RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG/M/43 
27 July 2006 
 
 (06-3627) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements 
Forty-Third Session  
 
 
 
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF 4 JULY 2006 
 
Chairman: Mr.  O.  Camara (Senegal ) 
 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  
1. The 43rd Session of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (hereinafter CRTA or the 
Committee) was convened in Airgram WT O/AIR/2850, dated 20 June 2006.   
2. The Chairman  announced that under "Other Business" th e Secretariat would take the floor to 
make a presentation on the distribution of documents , and he would then inform the Committee of the 
dates for the next CRTA meeting.   
3. The following Agenda was adopted: 
A. Adoption of the Agenda 
B. Examination of Regional Trade Agreements: 
I. Status Report on the Examination Work 
II. Establishment of the European Union, Services 
III. Customs Union between Turkey and the European Communities, Goods 
IV. Association Agreement between th e European Communities and Chile, 
Goods 
V. Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and Armenia, Goods 
VI. Free Trade Agreement between the EFTA States and Singapore, Goods and 
Services 
VII. Other Agreements, Deemed Concluded,  Pending the Provision of Replies to 
Additional Questions: 
Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, Goods Free Trade Agreement between  Canada and Chile, Goods 
Euro-Mediterranean Agreement be tween the European Communities 
and Tunisia, Goods Free Trade Area between the EFTA States and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Goods Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and the Former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia, Goods 
Free Trade Agreement between the EFTA States and Mexico, Goods Free Trade Agreement between Chile and Mexico, Goods and Services Agreement between Japan and Si ngapore for a New Age Economic 
Partnership, Goods 
Free Trade Area between the EFTA States and Croatia, Goods Free Trade Area between the EFTA States and Jordan, Goods WT/REG/M/43 
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  Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Jordan, Goods 
and Services Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Singapore, Goods Free Trade Agreement between the Republic of Korea and Chile, 
Goods 
Enlargement of the European Union, Goods 
VIII. Other Agreements, Deemed Concluded but Additional Questions Received: 
Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Singapore, Services 
Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) Agreement, Goods 
Free Trade Agreement between Chile and El Salvador, Services Free Trade Agreement between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Goods Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and Croatia, Goods 
Closer Economic Partnership Arra ngement between China and Hong 
Kong, China, Goods Closer Economic Partnership A rrangement between China and 
Macao, China, Goods  
C. Reporting on the Operation of Agreements 
Australia and New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement 
(ANZCERTA) 
Czech Republic-Slovak Republic Customs Union EFTA-Slovak Republic Free Trade Area EFTA-Czech Republic Free Trade Area 
D. Other Business 
 
4. The Chairman
 recalled that the Latin American Integration Association (LAIA) had been 
granted observer status to the CRTA on an ad hoc basis and sought confirmation to extend an invitation to LAIA to attend the Committee's next meeting.  It was so agreed
. 
B. EXAMINATION OF REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS  
I. Status Report on the Examination Work 
5. Under this Agenda Item, the Chairman  provided the Committee with a status report on the 
examination work.  As had been agreed in the 41st Session of the CRTA, he said that this meeting 
would concentrate on Regional Trade Agreements (R TAs) already under examination, rather than 
undertake new examinations that could potentially fo llow a different process if the new transparency 
mechanism was approved.  In line with that decision,  and following the efforts made by delegations to 
respond to his request contained in his fax dated 12 May 2006, it had been possible to include in the 
Agenda a large number of agreements which were cu rrently under factual examination, so that the 
Committee could try to complete those examinations .  He expressed his intention to carry out three 
things at the present meeting:  First, to make as much headway as possible in  the factual examination 
of six agreements (counting goods and services separa tely), which had been included under Items B.II 
to B.VI of the Agenda.  Those agreements were  also to be found in Table 1 of his fax dated 
12 May 2006.  Second, to come to a final decision on the examination of the 16 agreements for which 
the factual examination was to be considered as completed once Members had had the opportunity to 
review the replies given by the parties to their written questions.  Those agreements were included 
under Item B.VII of the Agenda and were to be f ound in Table 2 of his fax dated 12 May 2006.  
Finally, to attempt to come to a final decision on the factual examination of the seven agreements for 
which the factual examination was considered to be  completed but for which additional questions had  WT/REG/M/43 
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  been filed.  Those agreements were included under It em B.VIII of the Agenda and were to be found in 
Table 3 of his fax dated 12 May 2006. 
6. The Chairman drew the attention of the Committ ee to the status of the examination of the 
Enlargement of the European Union (25).  Despite  the fact that the Committee had considered the 
examination as completed at the last meeting, the examination of that agreement would remain open 
while awaiting the calculation of general incidence.  The Secretariat was in contact with the parties to 
the agreement on this subject and would keep th e Committee informed of all developments on the 
matter. Finally, the Chairman proposed 28 July  2006 as the deadline for submitting outstanding 
documentation to the Secretariat.  He referred in pa rticular to the agreements between  the European 
Communities and Bulgaria, the European Communiti es and Romania and the Kyrgyz Republic and 
Armenia, which were the three agreements under exam ination that were included in Table 1 of his fax 
of 12 May 2006, and woul d not to be examined during that sessi on.  This would allow the Committee 
to advance one step forward at its October 2006 Session.   
7. The representative of European Communities  sought clarification on the agreements between 
the EC and Bulgaria and between the EC and Romani a.  It was his understanding that since these two 
agreements would soon become obsolete following the accession of the two countries to the EU, the 
questions posed on these agreements were to be d ealt with bilaterally with the Members that had 
raised them.  The Chairman  said that he had been informed that  following bilateral consultations, the 
examinations had been concluded a nd he instructed the Secretariat to  draft the examination reports if 
there were no objections.  It was so decided . 
8. The representative of Canada  said that his question, which had already been provided in 
writing to the Secretariat and the European Co mmunities' delegation, on the methodology proposed 
by the EC to consolidate the WTO domestic support commitments of the new member states with the 
EU-15 commitments, concerned the time frame select ed for the conversion of the total Aggregate 
Measurement of Support (AMS) commitments of the new members states from the currencies of 
commitment into euros to determine the consolidat ed EU-25 total AMS commitment.  He noted that 
the EC had used exchange rates from immediately prior to the operative event to convert prices, 
trading amounts and direct aids established in euro s into prices, trading amounts and direct aids for 
member states outside the euro area.  Consequent ly, it was his expectation that the consolidated 
EU-25 total AMS commitment followed the same prac tice and used the relevant exchange rates near 
or on the accession date, and he requested the repres entative of the European Communities to confirm 
that it would follow this practice. 
B.II-VI (The minutes of the examination of the Agre ements listed under agenda items B.II-VI are 
being distributed as separate documents.)  
VII. Other Agreements, Deemed Concluded, Pending the Provision of Replies to Additional 
Questions 
- Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, Goods 
- Free Trade Agreement between  Canada and Chile, Goods 
- Euro-Mediterranean Agreement betw een the European Communities and 
Tunisia, Goods 
- Free Trade Area between the EFTA States and the Former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia, Goods WT/REG/M/43 
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  - Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and the Former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia, Goods 
- Free Trade Agreement between the EFTA States and Mexico, Goods 
- Free Trade Agreement between Chile and Mexico, Goods and Services 
- Agreement between Japan and Si ngapore for a New Age Economic 
Partnership, Goods 
- Free Trade Area between the EFTA States and Croatia, Goods 
- Free Trade Area between the EFTA States and Jordan, Goods 
- Free Trade Agreement between the Un ited States and Jordan, Goods and 
Services 
- Free Trade Area between the United States and Singapore, Goods 
- Free Trade Area between the Republic of Korea and Chile, Goods 
- Enlargement of the European Union, Goods 
9. The Chairman
 drew the attention of the Committee to the comments he had made under Item 
B.1 of the Agenda about the 16 agreements mentioned in his fax of 12 May 2006 in Table 2.  For 
these agreements the examination had been deem ed concluded as Members had already received 
answers to their written questions.  A questions and replies document had recently been distributed for 
each one of these agreements.  Since no delegation ha d any comment on this point, he suggested that 
the Committee consider that those 16 agreements ha d been concluded and that the Secretariat begin 
drafting their examination reports.  It was so agreed .   
VIII.  Other Agreements, Deemed Concluded but Additional Questions Received 
- Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Singapore, Services 
- Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) Agreement, Goods 
- Free Trade Agreement between Chile and El Salvador, Services 
- Free Trade Agreement between Romani a and the Republic of Moldova, 
Goods 
- Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and Croatia, Goods 
- Closer Economic Partnership Arrange ment between China and Hong Kong, 
China, Goods 
- Closer Economic Partnership Arra ngement between China and Macao, 
China, Goods  
 
  WT/REG/M/43 
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  10. In reference to the seven agreements mentione d in his fax of 12 May 2006 in Table 3, the 
Chairman  said that for these agreements the examinati on had been deemed concluded, but additional 
questions had been received.  A questions and rep lies document had been recently distributed for each 
of these agreements.  Since no delegation had any comment on this point, he suggested that the 
Committee consider that those seven  agreements had been concluded and that the Secretariat started 
drafting their examination reports.  It was so agreed .   
C. REPORTING ON THE OPERATION OF AGREEMENTS  
- Australia and New Zealand Closer Economic Relations Trade Agreement 
- Czech Republic-Slovak Republic Customs Union 
- EFTA-Slovak Republic Free Trade Area 
- EFTA-Czech Republic Free Trade Area 
11. The Chairman  recalled that according to Item 1(b) of the Committee's Terms of Reference, a 
schedule on the reporting of 19 periodic reports on the operation of agreements in 2004 had been 
submitted in November 2003 (document WT/REG/W/48) .  Fourteen reports had been presented, of 
which ten had already been examined during previous meetings of the Committee.  At the present 
meeting, four biennial reports would be consider ed under Item C the agenda:  Report of Australia – 
New Zealand (document WT/REG111/R/B/3);  the Customs Union between the Czech Republic and 
the Slovak Republic (document WT/REG89/R/B/3);  the Free Trade Agreement between EFTA and 
the Czech Republic (document WT/REG87/R/B/3) , and the FTA between EFTA and the Slovak 
Republic (document WT/REG88/R/B/3).   
12. The representative of the United States  had two questions on the Australia – New Zealand 
Agreement.  She noted that in paragraph 6 of th e report there was mention of provision 15.8 which 
allowed a member state to request the other member  state to take action against dumped imports from 
a third country;  she wondered if any such request s had been made.  Secondly, she wondered if any 
subsidies had been eliminated between the Parties that remained in effect vis-à-vis  third parties.  The 
representative of Australia  said that in his opinion the answer to both questions was no, but that he 
would have to confirm with capital. 
13. The representative of Switzerland  noted that Section 9 of WT/REG111/R/B/3 – Customs 
Cooperation – read that "Customs Agencies will deve lop the closest possible working relationship by 
maintaining common approaches to the greates t extent possible and pursue harmonization 
opportunities where possible".  He asked what ha rmonization opportunities the Parties were seeking 
in this field.  The representative of Australia  said that the Parties held the agreement up as a real 
model in that particular area and that, as mentioned in subsequent paragraphs of the report, there was 
a great deal of coordination between the two countries, exemplified by the establishment of a joint customs committee which ensured a harmonized a pproach in the way rules of origin were 
administered, or by the regular ministerial meetings between Australia and New Zealand for discussing customs regulatory issues.  Those paragra phs did, in consequence, outline the basis upon 
which harmonization and coope ration existed.  The representative of New Zealand
 agreed with her 
Australian colleague and added that those paragraphs outlined the efforts that had been made to try 
and ensure that customs cooperation was harmonized and as free flowing as possible. 
14. The Chairman  thanked the representatives who ha d taken the floor and proposed that 
delegations submit their written ques tions no later than 28 July 200 6 and that parties send in their 
replies by 18 August 2006.  It was so agreed .  He drew the attention of the Committee to the four 
biennial reports which had still not been submitted , namely the report between Australia and Papua WT/REG/M/43 
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  New Guinea;  Caribbean Community and Common Market Services Agreement (CARICOM);  and 
the Agreements between the EC and Algeria and Sy ria.  He asked those delegations which had not 
fulfilled their obligations to do so as soon as possibl e.  Concerning the establishment of an official 
schedule for the reporting of biennial reports fo r 2006, he recalled that the idea was that the 
Committee would revisit that issue during the meeti ng.  However, he suggested that the Committee 
waited for the results of the discussions underway  within the Negotiating Group on Rules (NGR), 
because those discussions had a direct link with that  procedure.  He therefore suggested that the 
Committee came back to that matter in October 2006.  It was so agreed
.   
D. OTHER BUSINESS  
15. A representative of the Secretariat  noted that over the past two years, the Secretariat had spent 
a minimum of CHF 460,000 translating the text of RT A treaties into the three official languages, not 
including distribution costs or the cost of revisions of translations.  The translation of RTA treaties into the three languages cost CHF 200,000 to CHF 300,000 per year.  In addition, it was the text of the treaties that was translated, not the annexes, which was in a sense where all the really important 
information was contained.  In view of the consensus text that had just come out of the NGR to 
improve notification procedures, and ensuring that th e text would be available on the Internet in one 
of the three WTO languages, and considering the f actual presentations that would be done by the 
Secretariat (available in the three languages of the WTO), the need for transl ation of the RTA treaties 
into the three languages had been obviated.  That  had been done initially as a courtesy to give 
Members a way to start the examination process but now that the examination process was going to be 
far more solidly based under what had been agreed in the text on RTA transparency.  Moreover this 
way the only group which had that practice, while  others, like the Anti-Du mping Committee simply 
had the Secretariat announce that a notification had been received.  In his view, a large amount of money was being spent that did not serve the purposes that Members required of the Secretariat.  He thus proposed to stop that practice and pro ceed as other Committees did, thus saving some 
CHF 300,000 a year.  He could then approach the pe ople in charge of budgetary matters, and propose 
to use that money to begin building the datab ase that was necessary under the Rules Decision. 
16. The representative of Chinese Taipei
 found the proposal to be sensible and he added that, if 
available, Members should provide to the WTO versi ons of the agreements in other languages at the 
moment of notification, even if those languages were not official, such as Chinese, which some 
Members would still be able to read. 
17. The Chairman  informed the delegations that the next Committee meeting would take place on 
9 and 10 October 2006.   
18. The Committee took note  of the comments made. 
__________