WT/REG439/M/1  
 
12 December  2023 
(23-8511) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
Hundred and Eighth Session    
 
  
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP, TRADE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE 
UNITED KINGDOM AND THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA   
(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.III, the CRTA consider ed the goods and services aspects of the  Strategic  
Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of 
Moldova  (hereafter "the Agreement" or "SPTCA") . 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 202 1 for both parties. It had been  notified 
to the WTO by the Parties on 31 December 2020 under Articles  XXIV:7(a) of the GATT  1994 and 
Article  V:7(a) of the GATS as a an agreement establishing 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 the GATS Article V  (documents WT/REG439/N/1  and Corr.1 and S/C/N/1034 and Corr.1 
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/REG439/1/Rev.1, and questions and replies, document WT/REG439/2/Rev.1 , had 
been distributed.  
1.4.  The representative of the United Kingdom, speaking also on behalf of the  Republic of Moldova  
noted that the SPTCA  between the UK and the Republic of Moldova had been in effect since 
1st January 2021.  He thanked Moldova for its positive  contribution s in drafting and agreeing th e 
statement. The SPTCA had replicate d the trade preferences of the Association Agreement between 
the Member States of the European Union and European Atomic Energy Community , and the 
Republic of Moldova . Therefore, since entry into force both Parties  had had access to a wide range 
of trade preferences  that they benefited from under the EU -Moldova Agreement . The SPTCA 
reaffirm ed the Parties'  bilateral relationship and provide d important continuity and predictability to 
individuals, businesses, and stakeholders in both countries.   
1.5.  Total trade in  goods and services  between the UK and Moldova had been  GBP 2.3 billion in the 
12 months to March 2023. Th at had been  an increase of 17% , or GBP 333 million , from the previous 
12 months. The UK's top goods export s to Moldova include d specialised machinery and vehicles, 
while the main goods import s from Moldova include d clothing and beverages.  
1.6.  The strength of the Parties'  bilateral trading relationship had been  further demonstrated th at 
year when they had agreed to temporar ily liberali se all tariffs on imports from Moldova under the 
UK-Moldova SPTCA u ntil 31 July 2024. That aimed to provide Moldova much needed support 
following Putin 's unprovoked  and illegal  invasion  of Ukraine,  which ha d heavily impact ed Moldova as 
a near -neighbour.  WT/REG439/M/1  
 
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  1.7.  The SPTCA had entered into force on 1st January 202 1, with its substance broadly the same as 
in the EU -Moldova Agreement, which ha d been in effect since July 2016. That include d the 
establishment of a number of institutional arrangements between the Parties based on existing 
structures, allowing for the ongoing management of the SPTCA.  Where amendments had been  
required to ensure operability in a bilateral  UK-Moldova context, the se ha d been set out in the text 
of the SPTCA.  
1.8.  As was the case with most of the UK 's continuity agreements, tariff rate quotas had either been 
resized to 13.62% of the corresponding quota volume, or using a solution jointly  decided with 
Moldova quotas  had been set to a level that w ould allow for historical trade flows. It had also been 
decided  that a minimum level of access would be provided for these quotas, based on a proxy 
measure relevant to UK trade.  The Agreement had maintain ed tariff preferences on goods from the 
EU-Moldova Agreement and contain ed the full range of provisions on trade common to most trade 
agreements . It had also replicate d the wide range of cooperation provisions under the EU -Moldova 
Agreement, which were desig ned to foster cooperation between the Parties  across all sectors of their 
economies, as well as on justice and home affairs.  On rules of origin, the UK -Moldova Agreement 
allowed EU materials to be used, and  count ed as originating, in UK and Moldovan export s to one 
another. The cumulation provisions were set out in Protocol I of the Agreement.   
1.9.  Most of the institutional  provisions and arrangements under  the EU -Moldova Agreement ha d 
been incorporated in to the Agreement. The primary body responsible for overse eing the operation 
and implementation of the Agreement was the Political and Strategic Dialogue , comprised of 
representatives of the UK and Moldova. The Political and Strategic Dialogue also met in a specific 
configuration to address all trade related matt ers.  
1.10.   The SPTCA set the conditions and preferences for trade between the UK and Moldova to grow 
into the future. Both Parties  continue d to work together following Russia 's illegal invasion of Ukraine, 
and they we re committed to using the provisions and ins titutions established under th e Agreement 
to support the region, as they continue d to strengthen their trade relationship.  Beyond th at, there 
was clear potential for Moldova  to continue developing as its accession pathway into the European 
Union continue d. Both Parties welcome d the security that EU candidate status provide d Moldova.   
1.11.   The representative of the European Union  thank ed the Parties for having presented the SPTCA  
between the UK and Moldova  that ensure d the continuation of the outcomes of the EU -Moldova 
Agreement in a suitable bilateral setting . Her delegation wished both Parties success in the 
implementation of the Agreement.  
1.12.   The represen tative of Japan  recognized the great efforts of the United Kingdom and the 
Republic of Moldova , and the Secretariat for having prepared the factual report, and thanked the 
Members for their comprehensive explanations. He expressed his delegation's sincere appreciation 
for the prompt reply to its written questions.  
1.13.   The representative of Ukraine  welcomed the conclusion of the SPTCA  between the UK and the 
Republic of Moldova and wished both Parties a successful implementation of the Agreement.  
1.14.   The representative of the United States  thanked the Parties for their presentation. H is 
delegation had two questions , and would be very happy to take any responses in writing  follow ing 
the meeting. Article 334 of the Agreement committed the Parties to promote corporate social 
responsibility and goods that enhance d social conditions and environmentally sound practices. He 
inquired whether the Parties could provide any description of activ ities undertaken or envisioned to 
promote and support responsible business conduct. As regards standards -related measures, 
Article  151 of the Agreement anticipated a future Agreement on Conformity Assessment and 
Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA) , covering sectors agreed upon by the Parties. H e asked 
whether the P arties had made progress toward the ACAA . If that was  not the case, he inquired what 
sectors were likely to be covered  and how such an agreement would work given the gradual 
approximation of Moldovan legislation to that of the EU and the gradual divergence of the UK from 
those same regional norms . He asked whether either Party envision ed or permitted  the acceptance 
of multiple standards that met regulatory requirements.   
1.15.   With respect to Articl e 334, the representative of the United Kingdom  responded that both 
Parties were committed to the effective implementation of the Trade and Sustainable Development WT/REG439/M/1  
 
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  Chapter of the Agreement and ha d met under the Trade and Development Subcommittee . 
Discussions under Article 334 w ould commence as and when agreed by both Parties.  Regarding the 
ACAA, the Parties w ould discuss the impact emerging from Moldova 's approximation to the EU under 
the Political  and Strategic Dialogue in Trade Configuration.  He noted these were interim replies and 
he could further communicate  with the Republic of Moldova and the United States to provide a more 
detailed reply.  
1.16.   The Chair  noted the consideration of the Strategic Par tnership, Trade and Cooperation  
Agreement between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Moldova , goods and services , 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 the Parties were asked to submit replies in writing by no later than 11 December 
2023. In accordance with paragraph  13 of the Transparency Mechanism all written submissions, as 
well as minutes of th e meeting would be circulated promptly, in all WTO  official languages, and would 
be made available on the WTO database on RTAs . 
1.17.   The Committee took note  of the comments made.  
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