WT/REG172/M/1  
 
8 October 2019 
(19-6495) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
Ninety -fourth  Session    
 
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT  BETWEEN ARMENIA AND KAZAKHST AN 
(GOODS ) 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 17 SEPTEMBER  2019 
Chairman:  Ambassador Carlos Mario FORADORI (Argentina)  
1.1.  The 9 4th Session of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (hereinafter 'CRTA' or the 
'Committee') was convened in Airgram WTO/AIR/RTA/1 9/Rev.1  dated 4 September 2019.  
1.2.  Under Agenda Item D.II of the Session, the CRTA considered the Free Trade Agreement 
between Armenia and Kazakhstan (Goods), (hereinafter "the Agreement").  
1.3.  The Chairman  noted that the Agreement  had entered into force on 25 December 2001. It had 
been notified to the WTO by the Parties on 17 June 2004 under Article  XXIV:7(a) of the GATT  1994 
and the Understanding on the Interpretation of Article  XXIV of GATT 1994 as an Agreement 
establishing a free trade area (document  WT/REG172/N/1). The text of the Ag reement was 
available, together with its Annexes, on the Parties' official websites.  The Factual Presentation on 
the goods aspects (document  WT/REG172/3 dated 21 June 2019) and questions and replies on this 
Agreement (document WT/REG172/4 dated 3 September  2019) had been distributed.  
1.4.  The representative of Armenia  noted that Armenia and K azakhstan  had had historically close 
links in many secto rs of their economies. K azakhstan  was a very important trading partner for 
Armenia. Currently Armenia  and Kazakhstan  had a significant number of  joint venture capital 
companies operating successful ly in both countries. K azakhstan  was an important destination for  
and source of  Armenia's  exports and  imports . Trade between the countries ha d grown substantially 
over the pas t 10-15 years. After b ecoming a full member of the EAEU in 2018, Armenia, together 
with K azakhstan  and other EAEU members ha d enjoyed benefits from being part of the big regional 
market. Membership together in the EAEU had substantia lly increased the economic potential of both 
nations  and had resulted in a new level of integration. He hope d that the Free Trade A greement and 
membership together in the EAEU would result in further economic development and expansion and 
trade cooperation within the multilateral trad ing system.  
1.5.  The representative of Kazakhstan  welcome d the C ommittee's  review of the F ree Trade 
Agreement  between Armenia and Kazakhstan and t hanked the Secretariat for the preparation of the 
Factual Presentation.  Kazakhstan also thank ed Canada and Ecuador for their interest in th e FTA and 
the written questions  they had submitted in relation to it. He noted that Kazakhstan and Armenia 
had establ ished diplomatic ties in 1992 and since independence had enjoy ed excellent bilateral 
relations in the spirit of partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation.  With a view to enhance d 
bilateral trade and economic relations, Kazakhstan and Armenia had signed the Free Trade 
Agreement in September 1999.  
1.6.  The Agreement cover ed areas such as market access, rules of origin, information exchange, 
cooperation, transparency and transit. Kazakhstan positively value d the cooperation with Armenia, 
which had facilit ated bilateral trade due to elimination of customs duties on trade between the two 
countries. Since the Agreement had entered into force, mutual trade ha d grown. Bilateral turnover 
had increased 4 times since 2001 and reached USD 14 million in 2018.  Kazakh stan noted that 
Armenia became an EAEU Member State in 2015 , and this had further elevated relations between 
Armenia and Kazakhstan. Within the EAEU the free movement of goods , services, capital and labo ur WT/REG 172/M/1  
 
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  had brought new opportunities for mutually benefic ial cooperation.  Kazakhstan look ed forward to a 
fruitful discussion on the Agreement and stood ready to answer Members' questions.  
1.7.  The representative of the United States  thanked the Parties  for their presentations as well as 
the data and information provi ded, as well as the Secretariat for  the preparation of the Factual 
Presentation.  
1.8.  The Chairman  said that consideration of the Goods Aspects of the Free Trade Agreement 
between Armenia and Kazakhstan, ha d allowed the Committee to clarify a number of questions and  
conclude oral discussion of th e RTA in accordance with paragraph 11 of the Transparency 
Mechanism. If any delegations wish ed to ask follow up questions they were invited to forward 
submissions in writing to the Secretariat by 24 September 201 9. The Parties were asked to submit 
replies in writing by no later than 8 October 2019. In accordance with paragraph 13 of the 
Transparency Mechanism all written submissions, as well as minutes of this meeting w ould be 
circulated promptly, in all WTO offic ial languages, and made available on the WTO website.  
1.9.  The Committee took note  of the comments made.  
 
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