WT/L/903  
 
27 November 2013  
(13-6508) Page: 1/4 
General Council    
 
  EUROPEAN UNION - APPLICATION OF AUTON OMOUS PREFERENTIAL T REATMENT TO   
MOLDOVA - EXTENSION OF THE WAI VER 
DECISION OF 26 NOVEMBER 20131 
 The General Council,  
Conducting  the function of the Ministerial Conference in the interval between meetings 
pursuant to p aragraph 2 of Article IV of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization (the "WTO Agreement");  
Having regard  to paragraphs  1 and 3 of Article  IX of the WTO Agreement, the Guiding 
Principles to Be Followed in Considering Applications f or Waivers adopted on 1  November  19562, 
and the Understanding in Respect of Waivers of Obligations under the General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade 1994 (the “GATT 1994”);  
Taking into account that by a Decision of 7 May 2008 the General Council granted the  
European Union a waiver of its obligations under paragraph 1 of Article I and Artic le XIII of the 
GATT 1994 for a  six-year period running from 1 March 2008 until 31 December 20133 (the 
“Existing Waiver ”);  
Noting that the Existing Waiver is due to expire on 31 December 2013;  
Taking note  of the request of the European Union, pursuant to paragraph  3 of Article  IX of 
the WTO Agreement, for an extension of the waiver of its obligations under paragraph  1 of Article I 
and under Article  XIII of the GATT  1994 to t he extent necessary to permit the European Union to 
afford duty -free or preferential treatment to products originating in the Republic of Moldova, 
including certain agricultural products for which limited concessions are given as defined in the 
Annex to th is Decision  until 31 December 2015, without  being req uired to extend the same 
duty-free or preferential treatment to like products of any other Member;  
Considering  the persistent difficult economic situation in the Republic of Moldova, the efforts 
made by the Members to foster economic transition and development in the Republic of Moldova, 
as well as the initiative of the European Union to include the Republic of Moldova in the European 
Neighbourhood Policy and foster deeper trade integration;  
Considering  that the duty -free and preferential treatment the European Union affords to 
Moldova is intended to promote economic development in a manner consistent with the objectives 
of the GATT 1994 and not to raise new barriers to the trade of other Members;  
Noting  that, in light of the foregoing, the exceptional circumstances justifying the extension 
of the waiver from paragraph 1 of Article I and from Article XIII of the GATT 1994 exist;  
Decides as follows:  
                                               
1 Adopted in accordance with the Decision -Making Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the 
WTO Agreement agreed by the General Counci l on 15  November  1995 (WT/L/93).  
2 BISD 5S/25  
3 WT/L/722  WT/L/903  
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  1. Subject to the conditions set out in this Decision, the provisions of paragraph 1 of Article I 
and the provisions of Article XIII of the GATT 1994 shall be waived from 1 January 2014 until 
31 December  2015 to the extent necessary to permit the European Union to afford duty -free or 
preferential treatment to prod ucts originating in the Republic of Moldova, including certain 
agricultural products for which limited concessions are given as defined in the Annex to this 
Decision, without being required to extend the same duty -free or preferential treatment to like 
products of any other Member.  
2. Such duty -free or preferential treatment shall not raise new barriers to the trade of other 
Members.  
3. The European Union shall consult promptly with any Member on the operation of its 
preferential or duty -free concessions in  respect of the Republic of Moldova, or on any other matter 
arising in respect of this Decision.  Where a Member considers t hat its benefits under 
the GATT  1994 are or may be impaired unduly as a result of measures put in place by the 
European  Union and co vered by this Decision, the European Union shall examine the possibility of 
a satisfactory adjustment of the matter.  
4. This Decision does not affect Members' rights as set out in the Understanding in Respect of 
Waivers of Obligations under the GATT 1994.  
5. The European Union shall report annually to the General Council on the preferences and 
duty-free treatment afforded to products from the Republic of Moldova, including certain 
agricultural products for which limited concessions are given as defined in t he Annex to this 
Decision, including the extent to which such preferences and duty -free treatment is different from 
the European Union' MFN and GSP concessions, with a view to facilitating the annual review 
provided for in paragraph 4 of Article IX of the WTO Agreement.  
 
 
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  WT/L/903  
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ANNEX  
PRODUCTS SUBMITTED T O QUANTITATIVE LIMIT S OR PRICE THRESHOLD S 
1.  Products subject to annual duty free tariff quotas  
 
Order No.  CN Code  Description  2013(1) 2014(1) 2015(1) 
09.0504  0201 to 0204  Fresh, chilled and frozen meat of bovine animals, swine and sheep and goats  4 000(2) 4 000(2) 4 000(2) 
09.0505  ex 0207  Meat and edible offal of the poultry of heading 0105, fresh, chilled or frozen, other 
than fatty livers of subheading 0207 34  500(2) 500(2) 500(2) 
09.0506  ex 0210  Meat and edible meat offal of swine and bovine animals, salted, in brine, dried or 
smoked; edible flours and meals of meat or meat offals of domestic swine and 
bovine animals  500(2) 500(2) 500(2) 
09.4210  0401 to 0406  Dairy products  1 500(2) 1 500(2) 1 500(2) 
09.0507  0407.00  Birds' eggs, in shell  120(3) 120(3) 120(3) 
09.0508  ex 0408  Bird's eggs, not in shell and egg yolks, other than unfit for human consumption  300(2) 300(2) 300(2) 
09.0509  1001 90 91  
1001 90 99  Other Spelt (other than spelt for  sowing), common wheat and meslin  55 000(2) 60 000(2) 65 000(2) 
09.0510  1003 00 90  Barley  50 000(2) 55 000(2) 60 000(2) 
09.0511  1005 90  Maize  45 000(2) 50 000(2) 55 000(2) 
09.0512  1601 00 91  
and1601 00 99  Sausages and similar products, of meat, meat of fal or blood; food preparations 
based on these products  600(2) 600(2) 600(2) 
 
ex 1602  Other prepared or preserved meat, meat offal or blood:  
- of fowls of the species Gallus domesticus , uncooked;  
- of domestic swine; and  
- of bovine animals, uncook ed. 
09.0513  1701.99.10  White Sugar  34 000(2) 34 000(2) 34 000(2) 
(1) from 1 January until 31 December  
(2) tonnes (net weight)  
(3) million units  WT/L/903  
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  2.  Products for which the ad valorem  component of the import duty is exempted  
 
CN Code  Description  
0702 Tomatoes, fresh or chilled  
0703 20  Garlic, fresh or chilled  
0707 Cucumbers and gherkins, fresh or chilled  
0709 90 70  Courgettes, fresh or chilled  
0709 90 80  Globe artichokes  
0806  Grapes, fresh or dried  
0808 10  Apples, fresh  
0808 20  Pears and quinc es 
0809 10  Apricots  
0809 20  Cherries  
0809 30  Peaches, including nectarines  
0809 40  Plums and sloes  
 
 
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