WT/REG438/M/1  
 
10 July 2023 
(23-4652) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
Hundred and S eventh  Session  Original: English  
 
  
PARTNERSHIP, TRADE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNITED 
KINGDOM AND NORTH MACEDONIA  
(GOODS AND SERVICES)  
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 5 JULY  2023 
Chair: Ambassador H.E. Ms. Clare KELLY (New Zealand)  
1.1.  The 10 7th Session of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (hereinafter "CRTA" or the 
"Committee") was convened in Airgram WTO/AIR/RTA/3 2/Rev.1 dated 23 June 2023.  
1.2.  Under Agenda Item H.IV, the CRTA considered the Agreement establishing  Partnership, Trade 
and Co operation Agreement between the United Kingdom and North Macedonia, 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 t he Parties, in accordance with 
paragraph 7(b) of the Transparency Mechanism for Regional Trade Agreements (document 
WT/L/671).  
1.3.  The Agreement had provisionally entered into force on 1 January 2021. 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, in documents WT/REG4 38/N/1 and S/C/N/103 3 respectively. The Parties 
had indicated that the Agreement create d a free trade area 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.  
The text of the Agreement and its Annexes was available on the Parties' of ficial websites and in the 
WTO RTA database. The Factual Presentation (document  WT/REG4 38/1) and the questions and 
replies on this Agreement (document WT/REG4 38/2) had been distributed.  
1.4.   The representative of the United Kingdom  speaking jointly on behalf of the Parties, noted that 
at the last CRTA meeting Members had had the opportunity to review the UK 's trade agreements 
with Japan, the European Union, and the Eastern & Southern Africa States. The two presentations 
on that day 's agenda continue d the proce ss of multilateral review of the UK 's FTA programme.  
1.5.  The Agreement, which had been successfully implemented, since 1 January 2021,  replicate d 
the trade preferences of the EU -North Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Agreement , thus 
giving both Parties access to the wide range of trade preferences they had benefited from under the 
EU-North Macedonia  Agreement.  
1.6.  The Agreement  had reaffirm ed the Parties' bilateral relationship and provide d important 
continuity and predictability to individuals, businesses, and stakeholders in both countries. High 
liberalization in trade continue d to apply to prevent any disturbance to their companies, allowing the 
business sector to trade on a preferential basis.  
1.7.  Total trade in goods and services between the UK and North Macedonia had been GBP 2.3 
billion in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2022, accounting for 0.1% of UK trade and 9.8% of 
North Macedonia 's trade.  Both imports and exports had bounced back strongly in 2021 following a 
dip in the initial stages of the Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020. In current prices, the value of total trade 
with North Macedonia ha d more than quadrupled since 2013. The UK 's top exports include d 
chemicals and non -ferrous metals, a nd North Macedonia 's main exports to the UK include d metal 
ores and scrap, furniture, and chemicals.  WT/REG438/M/1  
 
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  1.8.  The Agreement  was a short form agreement, an approach used in other UK continuity 
agreements that had entered into force on or after 1 January 2021.It broa dly replicate d the effects 
of the EU -North Macedonia Stabilisation and Association Agreement, which  had entered into force 
on 1 April 2004. This include d the establishment of institutional arrangements between the Parties 
based on existing structures, allo wing for the ongoing management of the Agreement . 
1.9.  The provisions in the UK -North Macedonia Agreement had been  applied mutatis mutandis , i.e. 
with only the technical changes necessary to apply the Agreement  as if it had been concluded 
between the UK and Nor th Macedonia in the first instance.  Where more substantive amendments 
had been required to ensure operability in a bilateral context, or where the Parties had agreed that 
mutatis mutandis  would not deliver adequate certainty over rights and obligations, detailed 
amendments had been included in the Annexes to the Agreement . 
1.10.  As was the case with most of the UK 's continuity agreements, tariff rate quotas had been 
resized to 13.62% of the corr esponding quota volume or quota increase referred to in the EU -North 
Macedonia Agreement when it had ceased to apply to the United Kingdom.  The Agreement roll ed 
over the tariff preferences on goods from the EU -North Macedonia Agreement, contain ed the full 
range of trade provisions common to most trade agreements, and provisions on services.  It also 
rolled over the EU agreement 's wide range of cooperation provisions, which had been  designed to 
foster cooperation between the Parties across all sectors of thei r economies, as well as on justice 
and home affairs.  
1.11.  On rules of origin, the Agreement contain ed generous cumulation provisions. Materials could 
be considered as originating in the UK and North Macedonia if they had been  obtained there, 
incorporating mater ials originating in the other Party, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Iceland, 
Norway, Türkiye, the European Union, or countries referred to in Annex A of the Protocol, provided 
that the working or processing carried out in the Party went beyond the operatio ns referred to in the 
meaning of Article 7.   
1.12.  Institutional arrangements include d a Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Council, composed 
of North Macedonian and UK representatives, which was responsible for the implementation of the 
Agreement and the administration of all matters pertaining to it. It was assisted by a Partnership, 
Trade and Cooperation Committee, which focuse d on trade -related implementation matters. The 
Committee might also set up subcommittees to help it in its duties. The Parties might also set up a 
Parliamentary Committee.  
1.13.  In conclusion, he noted that t he Agreement  set the conditions for trade between the UK and 
North Macedonia to grow into the future. He pointed out that t here was clear potential for North 
Macedonia to continue developing in its accession pathway into the European Union. Both Parties 
looked forward to continuing to work closely with each other  and remain ed deeply committed to the 
continued strengthening of their trade relationships.  
1.14.  The representative of European Union  thanked the Parties for their presentations of the 
Agreement and for the  transparency provided. She also wished them success in the implementation 
of the Agreement.  
1.15.  The Chair noted the consideration of the Partnership, Trade and Cooperation Agreement 
between the United Kingdom and North Macedonia, goods and services had allowe d 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 12 July 2023 and the Parties 
were asked to submit replies in writing by no later than 26 July 2023. In accordance with paragraph 
13 of the Transparency Mechanism all written submissions, as well as the minutes of the meeting 
would be circul ated promptly, in all WTO official languages, and made available on the WTO website.  
1.16.  The Committee took note  of the comments made.  
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