RESTRICTED  
  
WT/TPR/G/323  
14 September 2015  
(15-4654)  Page: 1/17  
Trade Policy Review Body  Original: English  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
REPORT BY 
REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA  
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the 
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Tr ade Organization), the policy statement by 
Republic of Moldova is attached. 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the first 
session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Republic of Moldova. WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 2 - 
 
  Contents 
1   INTROD UCTION  .......................................................................................................... 3  
2   ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................... 3  
2.1   Macroeconomic poli cies and development...................................................................... 3  
2.2   Inflation and monetary policies .................................................................................... 4  
2.3   Structural reform ....................................................................................................... 4  
2.3.1   Privatization ........................................................................................................... 4  
2.3.2   Tax reform ............................................................................................................. 5  
2.3.3   Competition ...........................................................................................................  5 
2.4   Business climate ........................................................................................................ 6  
3   TRADE AND INVE STMENT REGIME .............................................................................. 7  
3.1   Trade data ................................................................................................................ 7  
3.2   Trade policy .............................................................................................................. 7  
3.2.1   Trad e in G oods ....................................................................................................... 7 
3.2.1.1   Agricult ural Prod ucts ............................................................................................ 8  
3.2.1.2   Technical Ba rriers to Trade .................................................................................... 8  
3.2.1.3   Trade Remedies ................................................................................................... 9  
3.2.2   Trade in Services .................................................................................................... 9 
3.2.3   Trade-related intellect ual property ri ghts (TRIPs) ....................................................... 12 
3.3   Invest ment policy ..................................................................................................... 13 
4   TRADE AGREEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS .............................................................. 15  
4.1   World Trad e Organization .......................................................................................... 15 
4.2   Republic of Mold ova’s EU in tegration ........................................................................... 15 
4.3   Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) ............................................................................. 16 
4.4   Other trad e arrangements ......................................................................................... 16 
REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 1 7 
 
 WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 3 - 
 
  1  INTRODUCTION 
1.1.  This report has been prepared by the Gove rnment of the Republic of Moldova under the WTO 
Trade Policy Review process designed to inform  WTO Members on economic, business and trade 
climate of the country. The report is organized in three major parts starting with an Introduction 
(Section 1). Section 2 (Economic Environment) as sesses the economic environment at macro level 
over the examined period (that is 2001-2015). Section 3 (Trade and Investment) presents key data in the field of international trade in goods, services and intellectual property as well as in 
relation to investment. Section 4 (Trade Agreements and Arrangements) examines trade 
institutions and processes relevant to the Republic of Moldova’s trade policy. 
2  ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 2.1.  The Republic of Moldova is a small and relatively open economy in which agriculture plays a 
significant role as it contributes for about 12.6% in 2014 to GDP and 45.5% of total merchandise 
exports. Services constitute the most important sector in terms of contribution to GDP (some 59.1% in 2014). The industrial output in 2014 compared to 2013 constituted 107.3%. Agricultural 
production in 2014 increased by 8.6% compared to 2013, of which crop production constituted 
10.8%, and animal production 4.1%. The Republic of Moldova has few natural resources and is almost entirely dependent upon imports from the Russian Federation for its primary energy 
requirements as well as inputs for its manufacturing industries. 
2.2.  Remittances from large-scale emigration are a major feature of the Republic of Moldova’s 
economy.
1 The Russian Federation is the main source of its total remittances inflows (more than 
half of the total or about 14% of its GDP in 2014), followed by Italy, Israel and the United States.  
2.3.  The Republic of Moldova’s trade policy is  guided by WTO Agreements and a number of Free 
Trade Agreements (FTAs). Following its accession to the WTO in 2001, the Republic of Moldova has actively participated in subsequent multilateral trade negotiation; in 2015 it has signed the WTO 
Government Procurement Agreement and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. Both treaties are 
expected to the ratified by the Parliament in 2015.  
2.4.  The WTO approach is complemented by the Association Agreement with the European Union, 
which was signed on 27 June 2014 and is provisionally applied since 1 September 2014; the 
Central Europe Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA 2006) , in force from 1 May 2007; Turkey Free Trade 
Agreement, signed on 1 September 2014 and expect ed to enter into force by the end of 2015. A 
number of other FTAs are in force. As a result of these commitments, the Republic of Moldova has 
implemented many economic reforms over the examined period. 
2.1  Macroeconomic policies and development 2.5.  Despite sound economic reforms the economic conditions of the Republic of Moldova remain 
volatile. After a remarkable recovery from the ec onomic crisis of 2009 (the real GDP growth rate 
averaged 4.9% during 2010-14), in 2014 the GDP 4.6% (down from 9.4% in 2013), with the unemployment rate increasing to 6%. This change is due to an important slowdown in agriculture 
and related industries, as well as weaker economic activity in some of its main trading partners, 
notably the Russian Federation and Ukraine. A significant impact is attributable to the Russian embargo on the export of wines and some agricult ural products applied by the Russian Federation 
since 1 September 2014. The decline was also he avily influenced by the fluctuations of the 
exchange rates, given that all Moldovan national statistics is compiled based on US dollars.  
2.6.  As a result of the strengthening of its fi scal policy framework and revenue on the back of 
strong GDP growth, the Republic of Moldova redu ced its overall budget deficit (excluding grants) 
from 8.5% of GDP in 2009 to 5.4% in 2014. However, the overall budget deficit (excluding grants) 
is expected to increase to 6.6% of GDP in 2015 reflecting, inter alia , significant wage and pension 
increases, new ad hoc  tax benefits, and weaker economic activity. To reduce the budget deficit to 
a level that can be sustained without exceptionally high donor support, further measures are 
necessary, such as reforming the social security and health systems, and enhancing privatization. 
                                               
1 The rising trend in remittances started on the back  of the 1998 regional crisis, which encouraged many 
Moldovans to work overseas. WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 4 - 
 
  2.7.  Despite being affected by the global econom ic crisis and other external shocks, the Republic 
of Moldova’s current account deficit, as percenta ge of GDP, decreased from 8.2% in 2009 to 5.5% 
in 2014, after peaking at 11% in 2011. Exchange ra te flexibility and on-going trade liberalization 
efforts, which have had a positive impact on exports, are some of the contributing factors for the 
improvement of its external sector. With sounder current account position and appreciable capital 
flows, the National Bank of Moldova (NBM) was able to build up reserves from US$1.48 billion to US$2.16 billion 2009-14.  
2.2  Inflation and monetary policies 
2.8.  Over 2009-14 the annual average inflation rate  was 4.9%, which is considered by the IMF as 
an appropriate accommodative monetary policy.  Although the headline inflation has been 
artificially contained (by about 0.5-1 percentage point) due to unchanged utility tariffs over the 
last few years
2, the NBM remains vigilant about emerging inflation risk. In view of this risk IN July 
2015, the Parliament adopted amendments to the Law on the National Bank of Moldova in order to 
strengthen its role as a regulator and bank supervisor. In June 2015, the inflation rate amounted 
to 8.3%. 
2.9.  Recent reforms of the banking sector were made effective upon the implementation of an 
amendment to the Law of Financial Institutions ’, which entered into force in April 2015. The 
amendment prohibits any quota holder of a bank’s ca pital to offer bank shares as contribution to 
the capital of a company. Another substantial amendment introduced in this Law is the reduction in the bank’s capital share of each person, incl uding groups of persons acting in concert who 
acquired or is to acquire, by any means, directly or indirectly, a qualifying holding in the share 
capital of a bank from 5% to 1% (amendment entered into force in August 2014). 
2.10.  The severe governance problems in the ba nking system continue to represent a risk to 
financial stability. Despite legislation restoring the NBM’s powers having been enacted, the 
enforcement of regulatory requirements on banks remains weak.  
2.3  Structural reform 2.3.1  Privatization 
2.11.  The privatisation process in the Republic of Moldova began in 1991 with mass privatization 
of residential housing, most small-scale traders and over half of small-scale enterprises. After 
1996, privatization moved to cash privatization with the goal of selling most of the remaining state assets, in particular large-scale enterprises in the energy and telecommunication sector. Several 
larger Moldovan firms have been sold for cash and debt assumption to strategic investors. The sale 
of a cement mill to a leading producer, leather pr ocessing firm, several textile producers, several 
wineries and a hotel in the capital topped the list of transactions. 
2.12.  In 2007, the Moldovan Parliament approved new provisions concerning privatisation in 2007 
by the Law on Public Property Management and its Privatization. Under the law, the Agency for Public Property is the line agency overseeing the state policy in the field of management and 
privatization of public property, post-privatization  activity and exercises th e functions of the owner 
of state property.  
2.13.  The implementation of this law has marked the beginning of a new stage in the privatization 
process characterised by widening the types of enterprises subject to privatization. Reforms 
covered also the diversification of the privatization methods like commercial contests, investment 
contests where the participants make their offers according to the information published by Public Property Agency about state assets exposed for privatisation. A special commission analyses the 
offers in a dialog with the bidders and awards the specific asset to the bidder that made the best 
offer. Also the public property is sold within outcry and discount auctions, these are classical auctions organised by Public Property Agency, as the authority responsible for privatisation. State 
                                               
2 In some utility companies the ta riff level is below the cost recove ry, and it is estimated that the 
needed adjustment in heating and ut ility tariffs is about 10%. To achi eve greater energy efficiency, the 
government of the Republic of Moldova has launched a comprehensive restructuring of the centralized heating 
system in Chisinau, while more favourable electricit y and gas prices have been negotiated with foreign 
suppliers to alleviate expenditure pressures. WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 5 - 
 
  owned securities are sold on Stock Exchange, shifting the privatization deals to the capital market 
and restructuring privatized enterprises. 
2.14.  One of the growing-interest programmes le ad by the Government is the Public-Private 
Partnership (PPP). The new legal framework for PP P has been approved in 2008 by passing the 
Law on Public-Private Partnerships and the Law on Concessions. The Laws provides the legal 
framework for managing concessions of public companies to private ones and thereby attracting private investment into the country. It aims at increasing the efficiency and quality of services, 
public works and other activities of public interest, as well as the efficient use of public property 
and public money. 
2.15.  The main objective of the Law is to regulate the process of concession - a contract whereby 
the central or local governments grants to an investor, against a fee, the right: (i) to conduct 
prospecting, exploration, recovery or restoration of natural resources activities on the Moldovan 
territory; (ii) the right to provide public services ; (iii) to exploit movable and immovable property 
of the central or local government; (iv) to conduct certain types of activities, including the 
representation of state monopoly, taking over management, presumptive risk and the financial 
liability.  
2.16.  As of 31 December 2014, there were 240 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in the Republic of 
Moldova (compared with 308 at the end of 2001); the State retains a majority holding in 72 SOEs. 
2.17.  Largely dictated by public spending needs,  the most recent plan of privatization has been 
adopted in 2012. In order to reduce the participation of the State in joint-stock companies and SOEs, the Government is planning to conduct three privatization rounds in the near future by 
using legally available privatization methods. 
2.3.2  Tax reform 2.18.  The transition from a centralized economy to the market economy and rules imposed 
changes to the legal framework of taxes. The tax regime was reformed and the new tax legislation 
was put in place, based on the experience of  developed western countries. The Republic of 
Moldova, as other countries of central and Eastern Europe, had the advantage of creating “from 
the beginning” their fiscal systems, taking advantag e of the best western practices. However, due 
to the specific conditions of economic and social structure of the country, tax policies and rules have been in continuous change, to improve and manage the system and to adapt it to the specifics. 
2.19.  The Republic of Moldova’s Tax Code was adopted by Parliament on April 24, 1997. The State 
Tax Service is the governmental institution responsible for tax administration in the Republic of Moldova. The main objective of Moldovan tax policy is bringing about efficiency and transparency 
to the taxation system by developing a new Tax Code which aims at: (i) unifying some taxes in 
order to reduce the tax burden on business operators; (ii) a more equitable regional re-distribution of funds; (iii) unifying the income tax for both individuals and companies; (iv) introducing a wealth 
tax on individuals with high income; (v) re-exami ning the taxation of non-governmental pension 
funds in order to reduce their tax burden; (vi) re vising the system of valuation and re-evaluation 
of real estate for tax purposes; (vii) revising the costs which can be deducted from the taxation base by companies; (viii) revising the road ta xation system; (ix) designing and developing 
compliance programs for tax payers and risk management programs, including for wealthy 
individuals; (x) implementing the State Tax Se rvice reform; implementing a “Single Account” 
system for the payment of taxes; (xi) introduc ing and developing electronic systems for fiscal 
declaration and tax payment.  
2.20.  The draft Tax Code is currently being re viewed by the relevant governmental agencies. 
2.3.3  Competition 
2.21.  The Competition Council is an autonomous authority, subordinated to the Parliament, which 
ensures the enforcement and observance of the legi slation in the domain of competition, state aid 
and advertising within its competences. The Competition Council was established in 2012 and is the successor of the National Agency for Protection of Competition (2007-2012).  WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 6 - 
 
  2.22.  The Republic of Moldova’s competition lega l framework, formed by the Law on Competition3 
and the Law on State Aid4 , aims to maintain a competitive market and is particularly intended to 
transpose EU provisions into national law.5 The main legal provisions of the Law on Competition 
refer to categories of prohibited anticompetitive actions (anticompetitive agreements, abuse of 
dominant position, the actions or inactions of public authorities and institutions preventing or 
distorting competition, violations of legal provisions regarding economic concentration, prohibited acts of unfair competition); procedure for investigating anticompetitive practices; merger 
authorization procedure; conditions for exemption of anti-competitive agreements; determination 
of the sanctions for violations; and conditions of application of the leniency policy. 
2.23.  With the aim of introducing certain reforms in this field, the relevant line agencies are 
discussing seven draft governmental regulations on state-aid. The objectives of the Republic of 
Moldova in this area are: (i) building institutional capacity in order to duly cover economic, legal 
and financial aspects of competition and thereby improving the legal enforcement in this area; (ii) revising legislation relating to competition affecting business, in particular identifying and 
addressing barriers to entry into the market; ( iii) developing implementing legislation for the 
framework law on competition, state-aid and advertising; (iv) ensuring fare and non-discriminatory access to state-owned infrastructure, like telecommunication, transportation, 
naval ports and airports etc.; (v) enhancing the efficiency of monitoring anti-competitive behaviour 
with view of easing market entry and de-monopolization of some sectors of economy; (vi) improving law-making in the field of competition, state-aid and advertising; (vii) building a dialogue with central and local governmental authorities, professional and business associations in 
view of improving the enforcement of competition la w; (viii) ensuring transparency and application 
of the EU legislation in the field of state aid.  
2.4  Business climate 
2.24.  The Republic of Moldova ranks 152
nd (out of 189 economies) in the World Bank’s Trading 
Across-Borders 2015 Index; import procedures take 27 days and cost US$1,870 per container (compared with 35 days and US$1,740 per container in 2012).
6 There are customs fees for 
customs processing: 0.4% of customs value but no t higher than €1,800 for imports, and 0.1% but 
not more than €500 for exports. The Republic of Moldova does not have laws or regulations relating to pre-shipment inspection.  
2.25.  The Republic of Moldova has made its no tification of Category A commitments under the 
Agreement on Trade Facilitation.
7  
2.26.  Further improvements to the business climat e in the Republic of Moldova are envisaged in 
the Regulatory Framework Reform Strategy for Entrepreneurial Activity for 2013-2020. The main 
objectives of this Strategy are the optimization of procedures for launching, conducting and closing 
a business and decreasing the administrative burden by approximately 40%. 
2.27.  In the industrial sector the core objective is  the full implementation of the provisions of the 
Roadmap for Improving the Competitiveness in the Republic of Moldova. This reform will 
contribute to enhancing the country’s competitiveness and consequent improvement of the image of the Republic of Moldova in foreign markets. The Innovation Strategy of Moldova for 2013-2020 
aims at improving the institutional framework for research, development and innovation and the 
allocation and management of financial resources to this effect. 
                                               
3 Competition Law No. 183 of 11 July 2012. Six regulations, approved in 2013-2015, constitute the 
secondary legislation supporting the implementation of the Competition Law. 
4 State Aid Law No. 139 of 15 June 2012. Twenty-one regulations, approved in 2013-14, constitute the 
secondary legislation supporting the impl ementation of the Law on State-Aid. 
5 The first national regulations related to the competition domain which ensured the operation of the 
market economy appeared at the be ginning of 90s, alongside with the adoption of the Decision of the 
Government SSR Moldova No. 2 of 1991 on the urgent measures of de-monopolizing the national economy of the SSR Moldova, which declared the development of the competition principle and repression of the monopolist activity as one of the fundamental direct ions of the economy. Subsequently, Law No. 906 of 1992 
on the restriction of the monopolist activity and comp etition development was approved. The principle of the 
free competition and protection of fair competition is stated in the 1994 Constitution. 
6 World Bank Group online information. Viewed at: 
http://doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/Moldova . 
7 WTO document WT/PCTF/N/MDA/1, 19 September 2014. WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 7 - 
 
  2.28.  The business climate in the Republic of Moldova has also been positively impacted by 
developing an important foundation for quality infrastructure achieved through the transposition of the European quality standards into national standards. During 2010-2014, 10,500 European and international standards have been approved as  national standards and, approximately 1,090 
national standards conflicting with the European standards have been repealed.  
3  TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIME 3.1  Trade data 
3.1.  For 2014 year, total exports of goods from the Republic of Moldova amounted to 
US$2,339.5 million, representing 3.7% less than the data for 2013. The exports of domestically produced goods amounted to US$1,529.6 million. (65.4% of total exports), the difference being attributable to re-exports. The latter figure is sm aller with 5.6% compared to the previous year. 
3.2.  The main destinations of Moldovan export s remained the countries of the European Union 
(EU-28) with a total amount of US$1,246 million (with 9.6% higher compared to the 2013 year), holding a share of 53.3% in total exports (46.8% in 2013). 
3.3.  Exports to the CIS countries took a share of 31.4% in 2014 (2013-38%), which corresponds 
to a value of US$735.6 million. Exports of goods to these countries have decreased by 20.3%, compared to the year 2013. 
3.2  Trade policy 
3.4.  Since the membership of the Republic of Moldova to the WTO in 2001, the country has 
realized the full liberalization of its import and export regime of goods. Further orientation of trade policy in the Republic of Moldova is the liberalization and harmonization with the elimination of all 
non-tariff barriers.  
3.5.  Formulation and implementation of trade po licy lies with the Ministry of Economy (ME) in 
cooperation with other ministries and trade-related agencies. The ME is also responsible for the 
WTO issues, negotiating and implementing Regi onal Trade Agreements (RTAs) and promoting 
trade and investment. The ME holds consultations with the private sector in the formulation of the trade policy on ad hoc  basis, including organizing briefings on RTA negotiations. 
3.2.1  Trade in Goods 
3.6.  State budget revenue is based on 48% VAT on imported goods and services, 14% excise on 
imported goods and 6.5% customs duties.  
3.7.  The Combined Nomenclature of goods of th e Republic of Moldova was approved through Law 
No. 172 of 25 July 2014. Mainly due to changes in tariff nomenclature, the tariff schedule 
has 9,448 lines, up from 5,990 when it acceded to the WTO in 2001 but down from 9,842 in 2009.
8 Some 5,674 lines have ad valorem  rates (60.1% of the total), 3,348 are duty free (35.4% 
of the total) and 426 are non- ad valorem  (4.5% of the total).9 Ad valorem  tariffs are applied on 
the c.i.f. customs value. Specific duties are le vied on 209 lines, including alcoholic beverages and 
cigarettes. Compound duties (i.e. a combination of ad valorem  and specific tariffs) are levied on 
183 lines (e.g. meat products, butter and dairy spreads). There are 34 lines with “other duties” on 
products such as motor engines.10 
                                               
8 The 2001 tariff is based on HS96 nomenclature, th e 2009 is based on HS07, while the 2015 tariff is 
based on HS12. 
9 In its accession to the WTO, the Republic of the Republic of Moldova indicated that its simple average 
customs tariff was 9.5% in 1995 (WTO document WT/ACC/MOL/37, 11 January 2001). 
10 Other duties refer to: (i) goods of subheading 8707.10 (50% of the amount of excise duty, calculated 
for vehicles of the same type, but not less than the duties  calculated for a conventional diesel engine, capacity 
1,800 cc); (ii) for motor vehicles, subject to excise duty, of heading 8703 (10% of the amount of excise duty 
calculated for vehicles with the same engine capacity and operational period of 5 years); and (iii) other types 
of motor vehicle engines (15% of the customs value, except for the engines of subheadings 8407.90 and 8408.90 for pedestrian controlled tractors of heading 8432, for which tariff is 0%). WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 8 - 
 
  3.8.  Since its accession to the WTO, the Republic of Moldova has increased the rate of its applied 
MFN tariff. The simple average MFN tariff went from 4.9% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2009 and 6.3% in 2015.
11 MFN applied tariffs average 13.5% on agricultural products and 4.4% on non-agricultural 
goods in 2015. Tariff rates range from zero to 25 % without AVEs, while the highest rate including 
AVEs is 82.7% on certain beer. The modal (most frequent) rate is zero. By HS section, the highest 
tariff rates are prepared food, followed by fats and oils, and footwear and headgear. The Republic of Moldova does not participate in the Information Technology Agreement (ITA). 
3.9.  During the review period, the Republic of Moldova has not made significant changes to border 
measures affecting the manufacturing sector. In 2015, the average tariff (including certain AVEs) on imports of manufactured goods (ISIC 3 definition) was 6.2%, up from 5.2% in 2009; the average tariff on the subset of non-food processi ng products was 4.5% in 2015, against 3.7% in 
2009. Some of the highest tariff protection levels applied to prepared food, beverages and 
tobacco, footwear, arms and ammunition, and leat her products. The Republic of Moldova applies 
an import surcharge on certain motor vehicles (34 tariff lines); the surcharge rate ranges between 
10% and 50% of the relevant excise tax amount, calculated as a function of engine capacity and 
age. 
3.10.  The Republic of Moldova applies MFN im port TRQs, 10% in-quota and 75% out of quota 
rates, to 28 HS lines as follows: (i) 1,000 tonnes on HS 1701; (ii) 5,500 tonnes on HS 170191 and 
HS 170199; and (iii) 1,840 tonnes on HS 1702. 
3.11.  Since its accession to the WTO in 2001, the Republic of Moldova has neither imposed nor 
initiated any anti-dumping or countervailing measures. 
3.2.1.1  Agricultural Products 
3.12.  The Republic of Moldova’s applied MFN tariffs on agricultural products (WTO definition), 
including certain AVEs, averaged 13.5% in 2015, up from 12.1% in 2009; non- ad valorem  tariffs 
applied mostly to agricultural imports. Tariff prot ection remains highest for sugar (75%), followed 
by animals and animal products (averaging 16.2% ). The Republic of Moldova applies seasonal 
tariffs to 14 lines (e.g. certain types of potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes and other fruits). It 
applies tariff rate quotas on imports of sugar; pref erential tariff rate quotas are also in place for 
certain exports under autonomous trade preferences granted by the EU in 2008. Certain agricultural products are subject to import licensing requirements. No taxes or licensing requirements apply to agricultural exports. 
3.2.1.2  Technical Barriers to Trade 
3.13.  The Republic of Moldova’s legal framework includes, inter alia , the Law on Standardization 
No. 590-XIII of 22 September 1995
12 , the Law on Metrology No. 647 of 17 November 1995, the 
Law on Technical Regulation No. 420-XIV of 22 December 2007, the Law on Accreditation and 
Conformity Assessment No. 235 of 1 December 201113 ; and the Law on Consumer Protection 
No. 105-XV of 13 March 2003.14  
                                               
11 The tariff is calculated taking into account the ad valorem  lines, the ad valorem  component of 
compound rates, as well as the ad valorem  equivalents (AVEs) of non- ad valorem  rates (i.e. specific lines, and 
the non- ad valorem  component of compound duties). The AVEs are calculated using average unit prices, i.e. as 
the ratio of specific duties to import unit values, estima ted by the ratio of import to import quantities/volumes 
for the latest available year: 2013 import data for the 2015 tariff (62 AVEs are included out of 209 specific rates); 2009 import data for the 2009 tariff (88 AVEs are included out of 224 specific rates); and 2001 import data for the 2001 tariff (17 AVEs are included out of 19 specific rates). In case no AVE could be calculated, the ad valorem  part of the compound rate was included. 
12 The Law on Standardization No. 590-XIII dated September 22, 1995 was duly republished on 25 May 
2012 in Monitorul Oficial No. 99-102 art. 328. Its main objectives, inter alia , are to ensure that the technical 
regulation and regulatory specifications of products, pr ocesses and services comply with their intended use. 
13 The Law on Accreditation and Conformity Assessment  aims to ensure national security, avoid frauds, 
preserve the environment through the conformity assessm ent of products, equipment, processes, technologies, 
production systems and pote ntially dangerous works, software, qualit y systems and services, as well as the 
supervision of products on the market an d/or used in the Republic of Moldova. 
14 The Law on Consumer Protection aims to protect the rights of every consumer against the risk to 
purchase a product that could affect he alth, life or security or to prejudic e his legitimate rights and interests. WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 9 - 
 
  3.14.  The Ministry of Economy is the WTO TBT Enquiry Point. The National Institute of 
Standardization (NIS) is responsible for the implementation and administration of Annex 3 of the TBT Agreement (Code of Good Practice) for the prep aration, adoption and application of standards. 
In 2013, the Republic of Moldova notified the WTO of its acceptance of the Code of Good 
Practice.
15 The Republic of Moldova has submitted 24 notifications to the TBT Committee (up to 
March 2015).16  
3.15.  The Ministry of Economy is responsible for the development of policy in the field of 
standardization, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment, and for overseeing the 
following public institutions17: National Institute of Standardization (NIS), National Institute of 
Metrology (NIM), National Centre of Accreditat ion (MOLDAC), and Consumer Protection Agency 
(CPA).  
3.16.  Regulations for industrial products are based on the EU’s “New and Global Approach” 
(setting-up of essential requirements define d to meet health, safety, and environmental 
objectives). The technical characteristics of the pr oducts are provided in the (voluntary) standards 
drafted by the stakeholders following the pr ocedures of the European standardization 
organizations. Technical regulations are applied to products for which safety is an issue, such as construction products, medical devices, and certai n electrical equipment, toys, machinery, lifts, 
household appliances, etc. These products are subject to testing, certification or prior approval 
procedures. 
3.17.  National standards are being harmonized with international or regional, in particular 
European standards. At the end of April 2014, the Republic of Moldova had 24,915 national 
standards, 34.1% of which were EU standards an d 10.2% were international ISO/IEC standards. 
The Republic of Moldova aims to reach a portfo lio of 80% of EU standards by 2017, through the 
adoption of international/EU standards only. To this end, NIS is partially funded by the state 
budget. Some 95% of harmonized the EU standards have already been adopted as national 
standards in the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, NIS is abolishing incompatible standards, including GOST Soviet/Russian incompatible standards. 
3.18.  The Republic of Moldova is a correspondent member of the International Organization of 
Standardization (ISO) and the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML); an associate member of the International Electro-technical Commission (IEC), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), the European co-operation for Accreditation (EA), and 
the Metre Convention; an affiliated member of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), 
and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC); full member of the Euro-Asian Cooperation of National Metrological Institutions (COOMET); and an observer to the European 
Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). 
3.2.1.3  Trade Remedies 3.19.  The Republic of Moldova has so far initiated two safeguard investigations. On 10 June 2003, 
regarding imports of sugar
18, and on 18 June 2003 with respect to imports of cosmetic and 
perfumery products.19 On imports of sugar, a definitive safeguard measure was introduced in 
2004, which expired on 31 December 2012.20 A provisional measure for 200 days was imposed on 
imports of cosmetic and perfumery products but was later suspended due to lack of clear evidence.  
3.2.2  Trade in Services 
3.20.  The trade in services is a complex area of Moldovan international trade. The sector is 
characterized by a low diversity of exported servic es. However, many reforms in this sector have 
been recently triggered by the Republic of Moldov a’s EU integration process. For example, in line 
with its commitments under the AA/DCFTA with the EU, on 6 June 2013, the Moldovan Parliament 
                                               
15 WTO document G/TBT/CS/N/182, 23 August 2013. 
16 WTO document seri es G/TBT/N/MDA. 
17 Government Decision No. 996 of 27 December 2012 and Government Decision No. 77 of 25 January 
2013. 
18 WTO document G/SG/N/6/MDA/1, 30 September 2003. 
19 WTO document G/SG/N/6/MDA/2, 13 July 2004. 
20 Law No. 8-XV of 5 February 2004. WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 10 - 
 
  adopted the Law on the Optional Pension Funds. In 2015 it is planning to adopt the Law on Post 
Offices and the National Strategy for the Development of Informational Technology (Digital Moldova 2020). A Governmental Decision  from 8 August 2014 approved the Methodology 
of Governmental Open Data.  
3.21.  Some services sector-specific developments  in the examined period are reflected below: 
a. Energy  
3.22.  The Moldovan energy market is small and fragmented and the primary energy supply matrix 
remains dominated by fossil fuels, with natural gas being the input for most locally produced 
electricity. Notwithstanding some steps towards supply diversification, the Republic of Moldova remains strongly dependent on natural gas imports from the Russian Federation; other supply-side risks are linked to internal and regional socio-political tensions (Transnistria, Ukraine and the 
Russian Federation).  
3.23.  In May 2010, the Republic of Moldova became a contracting party to the Energy Community 
Treaty, thus formalizing a commitment to bring its energy sector in line with the EU rules and 
practices. Specifically, the Republic of Moldova undertook to gradually implement the Energy 
Community acquis  comprising the core EU legislation on el ectricity, natural gas, renewable energy, 
energy efficiency, oil reserve stocks, protection of competition and the environment, and energy 
statistics. The Energy Community’s long-term object ives are the creation of a single regulatory 
space and the establishment of a single energy ma rket, including an external energy trade policy 
and a mutual assistance mechanism.
21  
3.24.  In June 2015, draft laws on electricity and natural gas were undergoing public hearing, and 
a draft law on promotion of renewable sources of energy is at the final stage of parliamentary 
approval. The new body of legislation is aimed at  implementing the Repub lic of Moldova’s Energy 
Community commitments. The transposition of EU rules on unbundling for the natural gas market 
has to be carried out by 1 January 2020.  
b. Financial Services 
3.25.  The Republic of Moldova's financial system is still underdeveloped, with a shallow non-bank 
segment. Banks continue to dominate the financial system. Most remaining financial sector assets 
are almost evenly split between the insurance and microfinance sub-segments. State participation in financial services has been diminishing; at end-2014, it consisted of a 33.4% share in the 
capital of one bank (down from 56.1% and 21% shares in two banks in 2009). 
3.26.  In the context of its Association Agreem ent with the EU, the Republic of Moldova has 
committed to a ten-year time frame for the gradual approximation of its legislation on financial services to the EU regulatory framework. The Association Agreement does not stipulate any GATS 
plus commitments in financial services.  
3.27.  The current prudential framework for banks is largely in line with the first generation of 
Basel Committee provisions known as Basel I Framework, which are less sophisticated than those 
set out in the second and third generations; efforts to implement Basel II/III are underway (for 
this purpose, a Twinning Project has been launched in June 2015 and will be finalized in 2017). As from January 2012, all licensed banks are required to keep their accounting and prepare financial statements in accordance with international financial reporting standards developed by the 
International Accounting Standards Board; as from April 2014, annually banks shall submit their 
consolidated reports prepared in accordance with international financial reporting standards to the National Bank of Moldova. 
3.28.  The Republic of Moldova’s capital market is still embryonic, with trading taking place only in 
shares and bonds; trading mechanisms for derivatives and Government bonds (secondary market) 
                                               
21 Online information. Viewed at: http://www.energy-
community.org/portal/page/portal/ENC_HOME/EN ERGY_COMMUNITY/Legal/Treaty/About_the_Treaty . WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 11 - 
 
  are yet to be implemented.22 During the review period, over-the-counter (off-exchange) deals 
related to the privatization process accounted for the bulk of transactions (around 60%). The Republic of Moldova has taken steps to align its legislation governing primary and secondary capital market activities with the EU legal framewor k. There are no restrictions on foreign portfolio 
investment in the Republic of Moldova. 
3.29.  The Republic of Moldova’s schedule of serv ices commitments does not contain any specific 
limitations on market access and national treatm ent for the provision of insurance and insurance-
related services.
23 Insurance activities can only be performed by Moldovan-incorporated joint-stock 
companies licensed by the NCFM; foreign investors may enter the Moldovan insurance market through (partial or full) acquisition of an existing insurance company or incorporation of a new one.
24 There are no statutory limitations on either th e type or the location of risks that companies 
may insure; no ownership-based limitations are applied on the type of services that may be 
offered. 
c. Communication services 
3.30.  The State retains full ownership of the incumbent postal services operator Posta Moldovei, 
the incumbent broadcasting operator Radiocomunica ţii, and the incumbent fixed-telephony 
operator Moldtelecom, which is also active on the mobile telephony segment through its subsidiary 
Unité.  
3.31.  The Republic of Moldova has respected all specific commitments in telecommunication 
services assumed upon its accession to the WTO, including those spelled out in the Reference Paper on regulatory principles for basic telecommunications services.
25 Entry in the electronic 
communications market has been liberalized as from 1 January 2004.26 The legal framework for 
recognising electronic contracts and signatures has been in force since 2004.27  
3.32.  The opening up of the electronic comm unications market has been complemented with 
gradual (voluntary) alignment of the Moldovan legal and regulatory framework to the one applied 
in the EU. Legislative harmonization has been carried out on the basis of EU directives on: access and interconnection (2002/19/EC); authorization of networks and services (2002/20/EC); 
regulatory framework (2002/21/EC); and universal service (2002/22/EC).
28 Nevertheless, delays 
in the adoption of implementing regulations continue to cause enforcement lags in some areas, such as universal service obligations.
29  
3.33.  In its GATS commitments on postal servic es, the Republic of Moldova has reserved for the 
national postal services operator, Posta Moldovei, the monopoly on international postal services 
and internal postal services related to letters up to 350 grammes (CPC5711); Posta Moldovei was 
also to have a monopoly on post office counter services (CPC75113) until 31 December 2004.30  
d. Transport 
3.34.  Although efforts to reverse the infrastructure  decline after the 80’, this trend has intensified 
in recent years, further reforms and significan t investments are still required to address the 
relatively high transportation costs and low journey speeds, and to improve safety conditions. The 
Republic of Moldova applies VAT at zero rate to international transportation. 
                                               
22 The NCFM approved a concept mechanism for the tr ading of Government secu rities (with maturity 
greater than one year) in December 2013 and set out the conditions for traders' admission to the government securities market in a Regulation adopted in March 2014. 
23 WTO document GATS/SC/134, 21 December 2001. 
24 In 2014, non-residents owned some 26.5% of the total share capital of Moldovan-incorporated 
insurance companies. 
25 WTO document GATS/SC/134, 21 December 2001. 
26 Law No. 1134-XV of 14 June 2002 amending and supplementing Law No. 520-XIII of 7 July 1995. 
27 Law No. 264-XV of 15 July 2004. 
28 Law on Electronic Communications No. 241-XVI of 15 November 2007. 
29 Harmonization with directives 2002/58/EC, 2009/136/EC and 2009/140/EC, by 2016, is envisaged in 
a National action plan for the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU (Government Decision 
No. 88 of 7 October 2014). 
30 WTO document GATS/SC/134, 21 December 2001. WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 12 - 
 
  3.35.  Air traffic has been on the rise and is ex pected to expand further, as the Republic of 
Moldova gradually integrates into the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA). Since 2009, small 
maritime vessels have been able to call at the Moldovan port of Giurgiulesti, fostering the rapid development of the port complex and the st eady growth of cargo handling volumes. 
3.36.  The entry into force of a new Road Transport Code
31 eliminated the monopoly of road 
transportation, requiring only that private operator s link up their ticket sales systems to the one of 
the State enterprise. In June 2015, there were six privately-owned bus terminals and 26 owned by 
State. No companies with State participation are involved in freight and non-urban passenger 
transport. Interurban bus services, comprising  some 3,000 national and some 200 international 
routes, are, in principle, open to competition. 
3.37.  The entire railway transport segment in the Republic of Moldova is exclusive public 
property; assets directly involved in transpor tation and/or repair works are not subject to 
privatization.32 The State holds a monopoly on, inter alia , freight and passenger services; it is also 
in charge of the Moldovan railroad network (west of the river Dniester), which is reserved 
exclusively for State-owned locomotives.33  
3.2.3  Trade-related intellectual property rights (TRIPs) 3.38.  The Republic of Moldova’s has fully complied with its WTO TRIPS commitments. The main 
IPR objective is to ensure a level of protection similar to that in the EU, including effective means 
of enforcement. The legal framework is being am ended in order to harmonize it with the EU 
legislation in line with the National Intellectual Property Strategy (NIPS) 2012-20, the NIPS Action Plan 2012-14
34, and the Association Agreement between the EU and the Republic of Moldova (Title 
V Chapter 9 on IPRs). 
3.39.  Over 2008-14, the trademarks applications/reg istrations of the Republic of Moldova led with 
84% and 86% of total applications and registrations in 2014, respectively. This was followed by 
industrial designs, and inventions (including shor t-term patents). About 27% of applications were 
filed by national applicants, the remaining 73% ap pertaining to foreign applicants who have acted 
by both national and international way, under the Madrid System-for trademarks, The Hague 
System–for industrial design, Lisbon System-for  appellations of origin, the Patent Cooperation 
Treaty (PCT)-for inventions. 
3.40.  The Republic of Moldova is a signatory to 26 international and 7 CIS IPR treaties and 
agreements, and cooperates with more than 30 IP offices around the world. 
3.41.  The regulatory body in charge of the lega l protection of trademarks, patents and copyrights 
is the State Agency for the Intellectual Property  (AGEPI) established in 1992 and reorganized in 
2004 and 2014.35 Its main responsibilities include: granting IP rights, formulation of IP policy, 
elaboration and development of IP legislation,  observance the implementation of national 
legislation and of international agreements, and IP education and training.  
3.42.  The National Commission on Intellectual Property (NCIP), is an advisory body under the 
Government, established in 2008, to coordinate an d ensure the interaction of ministries, other 
central administrative authorities and holders of IP rights in activities aimed at developing and strengthening the National Intellectual Prop erty System, combating and preventing IPR 
infringements and fighting against counterfeiting, import and sale of counterfeit goods in 
the Republic of Moldova.
36  
                                               
31 Law No. 150 of 17 July 2014. 
32 Laws No. 309-XV of 17 July 2003 and No. 121-XVI of 4 May 2007. 
33 Government Decision No. 582 of 17 August 1995. 
34 The NIPS 2012-20 and the NIS Action Plan 2012-14 we re approved by Government Decision No. 880 
of 22 November 2012. 
35 Law No.114 of 3 July 2014 on the State Agency on In tellectual Property, published in Monitorul Oficial 
No. 282-289 of 26 September 2014. 
36 Government Decision No. 489 of 2008. NCIP includes  persons in charge of the following institutions: 
AGEPI, Academy of Sciences of Moldova,  Ministry of Economy, Mi nistry of Justice, Minist ry of Internal Affairs, 
Ministry of Information Technology  and Communications, Customs Servic e, Center for Combating Economic WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 13 - 
 
  3.43.  Led by AGEPI, several other institutions are involved in the protection, enforcement and 
defense of IPRs: Judiciary System; Prosecutor General’s Office; Customs Service; Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA); the Competition Council (CC); Ministry of Information Technology and 
Communications; and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry. 
3.44.  The Board of Appeals, under AGEPI, is sp ecialized body for the extrajudicial settlement of 
appeals filed against decisions of registration/patenting or rejection of applications for registration/patenting of IPO. Decisions taken by  the Board of Appeals may be appealed by the 
parties in the courts in the manner and within the time limits established by the legislative acts in 
the field of intellectual property and the law of civil procedure. 
3.45.  Disputes involving IPO relate to two cate gories: appeals examined by the Board of Appeals 
and disputes examined in courts. During 2003-20 14, of 1,718 decisions issued by the Board of 
Appeals, 186 were contested in court (10.8% of total decisions), of which 119 judgments were 
maintained and 67 judgments were cancelled, respec tively, 36% of contested ones or 3.9% of the 
total of adopted ones. 
3.46.  In accordance with the provisions of the Law on Copyright and Related Rights, AGEPI 
established the Mediation Board in the field of intellectual property, examining and settling disputes assigned to its competence according to the special laws in the field of intellectual 
property and disputes in the field of collectiv e management of copyright and related rights. 
Currently, the Regulation of the cited Board is in the process of drafting with the AGEPI. 
3.47.  In order to familiarize the general public wi th the results of the examination of IP disputes 
and in the context of implementation of the RM-EU Action Plan regarding the public access to legal 
information and case law in this area, AGEPI initiated in 2007 the publication on its website
37 of 
court decisions and judgments on intellectual property cases.  
3.3  Investment policy 
3.48.  The legal framework to regulate foreign investment is contained in the Law on Investments 
in Entrepreneurial Activity.38 It defines rights and responsibilities of investors, and public 
authorities in the field of investment, guarantees provided by the state for local and foreign 
investors, methods of resolution of investment disputes, as well as principles of foreign investment 
regulations. In addition, the Constitution ensures non-discriminatory treatment and guarantees the inviolability of both foreign and domestic investments of natural and juridical persons.
39  
3.49.  The Ministry of Economy (ME) is responsible for maintaining a favourable investment 
climate. The ME’s priorities include improving the business environment, increasing economic 
competitiveness particularly in light of the implementation of the DCFTA, and modernizing the infrastructure to attract larger FDI inflows. The Moldova Investment and Export Promotion 
Organization (MIEPO) is a public non-profit institution coordinating policy implementation for 
competitiveness, export promotion and investment attraction in the Republic of Moldova.
40  
3.50.  The Republic of Moldova allows full foreign participation in most activities. However, 
regarding financial services, residents from jurisdictions that do not apply international standards 
on transparency are not allowed to buy and/or have direct or indirect holdings in a bank’s capital. Additionally, a prior written approval is required from the National Bank of Moldova for: (i) the acquisition of a qualifying holding in a bank’s share capital or increase his/her qualifying holding; 
(ii) the acquisition of a holding in a bank’s share capital if the voting rights of that holding have 
been suspended and (iii) the contribution with his/her bank’s shares to the capital of other 
companies. According to the authorities, these re quirements are of prudential character aimed at 
                                                                                                                                               
Crimes and Corruption, Center for Consumer Protection, Executive Committee of ATU Gagauzia. The President 
of NCIP is the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy. 
37 Online information viewed at: http://agepi.gov.md/md /practice/decisions/ . 
38 Law No. 81-XV of 18 March 2004. 
39 Other laws affecting foreign inve stment include: the Law on Property; the Law on Entrepreneurship 
and Enterprises; the Law on Joint Stock Companies; the Law on Small business Support; the Law on Financial 
Institution; the Law on Franchising, and the Tax Code. 
40 MIEPO was created under Government Decision No . 109 on 12 February 2014. MIEPO is member of 
the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, and its services are free of charge. WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 14 - 
 
  providing protection of investors, depositors an d at ensuring the integrity and stability of the 
national financial system. They equally apply to both to local and foreign investors.  
3.51.  Certain restrictions also apply to the acquisition of agricultural and forested land.41 
Foreigners may become landowners only through inheritance and may only transfer the land to 
Moldovan citizens. Foreigners are permitted to buy all other forms of property in the Republic of 
Moldova, including land plots under privatized enterprises and land designated for construction. 
3.52.  No minimum level of investment is required to invest in the Republic of Moldova. 
Investments cannot be subject to expropriation or to any other similar measures which can 
directly or indirectly deprive investors of their property right or the right to control investments, unless the following conditions are met: the measure is undertaken for the general public good with a fair and preliminary compensation and it is not discriminatory; and it is due to contractual 
conditions established under public-private partners hip. The public utility and the compensation of 
damage shall be determined in accordance with  the Law on expropriation of public utility.
42  
3.53.  Investors have the right to sue public authorities for damages caused due to illegal actions 
and decisions. For the domestic investor the compensation is paid in Moldovan Leu, and for the 
foreign investor in domestic  and/or foreign currency.  
3.54.  The Republic of Moldova has 39 bilateral investment treaties (BITs)43 and 36 double 
taxation agreements (DTAs) in force.44 It is also a contracting party to the International Centre for 
Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Since 1992, the Republic of Moldova has been a member of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).  
3.55.  Both local and foreign enterprises registered in the Republic of Moldova, other then those 
established in FEZs and/or industrial parks, bene fit from a number of tax incentives according to 
the Tax Code and other fiscal legislation.  
3.56.  The Republic of Moldova also offers specific incentives for the residents of Free Economic 
Zones (FEZs) and Industrial Parks. FEZs are created for a period of 25-30 years and offer, 
inter alia , the following incentives: (i) exemption from VAT, except goods delivered to the domestic 
market; (ii) exemption from customs duties on goods imported into the FEZ and subsequently 
exported; (iii) exemption from excise duties on goods imported into the FEZ and subsequently 
exported; (iv) entities established in the FEZ which export goods and services from FEZ outside the customs territory of the Republic of Moldova or deliver the produced goods to other FEZ are entitled to a 50% exemption of corporate income  tax (CIT); and (v) the income obtained from 
exports of goods and services originating from  the FEZ outside the customs territory of the 
Republic of Moldova or from supply to other FEZ re sidents is CIT exempted for a period of up to 5 
years. Investors in FEZs are protected from change s in legislation for a period of up to 10 years. 
3.57.  Enterprises deriving over 50% of their income from the sale of their own software are 
exempt from income tax for a period of 5 years. 
3.58.  Enterprises residing in the international port of Giurgiulesti are entitled to 75% exemption of 
corporate tax payment for a period of 10 consecutive years, starting the first fiscal period after 
                                               
41 Price Waterhouse Coopers (2014). 
42 Law No. 81-XV of 18 March 2004. 
43 Albania; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium and Luxembourg; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; 
China; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Repu blic; Estonia; Finland; France; Ge orgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; 
Israel; Italy; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Lithuania;  Montenegro; Netherlands; Poland; Romania; Russian 
Federation; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Switzerland; Ta jikistan; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; United 
States and Uzbekistan. The Republic of Moldova also signed a BIT with Iran (Islamic Republic of) but is not in 
force. 
44 Albania; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Canada; 
China; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Repu blic; Estonia; Finland; France; Ge orgia; Germany; Greece; Hungary; 
Ireland; Israel; Italy; Ja pan; Kazakhstan; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; La tvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia 
(TFYR); Netherlands; Oman; Poland; Portugal; Romani a; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; 
Spain; Switzerland; Tajikistan; Turkey ; Ukraine; United Kingdom; and Uzbe kistan. UNCTAD online information. WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 15 - 
 
  (the fiscal period) the taxable income was recorded. Further and until the expiration of the Law on 
Free International Port Giurgiulesti they are entitled to 50% of corporate tax exemption.45  
4  TRADE AGREEMENTS AND ARRANGEMENTS 4.1  World Trade Organization 
4.1.  In November 1993, the Republic of Moldova applied for accession to the GATT. Following the 
conclusion of the Uruguay Round, it applied to accede to the WTO on 31 January 1995. On 26 July 
2001, the Republic of Moldova became the 142 Me mber of the WTO. Its accession to the WTO 
including its Protocol and the provisions of the WTO take priority over any WTO-inconsistent 
domestic laws and regulations. 
4.2.  The Republic of Moldova grants at least MFN treatment to all its Members. The country has 
recently completed negotiations on WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). The Republic 
of Moldova is not a party to the Information Te chnology Agreement (ITA) and the WTO Agreement 
on Trade in Civil Aircraft it fully supports the multilateral trading system and endorses the Bali 
Package, notably the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation.
46  
4.3.  The Republic of Moldova has been involved in two trade disputes: one as complainant47, and 
one as respondent.48  
4.4.  The Republic of Moldova has made regular notifications to the WTO; however, at the end 
of 2014, it had 27 outstanding notifications.49  
4.2  Republic of Moldova’s EU integration 4.5.  The EU is the biggest trading partner of the Republic of Moldova accounting for 53.3% of 
merchandise exports and 48.3% of its imports in 2014. The EU is also the main investor in the 
country. An independent study predicts that the DC FTA, once fully into force, will increase the 
Republic of Moldova's exports to and imports from the EU by 16% and 8%, respectively. The country’s GDP could increase by 5.4% or €142 million in the long-term.
50  
4.6.  The accession of the Republic of Moldova to the EU is therefore one of its major foreign policy 
objectives. The country aims at having the status of EU candidate country by 2017 and full EU membership by 2020. This will require the country to align its legislative framework with the EU 
legislation, which is on-going.  
4.7.  On 27 June 2014, the Republic of Moldova and the EU have signed the Association 
Agreement (AA) and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) provisionally applied since 1 September 2014. It currently coexists wi th the EU’s Regulation on Autonomous Trade 
Preferences. The DCFTA will come fully into forc e once all national Parliaments of EU Member 
States ratify it.  
4.8.  The AA has three main components: visa liberalisation (launched in April 2014), increased 
political cooperation, and the DCFTA.  
4.9.  The DCFTA covers trade in goods and services including tariff elimination or reduction over a 
maximum of 10 years. On import duties, the process will be “asymmetric”: while EU import duties 
on most Moldovan products will be eliminated, th ose on key EU products entering the Republic of 
Moldova will be removed over ten years. It also co ntains provisions on the facilitation of customs 
                                               
45 Law No. 8-XV of 17 February 2005. 
46 The Republic of Moldova has already made its no tification of Category A commitments under the 
Agreement on Trade Facilitation. WTO docume nt WT/PCTF/N/1/MDA/1, 19 September 2014. 
47 Ukraine — Taxes on Distilled spirits. See WTO document series DS423. 
48 The Republic of Moldova — Measures Affectin g the Importation and Internal Sale of Goods 
(Environmental Charge), with Ukraine as complainant. See WTO document series DS421. 
49 WTO Statistics database, “Trade  Profiles: Moldova”. Viewed at: 
http://stat.wto.org/CountryProfile /WSDBCountryPFHome.aspx?Language=E .  
50 EU online information. Viewed at: http://trade.ec.europa.eu/do clib/press/index.cfm?id=994 . WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 16 - 
 
  procedures, on anti-fraud measures and trade defence instruments. A bilateral dispute settlement 
procedure is envisaged to solve issues in an expeditious manner.  
4.10.  The DCFTA also provides for further open ing of the services mark ets and improvement of 
establishment conditions for investors. It sets a path to bring Moldovan legislation closer to that of 
the EU legislation in a wide number of regulatory policy areas, such as rules for export of 
agricultural goods and food safety in general, regulations for industrial products and conformity assessment, management of customs, including enfo rcement of intellectual property rights at the 
border, rules on public procurement and wide alignment to the EU rules in services.
51  
4.11.  On 7 of October 2014, the Republic of Mo ldova adopted the National Action Plan for the 
implementation of the AA and DCFTA. The co mmitments undertaken under these instruments 
relate to improving the business climate, promoting and attracting investments development, 
supporting the productive sector of the econom y, promoting technological development of the 
industrial sector, enhancing energy security, modernizing the quality infrastructure system. 
4.12.  The Plan provides that line ministries and other public institutions will ensure, within the 
limits of their competence, the implementation of commitments arising from the AA/DCFTA, and 
will make quarterly progress reports to the Minist ry of Foreign Affairs and Economic Integration 
(MFAEI). The Ministry of Economy of the Republic  of Moldova is responsible for the coordination 
and monitoring of the implementation of the DCFTA commitments.  
4.3  Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) 4.13.  In 2014, merchandise trade with RTAs partners accounted for 76.2% of the Republic of 
Moldova’s total imports and 85.9% of total expo rts. According to the authorities, with the 
exception of the free trade agreement with the EU for which there is an average preferential rate 
of 0.8% on all products (2.7% for agriculture and 0.3% for non-agricultural goods), the rest of the Republic of Moldova’s RTAs in force are duty free. 
4.14.  The Republic of Moldova has 14 RTAs in force encompassing 45 partners: Albania; Armenia; 
Azerbaijan Republic of; Belarus; Bosnia and Herzegovina; the EU (28); Georgia; Kazakhstan; UNMIK/Kosovo; Kyrgyz Republic; FYR of Macedonia; Montenegro; the Russian Federation; Serbia; 
Tajikistan; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; and Uzbekistan. Seven of the Republic of Moldova’s RTAs have 
been notified to the WTO, some of which have been reviewed by the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements, while seven RTAs are still to be notified. On 11 September 2014, the Republic of 
Moldova also signed a free trade agreement wi th Turkey, which is not yet in force.  
4.4  Other trade arrangements 
4.15.  Over the last few years, the Republic of Moldova has received Generalised System of 
Preferences (GSP) treatment from Canada, the EU, Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, and 
the United States.
52 
4.16.  Since 1 March 2008, the Republic of Moldova has been benefitting from the EU’s 
Autonomous Trade Preferences (ATP) scheme, whic h currently coexists with the DCFTA. The ATP 
offers free access to the EU market without quantitative restrictions and customs fees, withdrawal 
of tariff caps for industrial products and improved access to the EU market for agricultural products. The exceptions being a small number of sensitive goods for the EU and are subject to 
annual duty-free tariff quotas, and fruit and vegetables, fresh or chilled, for which the import 
duties are applied excluding the ad valorem  component. In December 2013, the ATP was amended 
to extend duty-free treatment to Moldovan wine. The ATP will apply until 31 December 2015 to make it easier for business to adapt during the transition period between the ATP and the 
DCFTA.
53 
                                               
51 WTO document WT/REG352/N/1, 2 July 2014. 
52 WTO PTA Database. Viewed at: http://ptadb.wto.org/ ; and UNCTAD (2011). 
53 EU online information. Viewed at: http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-
regions/countries/moldova/ . WT/TPR/G/323 • Republic of Moldova 
 
- 17 - 
 
  REFERENCES 
Price Waterhouse Coopers (2014), Investing Guide Moldova 2014 . Viewed at: 
https://www.pwc.com/md/en/publications/a ssets/moldova-busin ess-guide-2014.pdf . 
UNCTAD (2011), General System of Preferences: List of Beneficiaries. Viewed at: 
http://unctad.org/en/docs/itcdtsbmisc62rev5_en.pdf .  
__________