WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
GATS/EL/149 
5 November 2012 
 (12-6054) 
Trade in Services   
  
 
RUSSIAN FEDERATION  
 
Final List of Article II (MFN) Exemptions 
 
(This is authentic in English only) 
 
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  GATS/EL/149 
Page 2 RUSSIAN FEDERATION - LIST OF ARTICLE II (MFN) EXEMPTIONS 
Sectors or sub-sectors Description of measure indicating its 
inconsistency with Article II Country or countries to which the 
measure applies Intended duration Conditions creating the need for 
the MFN exemption 
All sectors. Measures concerning investment 
activity and available protection. All parties to existing and future 
respective agreements which may be 
concluded. Indefinite. The measures are aimed at 
forming a legal framework for 
mutual protection and investment promotion. 
All sectors/presence of natural 
persons. Measures based on existing and future 
agreements with the objective of 
providing for the movement of natural 
persons supplying services.  Parties to the Partnership and 
Cooperation Agreem ent between the 
Russian federation and the European 
Communities and their Member States 
signed at 24 June 1994 with future supplements; CIS countries. Indefinite. Measures are aimed at 
progressive liberalization 
between the Russian Federation 
and its regional trading partners. 
2. COMMUNICATION SERVICES 
D. Audio-visual servi ces Measures with respect to broadcasting 
and other similar forms of transmission 
of the audio-visual works, including television and radio programs, meeting 
origin criteria and other criteria, 
established by the respective agreements. Parties to the Council of Europe 
Convention on Trans-frontier 
Television or other countries with whom bilateral agreements may be 
concluded. Indefinite. Development of cultural links 
and protection of cultural 
heritage.  
D. Audio-visual services Measures based on co-production 
agreements, which confer national 
treatment with respect to audio-visual works covered by these agreements, 
including in relation to subsidies for 
production and distribution. Parties to the European Convention on 
Cinematographic Coproduction and 
countries with whom bilateral co-production agreements are/may be 
concluded. Indefinite. Development of cultural links 
and protection of cultural 
heritage.  
D. Audio-visual services Measures granting the benefit of 
support programs to audio-visual 
works, including television and radio 
programs, and suppliers of such works 
meeting certain origin criteria. Parties to the Council of Europe 
Convention on Trans-frontier 
Television, Parties to the European 
Convention on Cinematographic 
Coproduction or other European 
countries with whom bilateral agreements may be concluded. Indefinite. Development of cultural links 
and protection of cultural 
heritage. 
5. EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 
 Measures with respect to opening and 
activity of branches.  Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, 
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, 
Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmen, Uzbekistan, Ukraine. Indefinite. Measures are aimed at 
preservation and development of 
relations in the field of education.  
   GATS/EL/149
 Page 3Sectors or sub-sectors Description of measure indicating its 
inconsistency with Article II Country or countries to which the 
measure applies Intended duration Conditions creating the need for 
the MFN exemption 
11. TRANSPORT SERVICES 
A. Maritime Transport 
Services In the cases and subject to the 
procedure established by the 
Government of the Russian Federation cabotage transportation and cabotage 
towing may be carried out by foreign 
vessels. All countries. Indefinite. The measure reflects existing 
practice of ad hoc regulation of 
the issues concerned on the basis of case-by-case decisions and 
subject to the concrete situation. 
Measures with respect to the access of 
vessels under Polish flag to the Russian 
part of Kaliningrad bay and Baltic sea 
channel. Poland. Indefinite. Ensuring of obligations under 
international agreement and 
preservation of traditional 
relations in the field of maritime transportation.  
Special regime of shipping in Caspian 
sea. Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, 
Turkmenistan. Indefinite. Development of regional 
cooperation.  
Measures allowing for bilateral 
agreements concerni ng cargo sharing 
and cargo reservation. Algeria, Brazil, Malaysia, Mexico, 
Syria, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Ghana. Indefinite. Existing respective agreements. 
Measures related to maritime operators 
such as priority rights under the 
Production Sharing Agreements and in 
relation to maritime agency activities. Parties to the Partnership and 
Cooperation Agreem ent between the 
Russian federation and the European 
Communities and their Member States 
signed at 24 June 1994 with future supplements. Indefinite. Ensuring of obligations under 
international agreement. 
Measures related to maritime operators such as priority rights under the 
Production Sharing Agreements. Norway. Indefinite. Ensuring of obligations under 
international agreement. 
B. Internal Waterways 
Transport 
 
a) Passenger transportation b) Freight transportation Measures contained in the existing and 
future agreements on access to inland 
waterways which provide for the 
preferential treatment with respect to traffic rights and access to ports and 
port service, payment of tonnage, dues 
and other charges. All parties to existing and future 
agreements. Indefinite. Maintenance and development 
of the achieved level of 
economic links with the States 
concerned and more particularly with certain regions of such 
states. 
С. Air Transport Services  
 
- Selling and marketing Measures concerning establishment of 
companies and opening of 
representative offices, applied on the 
basis of reciprocity.  All parties to existing and future 
respective air transportation 
agreements. Indefinite. Implementation of the 
conditions for supply of air 
transport services established in 
the framework of the existing bilateral air transportation 
agreements.  
  GATS/EL/149 
Page 4 Sectors or sub-sectors Description of measure indicating its 
inconsistency with Article II Country or countries to which the 
measure applies Intended duration Conditions creating the need for 
the MFN exemption 
E. Rail Transport Services Measures maintained in the framework 
of the existing and future agreements 
regulating the rules of carriage, the terms of operation and transportation, 
supply of services related to rail 
transport services in the territory of Russian Federation and between the 
countries – parties to the agreements. All parties to existing and future 
agreements. Indefinite. Ensuring the integrity of railway 
transport as a single production 
and technological complex, regulation of carriage in the 
territory of the 
Russian Federation and between the countries - parties of the 
agreements.  
F. Road Transport Services 
 - International road 
passenger and freight 
transportation Measures in the framework of the 
existing and future agreements on market access in respect of the road 
transport services including tax 
exemptions. All parties to existing and future 
respective agreements, which may be concluded. 
 Indefinite. Limitations, prohibitions, and 
differences in the market access treatments are applied on the 
basis of reciprocity with respect 
to States maintaining similar measures in respect of the 
Russian carriers and/or means of 
transport.  
 
 
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