. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG129/4 
18 January 2005 
 
 (05-0211) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:   English 
  
 
INTERIM AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND  
THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA 
 
Questions and Replies
 
 
 The following communication, dated 14 January 2 005, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the European Communities.   This document reproduces the questions addressed  to the Parties and the responses submitted. 
The questions and replies set out below are or ganized in accordance with document WT/REG129/3. 
 
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II. TRADE PROVISIONS 
1. Import restrictions 
1.1 Duties and charges
 
1. Paragraph 2, Article 14.1. of the agreement states: 
“For the products covered by chapter 7 and 8 of the combined nomenclature, for which the 
Common Customs Tariff provides for the applic ation of ad valorem customs duties and a 
specific customs duty, the elimination applies only to the ad valorem part of the duty?" 
 
(a) What is the share of the goods that are subject to ad valorem  duty in relation to 
the total volume of EC ? 
 This provision only applies to certain fruit a nd vegetables, falling under HS chapters 7 and 8. 
However, this provision does not apply at the moment. Indeed, the EC autonomously grants exceptional trade measures to countries participati ng in the EU Stabilisation and Association Process 
including the former Yugoslav Re public of Macedonia. The Interim Agreement stipulates that those 
of the autonomous trade measures which are more  favourable shall apply, in addition to the 
contractual trade concessions offered by the EC in the Interim Agreement. Hence, as long as the 
autonomous trade measures apply, the reduction of du ties shall apply both to the ad valorem and the 
specific duties.  
 
2. On page 3 of WT/REG/129/3, it is stated: 
“Abolish its customs duties applicable on “baby  beef” or wine imported into the EC and 
agricultural products listed in Annex IV(b) within limits of tariff quotas indicated for each 
product listed in that Annex, with a timetable for the reduction in customs duties applicable 
to the quantities exceeding the tariff quotas.” 
 WT/REG129/4 
Page 2  
 
(a) What is the share of goods, in trade val ue terms, subject to tariff quotas in 
relation to the total volume of trade? Please provide the aforementioned figures both in terms of trade into and out of Macedonia and of the total trade imported 
into EC and Macedonia. 
 The share of value was, in 1999, of 5.63% of products imported into the former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia, and 2.57% of its exports. It amounted to 4.38% of total trade value (imports 
and exports) with origin and d estination former Yugoslav Republic  of Macedonia in 1999.  When 
looking at trade EUR15-former Yugoslav Republic of  Macedonia in 1999 the value percentages were: 
7.01% of EUR15 imports from the former Yugos lav Republic of Macedonia and 3.76% of EUR15 
exports to the former Yugoslav Republic of Mace donia. It amounted to 4.79% of total trade value 
(imports and exports) between  EUR15 and the former Yugos lav Republic of Macedonia. 
 
(b) What is the number of tariff lines that a re subject to tariff quotas for agriculture 
products and industrial products respectiv ely? What is the total number of tariff 
lines for agricultural products and industrial products respectively? 
 When the agreement comes to full implementa tion there will not be any heading subject to 
tariff quota out of 4409 industrial headings (HS 6 dig its). There will be 60 headings with tariff quota 
out of 706 headings for agriculture and fishery products (HS 6 digits).  
(c) Is the share of the goods subject to tari ff quotas included in the shares used to 
calculate ‘substantially all the trade’? 
 No. 
  
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