any responses in writ ing follow ing the meeting . 
1.15.   The representative of Ukraine  welcome d the conclusion of Agreement  between the UK and 
Georgia  and wishe d both Parties a successful implementation of the A greement . 
1.16.   Replying to the US question, the representative of the United Kingdom  indicated that the 
United Kingdom  did not place restrictions  on Georgian businesses that might wish to participate in 
government procurement contracts either below or above the Agreement 's thresholds.  UK 
contracting authorities generally run public procurement on the principle of equal treatment and 
non-discriminat ion, whether the suppliers were British or international.  
1.17.   The Deputy  Minister of Georgia  reiterat ed that Georgia also ha d equal treatment for local and 
international businesses and any interested parties for public procurement. Equal treatment was 
provided  for everyone . The thresholds that had been provided in the Agreement  were the same as 
those provided to the European Union under their Association Agreement . 
1.18.   The Chair  noted the consideration of the goods aspects of the Agreement  between the 
United  Kingdom and Georgia  had allowed the Committee to clarify a number of questions and 
conclude oral discussion of the RTA in accordance with paragraph 11 of the Transparency 
Mechanism. Any delegations wishing to ask follow -up questions were invited to forward submissions 
in writing to the Secretariat by 27 November 2023 and Parties were asked to submit replies in writing 
by no later than 11 December 2023. In accordance with parag raph 13 of the Transparency 
Mechanism all written submissions, as well as the minutes of the meeting would be circulated 
promptly, in all WTO official languages, and made available on the WTO database on RTAs.  
1.19.   The Committee took note  of the comments made.  
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