WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG232/1  
19 September 2008 
 (08-4411) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements  
  
 
   
 
 
FACTUAL PRESENTATION 
 
Free Trade Agreement between  
the EFTA States and Egypt 
(Goods) 
 
Report by the Secretariat 
 
 
 
 
This report, prepared for the considerati on of the Free Trade Agreement between the 
EFTA States and Egypt has been drawn up by the WTO Secretariat on its own 
responsibility and in full consultation with the Parties.  The report has been drawn 
up in accordance with the rules and pro cedures contained in the Decision for a 
Transparency Mechanism for Regiona l Trade Agreements (WT/L/671).  
 
Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to Roberto Fiorentino (tel: +41 22 739 5595).  WT/REG232/1 
 Page iii 
 
 
  TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 
  Page 
I. TRADE ENVIRONMENT 1  
II. CHARACTERISTIC ELEMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT 4  
A. BACKGROUND INFORMATION  4  
III. NATIONAL TREATMENT AND MARKET ACCESS PROVISIONS OF THE 
AGREEMENT 5 
A. IMPORT DUTIES AND CHARGES , AND QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS  5  
1. General provisions 5  
2. Liberalization of tariff lines and trade 8  
(a) EFTA States' liberalization schedule 10  
(b) Egypt's liberalization schedule 13  
B. RULES OF ORIGIN  15  
C. EXPORT DUTIES AND CHARGES , AND QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS  18  
D. REGULATORY PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT  18  
1. Standards 18  
(a) Technical barriers to trade 18  
(b) Sanitary and phytosanitary measures 19  
2. Safeguard mechanisms 19  
(a) Global/bilateral safeguards 19  
(b) Structural adjustment 19  
3. Anti-dumping and coun tervailing measures 20  
4. Subsidies and State trading enterprises 20  
5. Other regulations 20  
(a) Customs-related procedures 20  
(b) Intellectual property 20  
(c) Investment and services 21  
(d) Payments, transfers and capital movement 21  
(e) Competition and other economic matters 22  
(f) Technical and financial assistance 22  
E. SECTOR -SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT  22  
IV. GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT 22  
A. EXCEPTIONS AND RESERVATIONS  22  
B. ACCESSION AND WITHDRAWAL  22  
C. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK  23  
D. DISPUTE SETTLEMENT  23  
E. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER AGREEMENTS CONCLUDED BY THE PARTIES  23  
ANNEX I 25 
 
  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 1 
 
 
  FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND EGYPT (GOODS) 
 
Factual Presentation by the Secretariat  
  
I. TRADE ENVIRONMENT 
1. The Parties to the EFTA-Egypt Free Trade Agreem ent (hereafter the Agreement) are Iceland, 
Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (which comprise EFTA) and Egypt.  In 2006, the EFTA States' total merchandise imports from the world accounted for US$211.7 billion and their total 
exports for US$273.2 billion.  In the same year, Egypt's total imports from the world accounted for 
US$20.6 billion and exports for US$13.7 billion.  In 2006, Egypt's share in world exports and imports 
was 0.1% and 0.2%, respectively;  the corres ponding shares for the EFTA States were 2.3% and 
1.7%. 
2. Recent developments in global and intra trade be tween the Parties are shown in Charts I.1 and 
I.2.  Chart I.1 shows the EFTA States' trade with the world and with Egypt.  For the period surveyed 
(1999-2006) EFTA's figures show a consistent and pr olonged trade surplus on a global basis and with 
Egypt; exports to Egypt have remain ed fairly constant ove r this period while im ports from Egypt have 
registered a slight increase.  EFTA's total imports  from, and exports to, Eg ypt in 2006 amounted to 
US$51 million and US$373 million, respectively, repr esenting 0.02% of its total imports and 0.14% 
of its total exports. 
 
 
3. Chart I.2 shows Egypt's trade with the world and with the EFTA States.  For the period 
surveyed (1999-2006) Egypt's figures show a consis tent and prolonged trade deficit on a global basis 
and, with the exception of 2006, also with the EFTA.  Egypt's imports from the EFTA States have 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 050100150200250300Chart I.1  
EFTA:  merchandise imports from and exports to world and Egypt 1999-2006  
Source  :  UNSD, Comtra de database.  US$ million  US$ billion
Imports from Egypt  Exports to EgyptLeft-hand scale:  
Total imports Total exports  Right-hand scale:WT/REG232/1 
Page 2  
 
 steadily declined over this period while its exports to the EFTA States have fluctuated with a large 
surplus in 2006.
1  Egypt's total imports from and exports to the EFTA States in 2006 amounted to 
US$104 million and US$280 million, respectively, repr esenting 0.5% of its total imports and 2% of 
its total exports.2   
 
 
4. The commodity structure of trade among the Parti es, as well as of their imports and exports to 
the world in the period 2004-2006, is shown in Ch art I.3 on the basis of Harmonized System (HS) 
sections.  Over this period, EFTA's main export product categories to Egypt were chemicals,  
machinery, and prepared foods accounting for 72 .6% of Egypt's total imports from EFTA and for 
64.5% of EFTA's global exports.  Over the same pe riod, Egypt's main export product categories to the 
EFTA States were vegetables, textiles, vehicles and minerals accounting for 78.3% of their combined 
imports from Egypt;  with the exception of vehicles, these product categories also figured among Egypt's main global exports (68.8% of its global e xports).  Egypt's transactions under HS Chapter 99 
represented respectively 12.8% and 10.1% of its global imports and exports over this period.
3 
 
                                                      
1 According to the Egyptian's authorities, the increase in exports to EFTA in 2006 was due to 
unexpected increase of gold (non-monetary) and jewelle ry exports which accounted for US$ 212.7 million. 
2 There remain significant discrepancies in bilateral trade reported to the UNSD Comtrade Database.  
According to the Parties these could be due to differences in methodology for the  measurement of merchandise 
trade. 
3 Trade occurring under HS Chapters  98 and 99 are reflected in the total but no details on these is 
available as this information is not recorded against any specific HS product code in Chapters 1 to 97. 0 100 200 300 400 500 
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 0510152025Chart I.2  
Egypt:  merchandise imports from and exports to world and EFTA 1999-2006  
Source  :  UNSD, Comtra de database.  US$ million  US$ billion
Imports from EFTA  Exports to EFTALeft-hand scale:  
Total imports Total exports  Right-hand scale: WT/REG232/1 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Chemicals 
26.5
Minerals 5.0
Animal Prods. 2.8Plastics 2.1Chart I.3
EFTA States and Egypt: product composition of merchandise trade, annual average (2004-06)
EFTA's imports from Egypt Egypt's imports from EFTA
Source :  UNSD, Comtrade database.Other
 5.6
Prepared Foods 
22.3Vegetables
28.5Per cent
Optical 4.3Chemicals 4.5
Machinery
21.3
Fats and oils 2.4
Prepared Foods 4.0
Base Metals 8.9Optical 4.0
Machinery 
23.8Machinery 3.9
Chemicals
16.0Minerals 9.5Plastics 2.6Optical 2.5
Other
16.1
Minerals 6.7Vehicles 11.2Other
6.5
Chemicals
8.0Base Metals
9.3Textiles 4.5Pearls 5.2Vegetables 2.5
Base Metals 8.4 Chemicals 19.2Minerals 30.1
Chemicals 2.7Minerals 
55.5Other
17.1
Machinery 15.2Prepared Foods 3.1Total:  US$51.5 million Total:  US$156.9 million
Total:  US$187.4 billion Total: US$17.9 billion
Total:  US$238.4 billion Total:  US$10.8 billionTextiles 27.6Vehicles 12.7Animal Prods. 3.1
Plastics 4.7Miscellaneous 3.5
Other
9.1EFTA's global exports Egypt's global exportsEFTA's global imports Egypt's global imports
Wood Pulp 2.1Other
5.4
Base Metals 4.9
Pearls 4.8Plastics 4.2Wood Pulp 3.0Vegetables 2.0 Machinery
14.8
Minerals 14.4
Vegetables 10.7
Vehicles 4.0Animal Prods. 3.4Wood 3.4Textiles 2.8
Optical 8.6Pearls 3.2
Base Metals 6.9Vehicles 2.8
Textiles 6.8Vegetables 6.5Plastics 3.0
 
 WT/REG232/1 
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 II. CHARACTERISTIC ELEMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT 
A. B
ACKGROUND INFORMATION  
5. The EFTA-Egypt Free Trade Agreement was signed by the EFTA States and the 
Arab Republic of Egypt (hereafter the Parties) on 27 January 2007;  it entered into force on 1 August 
2007.  On 17 July 2007, the Parties notified the Agreement to the WTO under Article XXIV:7(a) of 
the GATT 1994 and the Understanding on the Interp retation of Article XXIV of GATT 1994, as an 
Agreement forming a free-trade area (WT/REG232/N/1) . The text is available, together with its 
Annexes, on the Parties' official websites: 
• EFTA States: http://www.efta.int/content/free-trade/fta-countries/egypt  
 
• Egypt: 
http://www.tas.gov.eg/English/Trade+Agreeme nts/Countries+and+Regions/Europe/efta.h
tml 
 6. The objectives of the Agreement are the liberali zation of trade in goods in accordance with 
Article XXIV of the GATT 1994;  th e gradual development of an e nvironment conducive to enhanced 
trade in services and investments;  the effective pr otection of intellectual property rights;  and the 
harmonious development of economic  relations between the Parties through technical and financial 
assistance (Article 1.2).  The Agreement can be se en within the broader Barcelona Process launched 
in 1995 by the European Union with a view to  creating an Euro-Mediterranean free trade area 
(EuroMed FTA) by 2010.  The EFTA States although no t formally part of the Process participate in 
the initiative through the establishment of their own network of FTAs with Mediterranean countries;  
the Agreement is the eighth FTA concluded betw een the EFTA States and a Mediterranean partner.
4  
As for Egypt, it is a formal member to the Pro cess and it too has been expanding its own network of 
FTAs with the other EuroMed partners (See Table IV .1 for a complete list of RTAs to which the 
EFTA States and Egypt are parties). 
7. The Agreement applies to trade relations between , on the one side, Egypt, and, on the other 
side, the individual EFTA States;  it does not apply to trade relations between the EFTA States 
themselves (Article 2).  When ratifying the Agreemen t, Norway exempted the territory of Svalbard 
from the application of the Agreement with th e exception of trade in goods in accordance with 
Article 3 and Protocol C.   
8. The Agreement is composed of nine Chapters, as follows: 
Table II.1:  Chapters, annexes and side letters of the Agreement 
Chapters and Annexes Title/description 
Preamble  
Chapter I General Provisions 
Chapter II Trade in Goods 
Chapter III Protection of Intellectual Property 
Chapter IV Investment and Services 
Chapter V Payment and Capital Movement 
Chapter VI Competition and Other Economic Matters 
Chapter VII Technical and Financial Assistance 
Table II.1 (Cont'd)  
                                                      
4 The Mediterranean partners are the EU(27) plus Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, 
Palestinian Authority, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.  WT/REG232/1 
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  Chapters and Annexes Title/description 
Chapter VIII Institutional and Procedural Provisions 
Chapter VIIIa Final Provisions 
a The Agreement currently reflects Chapter VIII twice and could be discussed at the First Joint Committee Meeting. 
Source: Text of the Agreement between the EFTA States and Egypt. 
 
9. The Agreement contains six Annexes and three Protocols.  Annexes I-VI deal respectively 
with: Products not Covered by the Agreement;  Fish and other Marine  Products;  Bilateral 
Arrangements on Trade in Agricultural Products;  Abolition of Customs Duties;  Protection of Intellectual Property Rights;  and Establishment and Functioning of the Arbitral Tribunal.  Protocol A 
sets out the concessions that each Pa rty applies to processed agricultural products;  Protocol B and the 
seven annexes contained therein, deals with the rul es of origin;  product-specific rules of origin are 
found in Annex II of Protocol B; and Protoc ol C relates to Territorial Application. 
10. No overall implementation period is explicitl y foreseen in the Agreement.  However, 
EFTA countries will abolish customs duties on the products covered by the Agreement upon entry 
into force, and Egypt will gradually eliminate th em over a transition period ending on 1 January 2020 
by which time customs duties on most industrial products will be eliminated. 
11. Three bilateral "agricultural arrangements" (hereafter referred to as AAs) have been 
concluded between Egypt, and Iceland, Norway , and Switzerland/Liechtenstein respectively.
5  T h e  
AAs form part of the instruments establishing a fr ee-trade area between the EFTA States and Egypt 
(Article 1 of each AAs) and they all provide for a strict parallelism with the Agreement with respect 
to entry into force and duration.  
12. Although the AAs have not been notified to the WTO, the information contained therein has 
been incorporated in this factual presentation so as to offer a complete picture of existing trade 
commitments between the EFTA States and Egypt.  Therefore, unless expressly specified, market access commitments and disciplines d escribed in this presentation refe r to products covered in both 
the Agreement and the AAs. 
III. NATIONAL TREATMENT AND MARKET ACCESS PROVISIONS OF THE 
AGREEMENT 
A. I
MPORT DUTIES AND CHARGES , AND QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS  
1. General provisions 
13. Trade in goods between the Parties is governed by the provisions of Chapter II which sets out 
the product coverage of the Agreement, market access provisions and the applicable regulatory 
regime.  With respect to scope (Article 4) , the provisions of the Agreement apply to 
products originating in the Parties falling unde r the following categories: industrial products 
(HS Chapters 25-97), with the exception of products  listed in Annex I (See Table III.1);  "processed 
agricultural products" as specified in Protocol A of  the Agreement;  "fish and other marine products" 
as provided in Annex II;  and agricultural products fa lling within HS Chapters 1 to 24 as specified in 
Annex III and in the bilateral AAs.6 
                                                      
5 The texts of the AAs can be found on the official EFTA Website (See paragraph 5). 
6 The Agreement utilizes the WTO definition of "agricultural" and "non-agricultural" products.  WT/REG232/1 
Page 6  
 
 14. The Parties commit not to introduce new customs duties on imports or charges having 
equivalent effect in their mutual trade as of entry into force of the Agreement (Article 6).
7  With 
respect to covered industrial goods (HS Chapters  25-97), the elimination of such measures is 
implemented on a progressive basis for Egypt (Article 6.2) and on entry into force of the Agreement 
for the EFTA States (Article 6.3).  In the case of E gypt, the Appendix to Annex IV lists the industrial 
products subject to duty elimination and the correspondi ng calendar of liberalization;  there are four 
different categories of tariff reductions ending, r espectively, in year one (2008), seven (2014), ten 
(2017) and 13 (2020) of the Agreement (tariff reducti ons take place on 1 January of each given year).  
Annex I list the products which the Parties have excluded from the scope of the Agreement;  these 
correspond, with a few exceptions, to the products contained in Annex 1 paragraph 1(ii) of the 
WTO Agreement on Agriculture.8  The main elements of these provisions and the Party's trade 
liberalization commitments are summarized in Table III.1. 
15. The base rates used by the Parties for implem enting their respective tariff liberalization 
commitments are the WTO bound rates or the MFN app lied rates, whichever is lower, on entry into 
force of the Agreement (1 August 2007).9  Should a Party apply, after entry into force of the 
Agreement, a tariff reduction on an erga omnes  basis, that reduced rate shall apply as the base rate 
(Article 7).  According to the Parties, th ere have not been any reductions to date. 
16. With respect to processed agricultural products, the EFTA States have agreed to accord for 
products listed in Protocol A, orig inating in Egypt, treatment no less favourable than that accorded to 
the European Community (Article 2 to Protocol A) .  Notwithstanding this provision, the EFTA States 
retain the right to levy a duty or apply export me asures (such as refunds within the price compensation 
scheme) to take account of differences in the cost of  the agricultural raw material incorporated in the 
products covered by the Protocol.  In the case of a dut y, this may be levied at a level no greater than 
the difference between the domestic and world ma rket price of the agricultural raw material 
incorporated in the product concerned.  The Protocol will remain in force for a period of five years;  
no later than four years after the entry into force of the Agreement the Parties will meet to negotiate 
commitments on processed agricultural goods by all Parties.  
17. Fish and marine products are c overed in Annex II to the Agreement.  It provides for the 
elimination by the EFTA States, as of entry into fo rce of the Agreement, of duties and charges with 
respect to products listed in Table 1 originating in Egypt.10  For its part, Egypt commits to eliminate or 
reduce,11 within a certain quota limit, duties and charges on imports of products listed in Table 3 
originating in Iceland or Norway (Article 4 of Annex II).  The quota applying to a selected number of 
tariff lines listed in Table 3 are subject to annual increases of 16% from the second year of the entry 
into force of the Agreement until their elimination in  year six.  The tariff lines concerned are, with the 
exception of one, those where duty elimination is provided for;  thus from year six of entry into force of the Agreement, these tariff lines will become quota-free and duty-free.
12  The Parties may consider 
the possibility of accelerating the implementation of the commitments made in Annex  II and subject 
to their general and sectoral economic situation to improve market access conditions, for example a 
more rapid increase in the quota quantities granted (A rticle 5 of Annex II).  The Parties have not yet 
met to discuss further developments in this area. 
                                                      
7 This obligation also applies to custom duties of a fiscal nature (Article 8). 
8 Annex I lists the following additional products:  HS Codes 2905.45, 3302.10, and 3824.60;  
HS Heading 38.23. 
9 If a tariff reduction is applied erga omnes , the reduced rate shall apply.   
10 Switzerland and Liechtenstein are allowed to main tain customs duties with respect to products listed 
in Table 2 to the Annex (Article 3 of Annex II). 
11 Duty reductions vary from 50% to 15% of the applied MFN rate. 
12 This provision applies to the following:  HS headings 0301, 0302, 0303, 0304, 0306 and 
sub-headings 0305.59, 0305.61, 0305.62, 0305.63 and 0305.69.  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 7 
 
 
  18. Concessions among the Parties on agricultural prod ucts are contained in the bilateral AAs 
between Egypt on the one side and the individual EFTA States on the other.13  Concessions are 
granted on a positive list basis for products under HS  Chapters 1-24.  Egypt's concessions to the 
EFTA States are contained in Annex 1 of each AA;  these are in the form of duty elimination or 
reduction in most cases within quotas.14  EFTA's concessions to Egypt are contained in Annex 2 of 
each AA.  In the case of Switzerland and Norway, these take the form of reductions or elimination of 
duties in most cases within seasonal restrictions and/or TRQs.15  Iceland's schedule of concessions 
provides for duty elimination, and in a few cases within seasonal restrictions.  All concessions under 
the AAs take effect from the date of entry into fo rce of the individual AA;  no implementation period 
is scheduled.  Withdrawal by any Party from the a pplicable AA will also result in the termination of 
the Agreement between that Party and the other Par ties (Article 8 of the AAs).  The Parties confirm 
their rights and obligations under the WTO Agreem ent on Agriculture (Article 4 of the AAs) and 
undertake to continue their efforts with a view to achieving greater liberalization of their agricultural 
trade (Article 6 of the AAs);  in this respect they  have agreed to undertake a review of the AAs no 
later than four years after entry into force of the Agreement.  The Parties indicate there have been no 
such reviews to date. 
19. With respect to non-tariff measures, the Agreem ent provides for the elimination between the 
Parties, as of entry into force of the Agreemen t, of quantitative restrictions on imports and of 
measures having equivalent effect;  it also prohibits  the introduction of any such new restriction or 
measure (Article 10).  With respect to internal ta xation, the Parties commit to refrain from applying 
measures or practices of an internal fiscal nature discriminating, directly or indirectly, between the 
products of a Party and like products originating in  the territory of another Party (Article 11).  
Table III.1 Market Access:  Basic features at a glance  
 EFTA Egypt 
Base rate  MFN 2007 HS-8 digit level MFN 2007 HS-8 digit level Scope and type 
of trade 
coverage  HS Chapters 1-24 
• Basic Agricultural Products – Annex 2 of the AAs 
• Processed Agricultural Products – Protocol A 
• Fish and Marine Products – Annex II 
HS Chapters 25-97 
• Except products in Annex I HS Chapters 1-24 
• Basic Agricultural Products – Annex 1 of each of the 
AAs 
• Fish and Marine Products – Annex II:4 (reductions 
within quotas) 
HS Chapters 25-97 
• Except products in Annex I 
HS Chapters 1-24 
• Basic Agricultural Products – Concessions to Egypt 
on products listed in Annex 2 of the AAs 
− Norway: duty reduction/elimination (several 
concessions subject to seasonal restrictions 
and/or TRQs); 
− Switzerland: duty reduction/elimination 
(several concessions subject to seasonal restrictions and/or TRQs); 
− Iceland: duty elimination (one tariff line subject 
to seasonal restrictions) 
• Processed Agricultural Products: 
− EFTA accords for products listed in Protocol 
A, originating in Egypt, treatment no less 
favourable than that accorded to the EC 
• Fish and Marine Products: 
− Duty elimination for imports of products listed 
in Annex II, Table 1 originating in Egypt; 
− Some exceptions for Switzerland and 
Liechtenstein HS Chapters 1-24 
• Basic Agricultural Products – Concessions to EFTA 
for products listed in Annex I of the AAs 
Imports from: 
− Norway: duty reduction within TRQs. 
− Switzerland: duty reducti on/elimination within 
Qts. (two lines not subject to TRQs) 
− Iceland: duty reduction/elimination within 
TRQs. (one line not subject to TRQs.)  
• Processed Agricultural Products 
− No concession equivalent to that granted by 
EFTA 
• Fish and Marine Products: 
− Duty reduction/elimination for imports of 
products listed in Annex II, Table 3 originating in Iceland or Norway Schedule of tariff concessions  
HS Chapters 25-97 
• tariff elimination on entry into force (negative list)  HS Chapters 25-97 
• tariff elimination as sc heduled in Annex IV 
                                                      
13 The AA between Egypt and Switzerland also applies to Liechtenstein by virtue of their customs 
union. 
14 The few tariff lines not subject to TRQs also provide for complete duty elimination. 
15 TRQs are mainly applied by Switzerland and of ten in conjunction with a seasonal restriction. WT/REG232/1 
Page 8  
 
  EFTA Egypt 
Base rate  MFN 2007 HS-8 digit level MFN 2007 HS-8 digit level 
 • Annex I:  excluded products  (positive list): 
− Cat. A: 75% reduction on entry into force and 
25% in 2008 
− Cat. B: 10% reductions in 2008 and 15% 
reductions from 2009 to 2014 
− Cat. C: 5% reductions in 2010 and 2011 - 
15% reductions from 2012 to 2017 
− Cat. D: 10% reductions from 2011 to 2020 
• Annex I:  excluded products Exception HS Chapters 25-97 
• Annex I:  
− HS Heading: 33.01, 35.01 to 35.05, 38.23, 
41.01 to 41.03, 43.01, 50.01 to 50.03, 51.01 to 
51.03, 52.01 to 52.03, 53.01, 53.02; and 
− HS Code: 2905.43, 2905.44, 2905.45, 3302.10, 
3809.10, 3824.60  HS Chapters 25-97 
• Annex I:  
− HS Heading: 33.01, 35.01 to 35.05, 38.23, 
41.01 to 41.03, 43.01, 50.01 to 50.03, 51.01 to 
51.03, 52.01 to 52.03, 53.01, 53.02; and 
− HS Code: 2905.43, 2905.44, 2905.45, 3302.10, 
3809.10, 3824.60 
 
Source: Text of the Agreement between the EFTA States and Egypt and its Annexes 
 
2. Liberalization of tariff lines and trade16 
20. The elimination of tariffs applicable be tween the Parties is detailed in their 
corresponding schedules.  For each Party, tariff elimination started on entry into force of the Agreement (1 August 2007);  sub sequent duty reductions take place on 1 January of each year.  Tariff 
concessions vary between the Parties in accordance with their individual tariff liberalization schedule 
and groups of products (See Table III.1). 
21. Tariff elimination under the Agreement is  depicted in Tables III.2A to III.2C.
17  In the case of 
the EFTA States, 83.6% of Norway's tariff lines were already duty-free on an MFN basis in 2007 
corresponding to 69.1% of imports from Egypt for the period 2004-2006.18  On entry into force of the 
Agreement a further 6% of its tariff lines were liberalized, accounting for an additional 28.7% of 
imports from Egypt becoming duty-free.  The remaining 735 tariff lines (10.5% of Norway's tariff 
schedule) remain dutiable;  these correspond to 2.2% of Norway's total imports from Egypt. 
Table III.2A – Norway:  
Tariff elimination commitments under the Agreement  and corresponding average trade values for 2004-06 
Duty phase-out period Number 
of lines % of total lines in 
Norway's tariff schedule Value of Norway's imports 
from Egypt in million US$ % of Norway's imports 
from Egypt 
MFN duty free 5,875 83.6 15.4 69.1 
2007 421 6.0 6.4 28.7 
Remain dutiable 735 10.5 0.5 2.2 
Total 7,031 100.0 22.3 100.0 
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat estimates based on data provided by Norway and the WTO-IDB. 
 
22. In the case of Switzerland, 16.6% of its tariff lin es were already duty-free on an MFN basis in 
2007 corresponding to 15.1% of its total imports from Egypt for the period 2004-2006.19  On entry 
into force of the Agreement a further 63.1% of Switzerland's tariff schedule was liberalized, 
accounting for an additional 72.5% of its imports from Egypt becoming duty-free.  The remaining 
                                                      
16 Unless otherwise specified, all statistics contained in  the tables and charts have been prepared on the 
basis of data provided by the Parties. 
17 For tariff lines subject to TRQs only the out-of-quota duty is included in the tariff-related 
calculations. 
18 Norway's tariff is composed of 7,031 tariff lines at the HS 8-digit level;  89.2% of this tariff is 
ad valorem  while the remaining 10.8% relates to tariff lines with specific duties. 
19 Switzerland's tariff is composed of 8,371 tariff lines at the HS 8-digit level;  16.6% of this tariff is 
ad valorem  while 83.4% relates to tariff lines with specific duties.   WT/REG232/1 
 Page 9 
 
 
  1,699 tariff lines (20.3% of Switzerland's tariff lines ) remain dutiable;  these correspond to 12.4% of 
Switzerland's total imports from Egypt. 
Table III.2B - Switzerland: 
Tariff elimination commitments under the Agreement  and corresponding average trade values for 2004-06 
Duty phase-out 
period Number 
of lines % of total lines in 
Switzerland's tariff schedule Value of Switzerland's imports 
from Egypt in million US$ % of Switzerland's 
imports from Egypt 
MFN duty free 1,390 16.6 4.4 15.1 
2007 5,282 63.1 21.1 72.5 
Remain dutiable 1,699 20.3 3.6 12.4 
Total 8,371 100.0 29.1 100.0 
  
Source : WTO Secretariat based on data provi ded by Switzerland and the WTO-IDB. 
 
23. In the case of Iceland, 70.4% of its tariff lin es were already duty-free on an MFN basis in 
2007 corresponding to 48.7% of its total imports from Egypt for the period 2004-2006.20  On entry 
into force of the Agreement a further 24.8% of I celand's tariff schedule was liberalized, accounting for 
an additional 50.2% of its imports from Egypt becoming duty-free.  The remaining 388 tariff lines 
(4.8% of Iceland's tariff lines) remain dutiable;  these correspond to 1.1% of Iceland's total imports 
from Egypt.  
Table III.2C - Iceland: 
Tariff elimination commitments under the Agreement  and corresponding average trade values for 2004-06 
Duty phase-out 
period Number 
of lines % of total lines in Iceland's 
tariff schedule Value of Iceland's imports from 
Egypt in million US$ % of Iceland's total 
imports from Egypt 
MFN duty free 5,680 70.4 0.44 48.7 
2007 1,999 24.8 0.45 50.2 
Remain dutiable 388 4.8 0.01 1.1 
Total 8,067 100.0 0.90 100.0 
Source : WTO Secretariat based on data provi ded by Switzerland and the WTO-IDB. 
 
24. In the case of Egypt, 8.6% of its tariff lin es were already duty-free on an MFN basis in 
2007;21  in terms of total imports from the Parties for the period 2004-2006, duty free imports 
amounted to 26% of imports from Iceland, 51.1% from Norway and 17.4% from Switzerland.  Egypt's tariff elimination started in January 2008
22 and is to be implemented progressively according 
to different timeframes.  In 2008, Egypt liberalized 31.2% of its tariff which in terms of imports from 
the Parties accounted for an additional 47.4% (Icel and), 28.7% (Norway) and 23.5% (Switzerland).  
Further duty elimination is scheduled in 2014 (19. 4% of tariff lines), 2017 (27.7% of tariff lines), 
2019 (0.1% of tariff lines) and 2020 (0.3% of tariff lines) by which date an additional 47.5% of 
Egypt's tariff schedule will be liberalized corresponding to an a dditional 25.9% (Iceland), 16.9% 
(Norway) and 33.8% (Switzerland) of imports fro m the Parties becoming duty-free.  The remaining 
727 tariff lines (12.8%) of Egypt's tariff schedule remain dutiable;  in terms of imports from the 
Parties these lines correspond to 0.6% of imports fro m Iceland, 3.4% of imports from Norway and 
25.3% of imports from Switzerland. 
 
  
                                                     
 
20 Iceland's tariff is composed of 8,067 tariff lines at the HS 8-dig it level;  95.8% of this tariff is 
ad valorem  , 3.4% relates to compound duties and the remaining 0.8% relates to tariff lines with specific duties.  
21 Egypt's tariff is composed of 5,658 tariff lines at the HS 8-digit level;  99.8% of this tariff is 
ad valorem  while the remaining 0.2% relates to tariff lines with specific duties. 
22 For a certain number of tariff lines (2049 at the HS-8  digit level) tariff liberalization started on entry 
into force of the Agreement;  these are tariff lines fa lling under category A of Egypt's liberalization schedule 
(Annex IV) which provides for 75% reduction of the basic duty on entry into force of the Agreement and 
elimination of the remaining 25% in January 2008. WT/REG232/1 
Page 10  
 
 Table III.2D – Egypt:  
Tariff elimination commitments under the Agreement  and corresponding average trade values for 2004-06 
Value of Egypt's imports 
in million US$  % of total Egypt's imports Duty phase-out 
period Number 
of lines % of total lines 
in Egypt's tariff 
schedule Iceland Norway Switzerland Iceland  Norway Switzerland 
MFN duty free 485 8.6 0.2 8.8 24.1 26.0 51.1 17.4 
2008 1,764 31.2 0.3 5.0 32.7 47.4 28.7 23.5 
2014 1,096 19.4 0.1 2.0 29.0 20.8 11.7 20.9 
2017 1,565 27.7 0.0 0.9 17.9 5.1 5.2 12.9 
2019 5 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
2020 16 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
Remain dutiable 727 12.8 0.0 0.6 35.1 0.6 3.4 25.3 
Total 5,658 100.0 0.7 17.3 138.9 100.0 100.0 100.0 
 
Source: WTO Secretariat based on data provided by Egyp t, the WTO-IDB and UNSD,  Comtrade database. 
 
(a) EFTA States' liberalization schedule 
25. The base rates used by the EFTA States fo r implementing their tariff liberalization 
commitments already provided fo r 70.4 % in case of Iceland, 83 .6%, in the case of Norway, and 
16.6%, in the case of Switzerland, of tariff lines being duty free before the entry into force of the 
Agreement (Chart III.1).  For each of these countries, the implementation of their scheduled commitments occurred in its entirety upon entry into force of the Agreement.  On that date, Iceland 
liberalized an additional 1,999 lin es (24.8% of its schedule), consis ting of 1,395 lines with a base rate 
of 10% or less;  520 lines with a base  rate equal to 20% or less;  37 lines with a base rate equal to 30% 
or less;  1 line with a base rate greater than 50%;  and 46 lines with specific duties.  Norway, for its 
part, liberalized an additional 421 lines (6% of its schedule), the majority of which are lines with a 
base rate of 20% or less;  the other lines liberalized have mostly base rates of 10% or less with a few lines with base rates equal to or above 50%;  99 of  the liberalized lines held specific duties.  
Switzerland, on entry into force of the Agreement, lib eralized an additional 63.1% of tariff lines all of 
which held specific duties.  The tariff lines ex cluded from liberalization include, in the case of 
Iceland, 388 lines of which 153 ad valorem  lines with a base rate ranging from 5% to 76%, 214 lines 
with compound duties and 21 lines with specific duties.  Of the 735 lines excluded by Norway, 536 are non ad valorem  lines and 199 lines with base rates ranging fr om 5% or less to 20% or more.  In 
the case of Switzerland, all of the 1,699 lines not subject to duty elimination have non ad valorem  
rates.  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 11 
 
 
  0 800 1,600 2,400 3,200 4,000 4,800 5,600 6,400 7,200 8,000Norway Switzerland IcelandChart III.1
Duty elimination by Iceland, Norw ay and Switzerland under the AgreementYear of duty free treatment - 2007   
Source: WTO Secretariat estimates, based on data provided by Iceland, Norway.and Switzerland.Number of duty-free lines (cumulative)
MFN Duty-free <10% <20% <30% Base rate is: <50% Non ad valorem
 
 
26. Table III.3A shows Iceland's trade libera lization commitments under the Agreement 
organized according to HS section product categories.  Of the 8,067 tariff lines forming Iceland's tariff schedule, 5,680 tariff lines were already duty-free on an MFN basis in 2007.  The remaining 1,999 tariff lines subject to full liberalization main ly include products falling under HS Sections IV 
(prepared food), VI (chemicals), VII (plastic), XI (textiles), XV (base metals), XVI (machinery), and 
XX (miscellaneous).  The 388 tariff lines not subject to  duty elimination all relate to products falling 
under HS Sections I to IV.  
Table III.3A – Iceland:  
Tariff elimination under the Agreement, by HS section 
HS section and description MFN 
average% Total number 
of lines MFN duty free 
lines Duty free lines 
in 2007  Remain 
dutiable  
I Live animals and animal products 8.7 574 402 10 162 
II Vegetable products 10.4 395 250 37 108 
III Animal or vegetable fats and oils 0.0 101 97 2 2 
IV Prepared food etc. 9.2 1,020 552 352 116 
V Minerals 0.0 178 177 1  
VI Chemicals and chemical products 1.2 968 815 153  
VII Plastics and rubber 2.4 368 240 128  
VIII Hides and skins 5.4 122 24 98  
IX Wood and articles 1.9 216 156 60  
X Pulp, paper etc. 2.1 189 139 50  
XI Textiles and textiles articles 4.2 1,103 750 353  
XII Footwear, headgear 12.5 73 7 66  
XIII Articles of stone 3.5 192 110 82  
XIV Precious stones, etc. 3.0 61 43 18  
XV Base metals and base me tals products 1.2 688 586 102  
XVI Machinery 2.1 1,096 829 267  
XVII Transport equipment 1.1 283 248 35  
Table III.3A (Cont'd)  WT/REG232/1 
Page 12  
 
 HS section and description MFN 
average% Total number 
of lines MFN duty free 
lines Duty free lines 
in 2007  Remain 
dutiable  
XVIII Precision equipment 0.1 230 227 3  
XIX Arms and ammunition 6.1 26 6 20  
XX Misc. manufactured articles 8.8 177 16 161  
XXI Works of art, etc. 1.4 7 6 1  
Total 4.1 8,067a 5,680 1,999 388 
 
a Excludes tariff lines under HS Chapters 98 and 99 
Source :  WTO estimates based on data provided by Iceland. 
 
27. Table III.3B shows Norway's trade libera lization commitments under the Agreement 
organized according to HS section product categories.   Of the 7,031 tariff lines forming Norway's 
tariff schedule, 5,875 tariff lines were already duty -free on an MFN basis in 2007.  Of the remaining 
421 tariff lines subject to full liberalization, the vast majority are products falling under 
HS Sections XI (textiles), II (vegetable products) and IV (prepared food).  The remaining 735 tariff 
lines not subject to duty elimination relate mostly to  products falling under HS Sections I to IV.  Some 
of these lines do, however, include certain restricted  concessions for imports from Egypt in the form 
of TRQs and/or seasonal restrictions.23 
Table III.3B - Norway:  
Tariff elimination under the Agreement, by HS section 
HS section and description MFN 
average% Total number 
of lines MFN duty free 
lines Duty free lines 
in 2007  Remain 
dutiable  
I Live animals and animal products 8.2 434 255  179 
II Vegetable products 20.0 534 221 63 250 
III Animal or vegetable fats and oils 5.8 121 49 3 69 
IV Prepared food etc. 1.0 435 162 54 219 
V Minerals 0.0 191 191   
VI Chemicals and chemical products 1.1 948 929 1 18 
VII Plastics and rubber 0.0 303 303   
VIII Hides and skins 0.0 90 90   
IX Wood and articles 0.0 172 172   
X Pulp, paper etc. 0.0 175 175   
XI Textiles and textile s articles 3.2 939 639 300  
XII Footwear, headgear 0.0 64 64   
XIII Articles of stone 0.0 181 181   
XIV Precious stones, etc. 0.0 54 54   
XV Base metals and base me tals products 0.0 664 664   
XVI Machinery 0.0 1,021 1,021   
XVII Transport equipment 0.0 215 215   
XVIII Precision equipment 0.0 273 273   
XIX Arms and ammunition 0.0 26 26   
XX Misc. manufactured articles 0.0 184 184   
XXI Works of art, etc. 0.0 7 7   
Total 1.9 7,031 5,875 421 735 
 
Note:  For tariff lines subject to TRQs only the out-of-qu ota duty is included in the tariff-related calculations. 
 
Source:  WTO estimates based on data provide d by Norway  and the WTO-IDB. 
 
28. Table III.3C shows Switzerland's trade liber alization commitments under the Agreement 
organized according to HS section product categories.  Of the 8,371 tariff lines forming Switzerland's 
tariff schedule, 1,390 were already duty-free on an MFN basis in 2007.  Of the remaining 5,282 tariff 
lines subject to full liberalization, the vast majority fall under HS Sections IV (chemicals), XI (textiles), XV (base metals) and XVI (machinery).  The remaining 1,699 tariff lines not subject to 
duty elimination mostly fall under HS Sections I to IV.  As in the case of Norway, Switzerland has 
                                                     
 
23 Such lines are considered as excluded  since they are not fully liberalized.  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 13 
 
 
  accorded preferential treatment to imports under some  of these lines from Egypt, however, subject to 
restrictions in the form of TRQs and/or seasonal restrictions.24 
Table III.3C - Switzerland:  
Tariff elimination under the Agreement, by HS sectiona 
HS section and description Total umber of 
lines MFN duty free 
lines Duty free lines in 
2007  Remain dutiable  
I Live animals and animal products 445 123 27 295 
II Vegetable products 1,068 144 165 759 
III Animal or vegetable fats and oils 189 34 44 111 
IV Prepared food etc. 651 79 77 495 
V Minerals 182 119 63  
VI Chemicals and chemical products 1,020 407 574 39 
VII Plastics and rubber 241 30 211  
VIII Hides and skins 74 15 59  
IX Wood and articles 130 14 116  
X Pulp, paper etc. 181 24 157  
XI Textiles and textile s articles 1,094 34 1,060  
XII Footwear, headgear 61  61  
XIII Articles of stone 160 2 158  
XIV Precious stones, etc. 61 7 54  
XV Base metals and base metals products 913 39 874  
XVI Machinery 1,234 204 1,030  
XVII Transport equipment 196 18 178  
XVIII Precision equipment 257 55 202  
XIX Arms and ammunition 28  28  
XX Misc. manufactured articles 176 34 142  
XXI Works of art, etc. 10 8 2  
Total 8,371 1,390 5,282 1,699 
a Table III.4 does not include the column on MFN average since mo st of Switzerland's tariff schedule is composed by lines with 
specific duties. 
Note:  For tariff lines subject to TRQs only the out-of-qu ota duty is included in the tariff-related calculations. 
 
Source:   WTO estimates based on data provide d by Switzerland and the WTO-IDB. 
 
(b) Egypt's liberalization schedule 
29. The base rates used by Egypt for implementi ng its tariff liberalization scheme provided for 
8.6% of tariff lines being duty free on an MFN basi s on entry into force of the Agreement.  In 2008, 
Egypt eliminated duties on 1,764 tariff lines, most of which with a base rates of 10% or less (Chart III.2).  In 2014 an additional 1,096 tariff lines will be liberalized of which most have base rates 
of 10% or less;  the remaining tariff lines include 77 lines with base rates of 20% or less and 59 lines 
with base rates of 30% or less.  Most of the tariff lines with base rates of 20% or more are to be 
liberalized between 2017 and 2020 at which point 87. 2% of Egypt's tariff will be duty-free.  The 
727 tariff lines excluded from liberalization are mostly  lines with a base rate of 5% or less;  the 
remaining lines have base rates between 6%  to 20% or more, including 9 with non ad valorem  duties. 
                                                     
 
24 Such lines are considered as excluded  since they are not fully liberalized. WT/REG232/1 
Page 14  
 
 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000200720082014201720192020Chart III.2
Egypt's duty elimination under the Agreement
Year of duty free treatment   
Source: WTO Secretariat estimates, based on data provided by Egypt.Number of duty-free lines (cumulative)
MFN Duty-free <10% <20% <30% Base rate is: <40% >50%
 
 
30. Table III.3D shows Egypt's trade liberalizati on commitments under the Agreement organized 
according to HS section product categories.  Of th e 5,658 tariff lines forming Egypt's tariff schedule, 
485 lines were already duty-free on an MFN basis in 2007.  The remaining 4,446 tariff lines subject to 
full liberalization all fall under HS Sections V to XXI;  in 2008 the bulk of tariff lines liberalized fall 
under HS Sections VI (chemicals) and XVI (machine ry) while in 2017 they fall under HS Section XI 
(textiles).  The remaining 727 tariff lines not subject to duty elimination relate mo stly to HS Sections I 
to IV.  As in the case of the EFTA States, Egypt has granted certain concessions on some of these 
lines, however, subject to restrictions in the form of TRQs.25 
Table III.3D - Egypt:  
Tariff elimination under the Agreement, by HS section 
Number  of duty-free lines 
HS section and description MFN 
average
% Total No 
of lines MFN 
2007 2008 2014 2017 2019 2020 Remain 
dutiable 
I Live animals and animal products 8.5 227 55      172 
II Vegetable products 4.5 271 36      235 
III Animal or vegetable fats and oils 6.3 61 9      52 
IV Prepared food etc. 210.0 220 9      211 
V Minerals 2.9 155 4 114 16 21    
VI Chemicals and chemical products 8.0 849 45 564 135 72   33 
VII Plastics and rubber 7.2 240 22 72 106 40    
VIII Hides and skins 11.9 86  6 40 24   16 
IX Wood and articles 10.8 85  32 16 37    
X Pulp, paper etc. 10.2 157 1 35 79 42    
XI Textiles and textiles ar ticles 15.4 877 45 13 152 659   8 
Table III.3D (Cont'd)  
                                                      
25 Such lines are considered as excluded  since they are not fully liberalized.  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 15 
 
 
  Number  of duty-free lines 
HS section and description MFN 
average
% Total No 
of lines MFN 
2007 2008 2014 2017 2019 2020 Remain 
dutiable 
XII Footwear, headgear 26.4 58    58    
XIII Articles of stone 12.3 148 1 9 67 71    
XIV Precious stones, etc. 9.9 58 7 13 25 13    
XV Base metals and base metals  products 8.7 620 19 173 185 243    
XVI Machinery 6.2 940 186 499 114 141    
XVII Transport equipment 15.1 176 11 63 50 31 5 16  
XVIII Precision equipment 7.7 262 29 129 78 26    
XIX Arms and ammunition 16.1 24 6  10 8    
XX Misc. manufactured articles 17.6 137  41 22 74    
XXI Works of art, etc. 25.0 7  1 1 5    
Total 17.1 5,658 485 1,764 1,096 1,565 5 16 727 
 
Note:  For tariff lines subject to TRQs only the out-of-qu ota duty is included in the tariff-related calculations. 
 
Source:   WTO estimates based on data pr ovided by Egypt and the WTO-IDB. 
 
B. RULES OF ORIGIN  
31. Protocol B and its seven Annexes set out the rules of origin (RoO) that apply to products 
covered under the Agreement and the disciplines rela ted to customs and administrative co-operation 
between the Parties (See Table III.4).  The RoO re gime is part of the Pan-European-Mediterranean 
cumulation system (see paragraphs 36-39 below).  Artic les 2-15 of Protocol B deal with the rules of 
origin themselves;  Articles 16-31 with proof of origin and supporting documentation as specified in 
Annexes III and IV;  and Articles 32-36 set out the arrangements for administrative cooperation 
(see paragraph 49). 
Table III.4 – Table of content of  Protocol B and its Annexes 
Protocol and Annexes Title/Description 
Protocol B: Definition of the concept of "originating produc ts" and methods of administrative cooperation 
 Title I (Art.1) General provisions 
 Title II (Art. 2-11) Definition of the concept of "Originating Products" 
 Title III (Art. 12-14) Territorial requirements 
 Title IV (Art. 15) Drawback exemption 
 Title V (Art. 16-31) Proof of origin 
 Title VI (Art. 32-36) Arrangements for administrative cooperation 
 Title VII (Art. 37-39) Final provisions 
Annex I Introductory notes to the list in Annex II 
Annex II List of working or processing required to be carried  out on non-originating materials in order that the 
product manufactured can obtain originating status 
Annex IIIa Specimens of movement certif icate EUR.1 and application for a movement certificate EUR.1 
Annex IIIb Specimens of movement certifi cate EUR-MED and application for a movement certificate EUR-MED 
Annex IVa Text of the invoice declaration 
Annex IVb Text of the invoice declaration EUR-MED 
Annex V List of countries or territories participating in th e Euro-Mediterranean partnership based on the Barcelona 
Declaration 
 
Source:   Protocol B to the Agreement and its Annexes. 
 
32. The basic requirements for a product to be c onsidered originating (Articles 2 and 6 of 
Protocol B) are: 
(a) it is wholly obtained in one of the Parties;  or WT/REG232/1 
Page 16  
 
 (b) the non-originating materials incorporated in the product have undergone “sufficient 
working or processing” in the Parties,  within the meaning of Article 6;
26  or 
(c) it originates in the European Economic Area (EEA), within the meaning of Protocol 4 
to the agreement on the EEA, in which case it will be considered as originating in an 
EFTA State;27  Article 2.3 specifies that this provision only applies provided a free 
trade agreement is applicable between  Egypt and the European Communities. 
33. The Agreement does not provide for regime-wide ru les of origin;  rather it lists (Annex II to 
Protocol B) the specific criteria that non-originatin g materials have to meet for a good incorporating 
such materials to acquire origina ting status.  The rules are generall y chapter-specific with exceptions 
at the tariff heading level (CTH 4-digit).28  Origin is conferred according to four main criteria being 
applied either independently or in combination w ith each other as the case may be.  These are: the 
"wholly obtained" (WO) criteria requiring that "all the materials of the chapter are wholly obtained";  the "change of tariff heading" (CTH) criteria requiring non-originating materials to fall under 
headings other than that of the product;  the im port content test (MC) requiring the value of the 
non-originating materials to not exceed a given percentage of the ex-works price of the product;  and 
the technical test rule (TR) which sets out the wo rk processes that non-originating materials have to 
undergo. 
34. The WO criteria applies to products falling under HS Sections I and II (live animals and 
vegetable products – HS Chapters 1 to 14) except fo r Chapter 13 where an MC rule of 50% applies.  
The WO criteria also applies to certain produc ts under HS Section IV (prepared foodstuffs – 
HS Chapters 16 to 24);  the remaining products under that Section are subject to the CTH requirement 
often in combination with a MC rule of 30% for materials of Chapter 17 (sugar).  The rule most 
widely used for products falling under the other HS Sections is the CTH requirement at the heading level (CTH 4-digit);  the rule allows in some c ases (mainly HS Sections VI and VII – chemicals and 
plastics) the use of materials from the same heading as the final product provided that their total value 
does not exceed a certain percentage (usually 20%) of  the ex-works price of the product.  The import 
content test (MC) is also widely used throughout th e Agreement.  It figures as a standalone rule for 
products falling under HS Section XIX (arms and ammunition) and fo r several products falling under 
HS Sections VII, XVII (vehicles) and XVIII (optical  products);  as a supplementary rule to CTH for 
products falling under HS Sections XV (base metals) a nd XVI (machinery);  and as an alternative rule 
for products falling under HS Sections VI, VII, XVI and XVII.
29  The limit allowed (in value terms) 
for non-originating materials is normally 40% of the ex-works price of the product;  however, 
according to the product different thresholds may apply (ranging from 20% to 50%).  A technical test 
requirement figures as the main rule for most produc ts falling under HS Sections V (minerals), VI, 
VIII (raw hides and skins), IX (wood), and XI (textiles). 
35. With regards to cumulation, paragraphs 1 an d 2 of Articles 3 and 4 provide for diagonal 
cumulation between the EFTA States, the European  Communities, Turkey, the Faroe Islands and any 
                                                      
26 Article 6 specifies that products  which are not wholly obtained are considered to be sufficiently 
worked or processed when the conditions set out in the list in Annex II are fulfilled.  Article 6 also provides for 
a "tolerance rule" (see paragraph 36) 
27 Protocol 4 of the European Economic Agreement establishes that for origin purposes, EEA countries 
(except Liechtenstein) are treated as a single territory.  The EEA consists of Member States of the European 
Communities, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. 
28 In Annex II to Protocol B most Chapters are preceded by an "ex" signifying that th eir corresponding 
rule(s) in columns three and four to the Annex apply to the Chapter "except for" the tariff headings as listed 
directly below the Chapter.  In the absence of an "e x" the rule applies to the Chapter without exceptions. 
29 Column 3 of Annex II to Protocol B describes the specific rule.  When a rule appears in column 4, 
either rule can be applied. The MC requirement esta blishes the maximum value of non-originating materials 
allowed in the final product, expressed as a percentage of the ex-works price of the product.  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 17 
 
 
  other country which is a participant in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.30  According to the 
principle of diagonal cumulation, products incorpor ating materials originating in the countries listed 
above will be considered as origina ting in the Parties if such produc ts are obtained there and have 
undergone working or processing which go beyond th e operations referred to in Article 7.31  Products 
not meeting the requirements of Article 7 may still be  considered as originating where the value added 
in the Parties is greater than the value of material s used that originated in the countries referred to 
above.  The provisions of diagonal cumulation under  Articles 3 and 4 may only be applied provided 
that there is an RTA in place,  in accordance with GATT Article XXIV, between the countries 
involved in the acquisition of the originating status a nd the country of destination, and that the rules of 
origin in such agreements are iden tical to those of the Agreement.  
36. Article 6 provides for an "absorption principle"  whereby a non-originating material which has 
acquired originating status by meeting the processing  requirement set out in Annex II to Protocol B, 
will be considered 100% originating once incorporated  into a final product.  Paragraph 2 of the same 
Article provides for a "tolerance rule" whereby non- originating materials, which, according to the 
conditions set out in Annex II to Protocol B shoul d not used in the manufacturing of a product, may 
nevertheless be used provided that (i) their value does not exceed 10% of the ex-works price of the 
product, and (ii) any of the percentages in Annex II to Protocol B are not exceeded.  The tolerance 
rule of Article 6.2 does not apply to textiles and clothing (HS Chapters 50-63).32 
37. Title III addresses the "territorial requirements" re lated to rules of origins.  Article 12 sets out 
the "principle of territoriality" meaning that as a general rule the working or processing of goods must 
take place in the territories of the Parties;  failure to  do so will result in the loss of originating status.  
The Agreement does, however, permit outward work ing and processing of materials exported from, 
and subsequently re-imported by, the Parties, subj ect to certain conditions (Article 12:3 and 4 of 
Protocol B).33  These include that the materials are wholly obtained in the Parties or have undergone 
working or processing operations beyond those referre d in Article 7 to Protocol B;  and that the 
re-imported goods have been obtained by working or processing the exported materials and that the 
total value added acquired outside the Parties does not  exceed 10% of the ex-works price of the final 
product.  Articles 12.3 and 12.4 may be applied fo r outward processing within the Pan-Euro-Med area 
and outside and allow the possibility of diagonal cu mulation of materials originating in countries of 
the Pan-Euro-Med area.   Articles 13 and 14 of Title III set out r espectively provisions related to the 
"direct transport" of goods and goods sent to third countries for "exhibition" purposes. 
38. Article 15 of Title IV provides for a "no-drawback rule" which prohibits the refund of 
customs duties paid on non-originating materials used in the manufacture of products originating in the Pan-Euro-Med area.  
However, drawback is allowed (i) if products obtain originating status 
without application of diagonal cumulation within the Pan-Euro-Med area, and (ii) for Egypt, subject 
to the payment of a fixed percentage of customs duties – 5% for products falling within Chapters 25 
to 49 and 64 to 97 and 10% for products falling within HS Chapters 50 to 63.34  Egypt's partial 
drawback rule applies until 31 December 2009  and may be reviewed by common accord. 
                                                      
30 Annex V to Protocol B lists as participants to  the Euro-Mediterranean partnership the following 
countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocc o, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and the PLO (for the benefit 
of the Palestinian Authority). 
31 Article 7 lists the operations that  are considered as insufficient work ing or processing to confer the 
status of originating products. 
32 Special "tolerance rules" apply to certain textile products made of a mixture of materials (see notes 5 
and 6 of Annex I to Protocol B). 
33 These provisions do not apply to products of Chapters 50 to 63 of the Harmonized System. 
34 This provision does not apply to HS Chapters 1 to 24. WT/REG232/1 
Page 18  
 
 Box III.1:  Rules of Origin:  Basic Features at a Glance 
• No single rule of origin methodology 
• Product specific criteria common to the Parties: 
− Wholly obtained or entirely produced goods (mostly HS Chapters 1-24) 
− CTC at the heading level is the most common crite ria, however, exceptions apply at the heading 
level 
− MC criteria utilized in some cases as a standalone rule and more often as a 
supplementary/alternative rule;  the MC percentages vary from 20% to 50% of the ex-works price of 
the product 
− Technical rule applies to certain products (mostly minerals, raw hides, wood and textiles) 
• Cumulation: 
− Diagonal under the Pan-Euro-Med cumulation system  
• Absorption principle 
• Tolerance rule at 10%;  different rule applies to HS Chapters 50 to 63 (textiles and clothing) 
• No duty drawback.  Egypt allowed pa rtial drawback until 31 December 2009 
 
 
C. EXPORT DUTIES AND CHARGES , AND QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS  
39. Article 10 of the Agreement proscribes the Pa rties from applying to their mutual exports 
customs duties or charges and quantitative restri ctions or measures having equivalent effect.   This 
provision, does not apply to processed agricultural products covered under Prot ocol A (Article 1 of 
the Protocol).35   
40. Notwithstanding Article 10, the Parties are allo wed to take appropriate measures, in cases 
where compliance with the provisions of Article 10  leads to situations of re-export towards third 
parties against which export restrictions are applied or serious shortages that cause, or are likely to 
cause, major difficulties for the exporting Party.  Any such measure must be taken in accordance with 
the procedures laid down in Article 20;  be applied in a non-discriminatory manner;  and be limited in 
their duration. 
41. Article 11.2 provides that products exported to  the Parties may benefit from repayment of 
internal taxes but not in excess of the amount of direct or indirect taxes imposed on them. 
D. REGULATORY PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT  
1. Standards 
(a) Technical barriers to trade 
42. Article 13 provides that the Parties' rights and obligations in respect of technical regulations, 
standards and conformity assessment procedur es shall be governed by the WTO Agreement on 
Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO TBT Agreement) .  Furthermore, the Parties have agreed to 
strengthen cooperation on TBT matters with a view  to increasing mutual understanding of their 
respective systems;  facilitate market access and pave  the way to mutual recognition agreements.  The 
Parties indicate that there have been no such discu ssions due to the limited period of time that the 
Agreement has been in force .  The Parties undertake to hold consu ltations in the framework of the 
Joint Committee where a Party considers that a meas ure taken by the other Party creates, or is likely 
to create, a technical obstacle to trade;  such co nsultations will be aimed at finding an appropriate 
solution in conformity with the WTO TBT Agreement (Article 13). 
                                                      
35 The EFTA States, nevertheless, do not apply export duties or restrictions.  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 19 
 
 
  (b) Sanitary and phytosanitary measures 
43. Article 14 requires the Parties not to apply th eir sanitary and phytosanitary regulations in a 
non-discriminatory way and not to introduce any new measures that have the effect of unduly obstructing trade.  Furthermore it incorporates th e WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary 
and Phytosanitary Measur es into the Agreement. 
2. Safeguard mechanisms 
(a) Global/bilateral safeguards 
44. Paragraph 1 of Article 18 specifies that the provisions of Article XIX of the GATT 1994 and 
the WTO Agreement on Safeguards apply between the Parties to the Free Trade Agreement if one of 
the Parties intends to resort to safeguard meas ures under the Agreement.  The Agreement encourages 
the Parties to find a mutually acceptable solution before having recourse to a formal safeguard 
measure.  It requires the Party intending to a pply a safeguard measure to first supply the Joint 
Committee with all relevant information concerning the intended action and to hold consultations with 
the Parties in view to finding a mutually acceptable so lution;  if none is fou nd within 30 days of the 
initiation of the consultations, that Party is then  free to apply the measure in accordance with the 
provisions of Article XIX of GATT 1994 and the WT O Agreement on Safeguards.  The measure has 
to be notified immediately to the Joint Committee and be subject to periodic c onsultations with a view 
to its removal. 
(b) Structural adjustment 
45. Article 19 allows Egypt to derogate from its  trade liberalization commitments scheduled 
under Article 6 to protect new and infant indu stries or sectors undergoing restructuring or 
experiencing serious difficulties.  The measures that Egypt may take are exceptional in nature, must 
be of limited duration and may be in the form of  increased customs duties or their re-introduction if 
they had been already eliminated under the Agre ement (See Table III.5).  Should Egypt intend to 
adopt an exceptional measure as provided under Articl e 19, it shall inform th e Joint Committee about 
the intended measures and afford consultations at the request of the EFTA States on the measures and 
sectors concerned before they are implemented.  Fu rthermore, when adopting a measure, Egypt shall 
provide the Joint Committee with a schedule for th e abolition of the customs duties introduced or 
increased. 
Table III.5 - Synopsis of Safeguard Measures 
 Requirements Specific Conditions 
Scope and 
criteria • New/infant industries or  
• Sectors undergoing restructuring or 
experiencing serious difficulties   
Measures 
allowed • Increase in duty rate or 
• Re-introduction of customs duty  • A maximum rate of duty of 25% 
• Lower than the product's applied MFN to retain an unspecified 
preferential margin for the EFTA States 
Timing Maximum duration  • 5 years (unless otherwise author ized by the Joint Committee) 
• Measure ceases to apply on expiry  of the transition period of 
the product's liberalization 
Scope of application Total value of imports of the produc ts  must not exceed 20% of total 
imports of industrial goods from the EFTA States during the last year 
for which statistics are available. Limitations 
Timing of application Not permitted on goods for which more than 3 years have elapsed 
since their liberaliza tion under the Agreement 
Source: Text of the Agreement between the EFTA States and Egypt. WT/REG232/1 
Page 20  
 
 3. Anti-dumping and countervailing measures 
46. Article 17 confirms the Parties' rights and obl igations under Article VI of the GATT 1994 and 
the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the GATT. 
4. Subsidies and State trading enterprises 
47. Article 16 confirms the Parties' rights and obligations under Articles VI and XVI of the 
GATT 1994, and the WTO Agreements on Subsid ies and Countervailing Measures, and on 
Agriculture.  With respect to state trading enterp rises, Article 15 reaffirms the rights and obligations 
of the Parties under Article XVII of the GATT 1994 and the Understanding on the Interpretation of 
Article XVII of the GATT 1994.
36 
5. Other regulations 
(a) Customs-related procedures 
48. Customs procedures related to rules of origin ar e detailed in Protocol B.  Articles 16-31 (Title 
V of Protocol B) set out the administrative procedur es and disciplines that apply to the proof of origin.  
The Agreement provides for three different proof of  origin certificates as provided in Article 16 to 
Protocol B:  the EUR.1 movement certificate app lies to products originating in the EFTA States or 
Egypt without application of cumulation;  the EU R-MED movement certificate applies to products 
which have obtained origin under the Pan-Euro-Med  cumulation system (Article 17 to Protocol B);  
and the "invoice declaration" for products originatin g in the Parties without application of cumulation 
or the "invoice declaration EUR-MED" for products  which have obtained origin under the Pan-Euro-
Med cumulation system.  The EUR.1 and EUR-MED certificates must be issued by the competent authorities of the exporting country upon written appli cation by the exporter;  the invoice declaration 
for EUR-MED may be made out by an approved e xporter or by any exporter for consignments of 
originating products whose total va lue does not exceed 6,000 Euros.  
49. Articles 32-36 (Title VI to Protocol B) set out the arrangements for administrative 
co-operation between the Parties’ customs or comp etent government authorities.  Title VI includes 
provisions on mutual assistance, verification of proof  of origin, dispute settlement, penalties and free-
zones.  Article 37 of Protocol B establishes a Sub-Committee on Customs a nd Origin Matters whose 
functions include inter alia,  exchanging of information, co-ordinating positions, preparing technical 
amendments to the rules of origin and advising th e Joint Committee on any issue regarding rules of 
origin and customs cooperation.  
(b) Intellectual property 
50. Chapter III and Annex V set out the provisions relating to the protection of intellectual 
property (IP) rights between the Parties.  They ai m to ensure the non-discriminatory protection of 
intellectual property rights and to provide measures fo r the enforcement of such rights (Article 23).  
The Parties reaffirm their commitment to comply with the obligations set out in the WTO Agreement 
on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Propert y Rights (TRIPS Agreement) and various other 
multilateral agreements (Article 2, Annex V).
37  With respect to the TRIPS Agreement, Article 23 
specifically reaffirms the Parties' obligations of  national treatment and MFN treatment contained 
therein.  The Parties undertake to accede to various multilateral conventions on intellectual 
                                                      
36 Both Article XVII of the GATT 1994 and its Understa nding are incorporated into and made part of 
the Agreement. 
37 Paris Convention of 20 March 1883 for the Protection of Industrial Property (Stockholm Act, 1967); 
and Berne Convention of 9 September 18 86 for the Protection of Literary an d Artistic Works (Paris Act, 1971).  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 21 
 
 
  property by the end of the fourth year after entr y into force of the Agreement as contained in 
Article 2.2 of Annex V  
51. Article 3 of Annex V contains specific provisions  relating to the implementation of various IP 
standards;  in particular it requires the Parties to ensure in their national laws the protection of 
industrial designs for at least 15 years from the date of their application;  patent protection for all 
fields of technology;  protection of geographical in dications (GIs) with rega rd to all goods including 
the prohibition to register as trade marks GIs which are misleading or contain false descriptions as to 
the origin of the goods or services;  and the prot ection of undisclosed info rmation in accordance with 
Article 39 of the TRIPS Agreement including the oblig ation not to disclose such information until it is 
no longer confidential or for a period not exceeding five  years, whichever comes first.  With respect to 
the acquisition and maintenance of IP rights, Article  4 reaffirms the provisions of Article 62 of the 
TRIPS Agreement.  As to the enforcement of IP ri ghts, Article 5 requires the Parties to provide in 
their national laws a level of enforcement equal to that provided in the TRIPS Agreement, in 
particular Articles 41 to 61. 
52. The Parties agree to regularly review this Ch apter and its Annex and to hold consultations on 
IP matters affecting their trading relations.  Ther e have not been any developments in this regard .  The 
EFTA States will grant technical and financial assi stance to Egypt with a view to facilitating the 
implementation of Chapter III and its Annex (Article 23). 
(c) Investment and services 
53. The Agreement does not include at this stage an y commitments by the Parties with respect to 
liberalization of trade in services;  however, the Par ties have agreed to a number of provisions, as set 
out in Chapter IV, which aim at establishing a fra mework for cooperation between them on services 
and investment matters.  Specifically, Articles 24 and 25 aim at promoting cross-border investment 
and technology flows through a commitment to create  stable, favourable and transparent conditions 
for investors from either Party and cooperation in a number of areas.   The Parties state there have 
been no developments to date in this regard.   With respect to trade in services, Article 26 reaffirms the 
Parties' commitments under the GATS and in partic ular the commitment to accord each other MFN 
treatment with the exceptions of advantages accorded under Article V of the GATS and those pursuant to the Parties' list of MFN exemptions a nnexed to the GATS.  The Parties have agreed to 
consider extending the scope of the Agreement to include liberalization of trade in services and right 
of establishment between the Parties' services s uppliers (Article 27);  the Joint Committee will 
consider such matters at the latest five year s after entry into force of the Agreement.  
(d) Payments, transfers and capital movement 
54. Article 12 provides that payments relating to tr ade between the Parties and the transfer of 
such payments to the territory of the Party where th e creditor resides shall be free from any restriction.  
The Parties undertake to refrain from currency excha nge or administrative restrictions on the grant, 
repayment or acceptance of short and medium-t erm credits covering their mutual commercial 
transactions.  Furthermore, they undertake to allo w all payments for such transactions in a freely 
convertible currency (Article 28, Chapter V).  With respect to capital movements, Article 29 
(Chapter V) provides that capital related to invest ments made in companies formed under the Parties' 
domestic laws shall be freely transferable.  The Pa rties agree to hold consultation with a view to 
facilitating capital movements and eventually their complete liberalization.   There have been no 
developments in this regard to date. 
55. Article 30 provides for the application of restri ctive measures to safeguard a Party’s balance 
of payments.  Any such measure shall be taken in accordance with the cond itions established by the 
relevant WTO Agreement and consistent with Ar ticles VIII and XIV of the Statutes of the WT/REG232/1 
Page 22  
 
 International Monetary Fund.  Th e Party taking any such measure will inform immediately the other 
Parties and provide a timetable for their removal. 
(e) Competition and other economic matters 
56. Chapter VI contains provisions on competition, public enterprises and public procurement.  
The Parties recognize that agreemen ts, decisions and concerted prac tices between undertakings which 
prevent, restrict or distort competition, as well as abuse of dominant position by one or more 
undertakings, are incompatible with the proper func tioning of the Agreement in so far as they may 
affect trade between the Parties (Article 34.1).  Rules addressing these anti-competitive practices are 
to be adopted by the Joint Committee within five years of the entry in to force of the Agreement.  In 
the absence of such rules, a Party wh ich considers a practice to be inco mpatible with the provisions of 
Article 34.1 may take appropriate measures after consultation within the Joint Committee or after 
thirty working days following referral for such cons ultations.  With regard to public enterprises and 
enterprises to which special or exclusive rights have  been granted, the Join t Committee is to ensure 
that, as from year five of the entry into force of  the Agreement, no measure is either enacted nor 
maintained which distorts trade between the Parties (Article 32).  With respect to public procurement, 
the Parties have agreed to its progressive liberali zation;  the Joint Committee will hold consultations 
on the implementation of this objective (Article 33).  No such consultations have been held to date. 
(f) Technical and financial assistance 
57. In Chapter VII, the EFTA States express their readiness to provide technical and financial 
assistance to Egypt in order to facilitate the impl ementation of the overall objectives of the Agreement 
and enhance trading and investment opportuniti es (Article 34).  Assistance may be provided 
bilaterally and/or through EFTA pr ogrammes and may cover any field jointly identified by the Parties 
(Article 35);  the latter may include in particular trade promotion and facilitation; customs and origin 
matters; fish and aquaculture; TBT and SPS; tr ade statistics; and regulatory assistance and 
implementation of laws in areas such as IP  and public procurement (Article 36). 
E. S
ECTOR -SPECIFIC PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT  
58. Agricultural products, whether raw or processed, and fisheries, are subject to different 
provisions, as described in Section III.A above. 
IV. GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT 
A. EXCEPTIONS AND RESERVATIONS  
59. Articles 21 and 22 set out respectively the general and security exceptions relating to trade in 
goods between the Parties.  Both Articles reflect with some differences the provisions of Articles XX 
and XXI of the GATT 1994. 
B. ACCESSION AND WITHDRAWAL  
60. The Agreement is open for accession only to new EFTA member States subject to approval 
by the Joint Committee and on terms and conditions  to be negotiated between the acceding member 
and the Parties (Article 46).  Each Party may withdr aw from the Agreement by written notification;  if 
an EFTA State withdraws from the EFTA Convention,  it will also cease to be a Party to the 
Agreement (Article 47).  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 23 
 
 
  C. INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK  
61. The institutional and procedural provisions re lating to the implementation and administration 
of the Agreement are laid down in Chapter VIII (Articles 37-38).  The body responsible for the 
supervision and administration of the Agreement is the Joint Committee, in which each Party is 
represented.  The Committee serves, inter alia , as a forum to exchange information and for 
consultations at the request of any Party.  As a B ody it is charged to keep under review the possibility 
of the further removal of obstacles to trade between the Parties;  it may take decisions in cases provided for under the Agreement and can make re commendations on any other matters.  The Joint 
Committee acts by common agreement and may set up subordinate bodies and working parties to assist it in its functions.  It meets at the request of any Party and at least every two years.  The 
Agreement contains an evolutionary clause whereby the Parties undertake to review the Agreement in 
light of international economic deve lopments and to consider the possibility of further developing and 
deepening cooperation under the Agreement and to ex tend it to areas not covered therein (Article 42).  
The Agreement may be amended in accordance w ith the provisions contained in Article 44. 
D. D
ISPUTE SETTLEMENT  
62. Article 39 calls on the Parties to make every effo rt to resolve divergen ces with respect to the 
interpretation and application of the Agreement th rough consultation and co-operation.  A Party may 
request in writing consultations with another Party on any matter that it considers might affect the 
operation of the Agreement.  Cons ultations will take place in the Joint Committee within ten days 
from the receipt of the notification of the request for consultations with a view to finding a commonly 
acceptable solution;  if none is found within three months the complaining Party may take 
"provisional balancing measures" as are appropriate and strictly necessary to remedy the imbalance 
(Article 40).  The measure(s) has to be notified imme diately to the Parties and to the Joint Committee;  
the latter will hold regular consultations with a view to eliminating the measure which will be 
abolished when conditions no longer justify its ma intenance.  Balancing measures may be taken 
without prior consultations in the Joint Committee in cases of a material breach of the Agreement by 
another Party.38 
63. Disputes between the Parties relating to the in terpretation of rights and obligations under the 
Agreement which have not been se ttled through consultations in th e Joint Committee within 90 days 
from the date of receipt of the request for consultatio ns, may be referred to arbitration by any Party to 
the dispute by means of written notification (Artic le 41).  The rules governing the constitution and the 
functioning of the arbitral tribunal are contained in  Annex VI.  The arbitral tribunal has to render the 
award within six months of the date at which the Pr esident of the arbitral tribunal was appointed;  this 
period may be extended by a maximum of three m onths if the Parties to the dispute so agree 
(Annex IV:6).  The award of the arbitral tribunal is final and binding upon the Parties. 
E. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER AGREEMENTS CONCLUDED BY THE PARTIES  
64. Article 45 states that the Agreement does not prevent the maintenance or establishment of 
customs union, free-trade areas, arrangements for frontier trade and other preferential agreements 
insofar as they do not alter the trade arra ngements provided for in the Agreement. 
65. Table IV.1 lists the regional trade agreemen ts (RTAs), notified to the GATT/WTO and in 
force, to which Egypt and the EFTA States (c ollectively or individually) are parties. 
 
                                                      
38 A material breach is understood as the repudia tion of the Agreement not sanctioned by the rules of 
international law or a grave violation of an es sential element of the Agreement (Article 40:2) WT/REG232/1 
Page 24  
 
 Table IV.1:  Participation by the Parties in other RTAs  (notified and non-notified in force) as of July 2008 
GATT/WTO Notification 
Partner / Agreement Date of 
entry  
into force Type of 
agreement Year WTO Provision 
EFTA  STATES  – COLLECTIVELY 
Lebanon 01.01.07 Goods 2006 GATT Art. XXIV 
Republic of Korea 01.09.06 Goods & Services 2006 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V 
Tunisia 01.06.05 Goods 2005 GATT Art. XXIV 
Chile 01.12.04 Goods & Services 2004 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V 
Singapore 01.01.03 Goods & Services 2003 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V 
EFTA 01.06.02 Services 2002 GATS Art. V 
Croatia 01.01.02 Goods 2002 GATT Art. XXIV 
Jordan 01.01.02 Goods 2002 GATT Art. XXIV 
FYROM 01.01.01 Goods 2000 GATT Art. XXIV 
Mexico 01.07.00 Goods & Services 2001 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V 
Morocco 01.12.99 Goods 2000 GATT Art. XXIV 
Palestinian Authority 01.07.99 Goods 1999 GATT Art. XXIV 
Israel 01.01.93 Goods 1992 GATT Art. XXIV 
Turkey 01.04.92 Goods 1992 GATT Art. XXIV 
EFTA 03.05.60 Goods 1959 GATT Art. XXIV 
SACU 01.05.08  Goods Not Notified 
INDIVIDUAL  EFTA  STATES 
Iceland – Faroe Islands 01.11. 06 Goods & Services 2008 GATT Art. XXIV & GATS Art. V 
Faroe Islands – Switzerland 01.03.95 Goods 1996 GATT Art. XXIV 
European Economic Area (EEA) 01.01.94 Services 1996 GATS Art. V 
Faroe Islands – Norway 01.07.93 Goods 1996 GATT Art. XXIV 
EC-Norway 01.07.73 Goods 1973 GATT Art. XXIV 
EC-Iceland 01.04.73 Goods 1972 GATT Art. XXIV 
EC-Switzerland and Liechtenstein 01.01.73 Goods 1972 GATT Art. XXIV 
EGYPT 
Turkey 01.03.07 Goods 2007 Enabling clause 
European Communities 01.06.04 Goods 2004 GATT Art. XXIV 
COMESA 08.12.94 Goods 1995 Enabling clause 
GSTP 19.04.89 Goods 1989 Enabling clause 
Pan-Arab 01.01.98 Goods Notification 
pending Enabling clause 
Agadir 06.07.06 Goods Not Notified 
Iraq 16.08.01  Goods Not Notified 
Jordan 01.01.99  Goods Not Notified 
Lebanon 05.03.99  Goods Not Notified 
Libya 26.04.07  Goods Not Notified 
Syria 01.12.91  Goods Not Notified 
Morocco 26.04.99 Goods Not Notified 
Tunisia 15.03.99 Goods Not Notified 
Palestinian Authority 28.12.99 Goods Not Notified 
Source: WTO Secretariat. 
 
COMESA: Common Market for Ea stern and Southern Africa 
EFTA: European Free Trade Area 
GSTP: Global System of Trade Preferences SACU: Southern African Customs Union 
 
 
   WT/REG232/1 
 Page 25 
 
 
  ANNEX I 
 
 1. A comparison between the scheduled elimination of tariffs applied to the Parties' mutual 
imports and the duty rates applied by Parties to MFN imports is shown in Tables AI.1 to AI.3, 
according to agricultural, non-agricultural and tota l products.  Applied MFN duty rates in 2007 serve 
as a basis for the comparison. 
2. Iceland  has a variable MFN tariff structure.  Its (unweighted) average MFN rate (2007) is 
4.1% on all goods, with a higher average tariff a pplied to agricultural goods (10.3%) than to 
non-agricultural products (2.5%).  Duty-free tariff lines account for 70.4% of all lines.  Iceland's tariff 
concessions under the Agreement were implemented upon entry into force of the Agreement;  hence, 
from 2007 Egypt has enjoyed a relative margin of preference of 100% on non-agricultural products vis-à-vis  the prevailing average MFN tariff in 2007, and a relative margin of preference of 36% in 
agricultural goods. 
Table AI.1 
Iceland: Indicators of MFN tariff rates a nd preferential rates for imports from Egypt 
ALL PRODUCTS Agricultural products a Non-agricultural products 
Average applied 
tariff Average applied 
tariff Average applied 
tariff Origin 
of goods Year 
Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff 
lines (%) Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff lines 
(%) Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff lines 
(%) 
MFN 2007 4.1 14.2 70.4 10.3 25.3 56.8 2.5 9.5 74.1 
Egypt 2007 1.4 31.0 95.2 6.6 31.0 77.8 0.0 0.0 100.0 
 a WTO Definition. 
Note: For tariff lines with specific duties, ad valorem  component of lines with compound and alternate rates are included in the 
calculations. 
 
Source : WTO Secretariat estimates based on data provided by Iceland. 
 
3. Norway  has a variable MFN tariff structure.  It s (unweighted) average MFN rate (2007) is 
1.9% on all goods, with a higher average tariff a pplied to agricultural goods (15.5%) than to 
non-agricultural products (0.5%).  Duty-free tariff lin es account for 83.6% of all lines.  Norway's 
tariff concessions under the Agreem ent were implemented upon entry in to force of the Agreement;  
hence, from 2007 Egypt has enjoyed a relative ma rgin of preference of 100% on non-agricultural 
products vis-à-vis  the prevailing average MFN tariff in 2007, and a relative margin of preference of 
44.5% in agricultural goods. 
Table AI.2 
Norway: Indicators of MFN tariff rates a nd preferential rates for imports from Egypt 
ALL PRODUCTS Agricultural products a Non-agricultural products 
Average applied 
tariff Average applied 
tariff Average applied 
tariff Origin 
of goods Year 
Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff 
lines (%) Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff lines 
(%) Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff lines 
(%) 
MFN 2007 1.9 30.5 83.6 15.5 93.3 36.7 0.5 9.9 94.5 
Egypt 2007 1.1 35.0 89.5 8.6 35.0 45.4 0.0 0.0 99.9 
 a WTO Definition. 
Note: Calculations exclude specific and in- quota rates.  Tariff lines with specific duties represent 10.8% of Norway's schedule . 
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat estimates based on data provided by Norway and the WTO-IDB. 
 
4. Switzerland's  MFN tariff structure contains a majority of tariff lines with specific duties 
which precludes the tariff analysis presented above.  However, as of entry into force of the Agreement, Egypt benefits from 79.7% of Switzer land's tariff schedule being duty free as compared WT/REG232/1 
Page 26  
 
  to 16.6% on an MFN basis.  The share of duty free lines on industrial goods is 99.97% compared to 
17.5% on an MFN basis and on agricultural goods is of 25.6% compared to 13.5% on an MFN basis. 
Table AI.3 
Switzerland: Indicators of MFN tariff rates and preferential rates for imports from Egypt 
ALL PRODUCTS Agricultural products a Non-agricultural products 
Average applied 
tariff Average applied 
tariff Average applied 
tariff Origin 
of goods Year 
Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff lines 
(%) Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff lines 
(%) Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff lines 
(%) 
MFN 2007 n.a. n.a. 16.6 n.a. n.a. 13.5 n.a. n.a. 17.5 
Egypt 2007 n.a. n.a. 79.7 n.a. n.a. 25.6 n.a. n.a. 99.97 
 a WTO Definition. 
Note: Calculations exclude specific and in -quota rates. Tariff lines with specific duties represent 83.4% of Switzerland's sche dule. 
 
Source:  WTO Secretariat estimates based on data provided by Switzerland and the WTO-IDB. 
 
5. Egypt  has a variable MFN tariff structure.  Its (unweighted) average MFN rate (2007) is 
17.1% on all goods, with a higher average tariff a pplied to agricultural goods (64.7%) than to 
non-agricultural products (10%).  Duty-free tariff lin es account for 8.6% of all lines.  On entry into 
force of the Agreement (August 2007), exporters fr om the EFTA States enjoyed a relative margin of 
preference of 9% for industrial products but zero for agricultural products vis-à-vis  the applied MFN 
rate in 2007;  the margin of preference is expected  to rise to 93% for industrial products but remain 
zero for agricultural products by January 2020 (vis -à-vis the applied MFN rate in 2007) when the 
Agreement will be fully implemented. 
Table AI.4 
Egypt: Indicators of MFN tariff rates and preferential rates for imports from EFTA 
ALL PRODUCTS Agricultural products a Non-agricultural products 
Average applied 
tariff Average applied 
tariff Average applied 
tariff Origin of 
goods Year 
Overall 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff lines 
(%) Over
all 
(%) On 
dutiable 
(%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff 
lines (%) Overall 
(%) On 
dutiabl
e (%) Share of 
duty-free 
tariff lines 
(%) 
MFN 2007 17.1 18.7 8.6 64.7 74.5 12.9 10.0 10.9 7.9 
EFTA 2007 16.3 17.8 8.6 64.7 74.5 12.9 9.0 9.8 7.9 
 2008 15.8 26.3 39.7 64.7 74.4 12.9 8.5 15.2 43.8 
 2009 15.6 25.8 39.7 64.7 74.4 12.9 8.2 14.7 43.8 
 2010 15.0 25.0 39.7 64.7 74.4 12.9 7.7 13.6 43.8 
 2011 14.5 24.1 39.7 64.7 74.4 12.9 7.0 12.5 43.8 
 2012 13.5 22.4 39.7 64.7 74.4 12.9 5.9 10.4 43.8 
 2013 12.5 20.7 39.7 64.7 74.4 12.9 4.7 8.3 43.8 
 2014 11.4 28.0 59.1 64.7 75.1 13.7 3.5 10.3 66.0 
 2015 10.7 26.1 59.1 64.7 75.1 13.7 2.6 7.7 66.0 
 2016 9.9 24.2 59.1 64.7 75.1 13.7 1.7 5.0 66.0 
 2017 9.1 69.6 86.8 64.7 75.1 13.7 0.8 37.4 97.8 
 2018 9.1 69.4 86.8 64.7 75.1 13.7 0.8 36.3 97.8 
 2019 9.1 69.7 86.9 64.7 75.1 13.7 0.8 36.8 97.9 
 2020 9.0 71.1 87.2 64.7 75.1 13.7 0.7 42.3 98.2 
 
a WTO Definition. 
Note: Calculations exclude specific and in -quota rates. Tariff lines with specific du ties represent 0.2% of Egypt's schedule. 
 
Source : WTO Secretariat estimates based on data provided by Egypt and the WTO-IDB. 
 
6. Table AI.5 shows the market access opportunities in Iceland for Egypt's top 25 exports, which 
in 2004-2006 accounted on average for 61% of Egypt's global exports.  The table shows the year in 
which all HS 8-digit tariff lines corresponding to the product definition (i.e. applying to the 6-digit HS 
code used to capture the volume of trade) will b ecome duty-free in Norway.  Egypt's top 25 exports 
(at the HS 6-digit level) cover a total of 58 HS 8-di git tariff lines in Iceland's tariff schedule.  Of these, 
48 lines are duty free on an MFN basis while 10 are subj ect to duties.  Of the 10 dutiable tariff lines,  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 27 
 
 
  eight were liberalized on entry into force of the Ag reement while the remaining two retain a duty.  On 
the liberalized tariff lines Iceland will be granting to Egypt a margin of preference ranging from 15 to 
0.6 percentage points. 
Table AI.5 – Iceland:  
Market access opportunities under the agreement for Egypt's top 25 exports 
Access Conditions to Iceland's import markets 
MFN (2007)  Egypt's top export products in 2004-2006  
Number of tariff lines  
HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports (%)  Average MFN 
applied rate 
(%) Duty-free Dutiable Duty-
free in  
2007 
Remain 
Dutiable 
271111 Natural gas 13.9 0.0 1    
270900 Petroleum oils and oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals, crude. 5.6 0.0 1    
271099 Other 5.5 0.0 1    
271011 Light oils and preparations 5.3 0.0 6    
271019 Other 5.3 0.6 8 1 1  
271091 Containing polychlorinated biphenyls, 
polychlorinated terphenyls or 
polybrominated biphenyls 5.3 0.0 1    
100630 Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, 
whether or not polished or glazed 2.5 0.0 2    
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed. 2.5 0.0 1    
721420 Containing indentations, ribs, grooves or 
other deformations produced during the 
rolling process or twisted after rolling 1.8 0.0 2    
390110 Polyethylene having a specific gravity of 
less than 0.94 1.6 0.00 2    
721911 Of a thickness exceeding 10 mm 1.4 0.0 1    
252310 Cement clinkers 1.3 0.0 1    
252329 Other portland cement other than white 
cement, whether or not artificially 
coloured 1.0 0.0 1    
710812 Other unwrought forms 0.9 0.0 1    
630291 Of cotton 0.8 10.0  2 2  
271112 Propane 0.8 0.0 2    
251511 Crude or roughly trimmed 0.8 0.0 1    
760110 Aluminium, not alloyed 0.7 0.0 1    
080510 Oranges 0.7 0.0 1    
610910 Of cotton 0.7 15.0  1 1  
270400 Coke and semi-coke of coal, of lignite or 
of peat, whether or not agglomerated; retort carbon. 0.7 0.0 1    
070190 Other seed of potatoes,  fresh or chilled. 0.6 0.0a 1 1  1 
732690 Other articles of iron or steel wire 0.6 2.7 9 4 4  
271290 Other wax other than  petroleum jelly and 
paraffin wax 0.5 0.0 1    
170310 Cane molasses 0.4 18.3 2 1  1 
Total of above 61.0  48 10 8 2 
a Combination of MFN duty-free and specific duty 
Source : WTO estimates based on data provided by Iceland and UNSD, Comtrade data. 
 
7. Table AI.6 shows the market access opportun ities in Norway for Egypt's top 25 exports, 
which in 2004-2006 accounted on average for 61% of  Egypt's global exports.  The table shows the 
year in which all HS 8-digit tariff lines correspondi ng to the product definition (i.e. applying to the 
6-digit HS code used to capture the volume of tr ade) will become duty-free in Norway.  Egypt's top 
25 exports (at the HS 6-digit level) cover a total of 76 HS 8-digit tariff lines in Norway's tariff schedule.  Of these, 66 are duty free on an MFN b asis while 10 are subject to duties.  Of the 
10 dutiable tariff lines, two were liberalized on entry into force of the Agreem ent while the remaining 
eight retain a duty.  On the liberalized tariff lin es Norway will be granting to Egypt a margin of 
preference of 10.7 and 12 percentage points respectively. 
 WT/REG232/1 
Page 28  
 
  Table AI.6 – Norway:  
Market access opportunities under the agreement for Egypt's top 25 exports 
Access Conditions to Norway's import markets 
MFN (2007)  Egypt's top export products in 2004-2006  
Number of tariff lines  
HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports (%)  Average MFN 
applied rate 
(%) Duty-free Dutiable Duty-
free in  
2007 
Remain 
Dutiable 
271111 Natural gas 13.9 0.0 1    
270900 Petroleum oils and oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals, crude 5.6 0.0 2    
271099 Other 5.5 0.0 1    
271011 Light oils and preparations 5.3 0.0 11    
271019 Other 5.3 0.0 20    
271091 Containing polychlorinated biphenyl, 
polychlorinated terphenyls or 
polybrominated biphenyls 5.3 0.0 1    
100630 Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, 
whether or not polished or glazed 2.5 0.0 3 1  1 
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed 2.5 0.0 1    
721420 Containing indentations, ribs, grooves or 
other deformations produced during the 
rolling process or twisted after rolling 1.8 0.0 1    
390110 Polyethylene having a specific gravity of 
less than 0.94 1.6 0.0 2    
721911 Of a thickness exceeding 10 mm 1.4 0.0 1    
252310 Cement clinkers 1.3 0.0 1    
252329 Other portland cement other than white 
cement, whether or not artificially 
coloured 1.0 0.0 1    
710812 Other unwrought forms 0.9 0.0 1    
630291 Of cotton 0.8 12.0 1 1 1  
271112 Propane 0.8 0.0 1    
251511 Crude or roughly trimmed 0.8 0.0 1    
760110 Aluminium, not alloyed 0.7 0.0 1    
080510 Oranges 0.7 0.0 2 1  1 
610910 Of cotton 0.7 10.7 1 1 1  
270400 Coke and semi-coke of coal, of lignite or 
of peat, whether or not agglomerated; retort carbon 0.7 0.0 3    
070190 Other seed of potatoes, fr esh or chilled 0.6 145.5 5 5  5 
732690 Other articles of iron or steel wire 0.6 0.0 1    
271290 Other wax other than  petroleum jelly and 
paraffin wax 0.5 0.0 1    
170310 Cane molasses 0.4 0.0 2 1  1 
Total of above 61.0  66 10 2 8 
 
Source:  WTO estimates based on data provided by Norway, WTO-IDB and UNS D, Comtrade data. 
 
8. Table AI.7 shows the market access opportunities in Switzerland for Egypt's top 25 exports, 
which in 2004-2006 accounted on average for 61% of  Egypt's global exports.  The table shows the 
year in which all HS 8-digit tariff lines correspondi ng to the product definition (i.e. applying to the 
6-digit HS code used to capture the volume of tr ade) will become duty-free in Switzerland.  Egypt's 
top 25 exports (at the HS 6-digit level) cover a tota l of 60 HS 8-digit tariff lines in Switzerland's tariff 
schedule.  Of these, 27 are duty free on an MFN b asis while 33 are subject to duties.  Of the 
33 dutiable tariff lines, 26 were liberalized on entry into force of the Agreement while the remaining 
7 retain a duty.1 
 
 
  
                                                     
 
 1 It is not possible to indicate the margin of preference granted by Swit zerland to Egypt of the 
liberalized tariff lines sin ce they have specific duties.  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 29 
 
 
  Table AI.7 – Switzerland:  
Market access opportunities under the agreement for Egypt's top 25 exports 
Access Conditions to Switzerland's import markets  
MFN (2007)  Egypt's top export products in 2004-2006  
Number of tariff lines  
HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports (%)  Average MFN 
applied rate 
(%) Duty-free Dutiable Duty-
free in  
2007  
Remain 
Dutiable 
271111 Natural gas 13.9 0.0 2    
270900 Petroleum oils and oils obtained from 
bituminous minerals, crude. 5.6 0.0 2    
271099 Other 5.5 0.0 1    
271011 Light oils and preparations 5.3 0.0 6    
271019 Other 5.3 0.0 9    
271091 Containing polychlorinated biphenyls, 
polychlorinated terphenyls or polybrominated biphenyls 5.3 0.0 1    
100630 Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, 
whether or not polished or glazed 2.5 n.a.a  3 1 2 
520100 Cotton, not carded or combed 2.5 0.0 2    
721420 Containing indentations, ribs, grooves or 
other deformations produced during the rolling process or twisted after rolling 1.8 n.a.  3 3  
390110 Polyethylene having a specific gravity of 
less than 0.94 1.6 0.0 1    
721911 Of a thickness exceeding 10 mm 1.4 n.a.  2 2  
252310 Cement clinkers 1.3 n.a.  1 1  
252329 Other portland cement other than white 
cement, whether or not artificially 
coloured 1.0 n.a.  1 1  
710812 Other unwrought forms 0.9 0.0 1    
630291 Of cotton 0.8 n.a.  2 2  
271112 Propane 0.8 0.0 2    
251511 Crude or roughly trimmed 0.8 n.a.  1 1  
760110 Aluminium, not alloyed 0.7 n.a.  1 1  
080510 Oranges 0.7 n.a.  1 1  
610910 Of cotton 0.7 n.a.  1 1  
270400 Coke and semi-coke of coal, of lignite or 
of peat, whether or not agglomerated; 
retort carbon 0.7 n.a.  1 1  
070190 Other seed of potatoes, fr esh or chilled 0.6 n.a.  3  3 
732690 Other articles of iron or steel wire 0.6 n.a.  10 10  
271290 Other wax other than  petroleum jelly and 
paraffin wax 0.5 n.a.  1 1  
170310 Cane molasses 0.4 n.a.  2  2 
Total of above 61.0  27 33 26 7 
 
a  n.a. refers to tariff lines with specific duties. 
 
Source:  WTO estimates based on data provided by Swit zerland, WTO-IDB and UNSD, Comtrade data. 
 
9. Table AI.8 shows the market access opportunities in Egypt for Iceland's top 25 exports, which 
in 2004-2006 accounted on average for 86.8% of Iceland's global exports.  The table shows the year in which all HS 8-digit tariff lines corresponding to the product definition (i.e. applying to the 6-digit 
HS code used to capture the volume of trade) will become duty-free in Egypt.  Iceland's top 
25 exports (at the HS 6-digit level) cover a total of 29 HS 8-digit tariff lines in Egypt's tariff schedule.  
Of these, 9 are duty free on an MFN basis while 20 ar e subject to duties.  Of the 20 dutiable tariff 
lines, three were liberalized on entry into force of the Agreement and eight are scheduled to be 
liberalized by 2017;  the remaining nine tariff lines re tain a duty.  On the liberalized tariff lines Egypt 
will be granting to Iceland a margin of preference that ranges from 1 to 10%. 
 
   
 WT/REG232/1 
Page 30  
 
  Table AI.8 – Egypt:  
Market access opportunities under the ag reement for Iceland's top 25 exports 
Access Conditions to Egypt's import markets 
MFN (2007)  Iceland's top export products in 2004-2006  No. of 
tariff lines  Duty-free in 
HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports 
(%) Average 
MFN 
applied 
rate (%)  
Duty-free 
Dutiable 
2008 
2014 
2017 
Remain Dutiable 
760110 Aluminium, not alloyed 20.2 10.0  1  1   
030420 Frozen fillets 14.8 0.0 1      
030410 Fresh or chilled 6.2 0.0 1      
030562 Cod 5.6 5.0  1    1 
230120 Flours, meals and pellets, of fi sh or of crustaceans, molluscs 
or other aquatic invertebrates 4.9 2.0  1    1 
160520 Shrimps and prawns 3.9 20.0  1    1 
030379 Other fish, excluding livers and roes, other than sardines, 
haddock, coalfish, mackerel, dogf ish and other sharks, eels, 
sea bass and hake 3.8 0.0 1      
880240 Airplanes and other aircraft, of an unladen weight exceeding 
15,000 kg 3.5 5.0  1 1    
720221 Containing by weight more than  55% of silicon 2.8 2.0  1  1   
030530 Fish fillets, dried, salted or in brine, not smoked 2. 7 20.0  1    1 
030490 Other fish fillets and other fi sh meat other than fresh, chilled 
or frozen fillets 2.2 0.0 1      
300490 Other medicaments, other than medicaments containing 
vitamins or other products of heading 29.36 2.1 2.5 1 1   1  
902139 Other artificial parts of the body other than artificial joints 1.5 2.0  1 1    
030331 Halibut 1.4 0.0 1      
271019 Other petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminuous 
minerals other than light oils and preparations 1.3 5.0  2   2  
030551 Cod 1.3 5.0  1    1 
030269 Other fish, excluding livers and roes, other than sardines, 
haddock, coalfish, mackerel, dogf ish and other sharks, eels 1.2 5.0  1    1 
150420 Fats and oils and their fractions, of fish , other than liver oils 1.2 5.0  1    1 
030380 Livers and roes 1.1 0.0 1      
030262 Haddock 1.0 5.0  1    1 
300390 Other medicaments, other than  those containing penicillins, 
other antibiotics, hormones or other products of heading 
29.37 and those containing alkoloi ds or derivatives thereof 1.0 1.0 1 1   1  
030250 Cod excluding livers and roes 0.9 5.0  1    1 
843850 Machinery for the preparation of meat or poultry 0.8 2.0  1 1    
890200 Fishing vessels; factory ships and other vessels for 
processing or preserving fishery products 0.7 1.0 1 1  1   
842320 Scales for continuous weighing of goods on conveyors 0.5 5.0  1  1   
Total of above 86.8  9 20 3 4 4 9 
 
Source: WTO estimates based on data provided by Eg ypt, WTO-IDB and UNSD, Comtrade data. 
 
10. Table AI.9 shows the market access opportun ities in Egypt for Norway's top 25 exports, 
which in 2004-2006 accounted on average for 77.1% of  Norway's global exports.  The table shows the 
year in which all HS 8-digit tariff lines correspondi ng to the product definition (i.e. applying to the 
6-digit HS code used to capture the volume of tr ade) will become duty-free in Egypt.  Norway's top 
25 exports (at the HS 6-digit level) cover a total of 30 HS 8-digit tariff lines in Egypt's tariff schedule.  
Of these, six are MFN duty free while 24 are subject to  duties.  Of the dutiable tariff lines, ten were 
liberalized on entry into force of the Agreement and 12 are scheduled to be liberalized by 2017;  the 
remaining two tariff lines retain a duty.  On th e liberalized tariff lines Egypt will be granting to 
Norway a margin of preference that varies from 1 to 15%. 
 
 
 
  WT/REG232/1 
 Page 31 
 
 
  Table AI.9 – Egypt:  
Market access opportunities under the ag reement for Norway's  top 25 exports 
Access Conditions to Egypt's import markets 
MFN (2007)  Norway's top export products in 2004-2006  No. of 
tariff lines  Duty-free in 
HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports 
(%) Average 
MFN 
applied 
rate (%)  
Duty-free 
Dutiable 
2008 
2014 
2017 
Remain Dutiable 
270900 Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, 
crude 44.1 5.0  1 1    
271121 Natural gas 15.9 5.0  1 1    
760120 Aluminium alloys 3.0 10.0  1  1   
271011 Light oils and preparations 2.3 5.0  2   2  
271019 Other petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminuous 
minerals other than light oils and preparations 1.9 5.0  2   2  
030212 Pacific salmon, Atlantic salmon and Danube salmon 1.5 5.0  1    1 
750210 Nickel, not alloyed 1.3 2.0  1 1    
271112 Propane 1.1 5.0  1 1    
271113 Butanes 0.7 5.0  1 1    
890190 Other vessels for the transport of goods and other vessels for 
the transport of both persons and goods 0.5 1.0 1 1  1   
292429 Other cyclic amides other than ureines and their derivatives,  
and its salts and Ethinamate  0.4 2.0  1 1    
271600 Electrical energy. 0.4 0.0 1      
030420 Frozen fillets 0.4 0.0 1      
480261 In rolls 0.4 10.0  1  1   
030551 Cod  0.3 5.0  1    1 
851750 Other apparatus, for carrie r-current line systems or for 
digital line systems 0.3 0.0 1      
030374 Mackerel  0.3 0.0 1      
760110 Aluminium, not alloyed 0.3 10.0  1  1   
841370 Other centrifugal pumps 0.3 15.0  3 1 1 1  
030350 Herrings, excluding livers and roes 0.3 0.0 1      
720230 Ferro-silico-manganese 0.3 2.0  1  1   
283650 Calcium carbonate 0.3 2.0  1 1    
760612 Of aluminium alloys 0.3 5.0  1  1   
880330 Other parts of airplanes or  helicopters 0.3 5.0  1 1    
280469 Other silicon other than those containing by weight not less 
than 99.9%  0.2 2.0  1 1    
Total of above 77.1  6 24 10 7 5 2 
 
Source:  WTO estimates based on data provided by Egypt, WTO-IDB and UNSD, Comtrade data. 
 
11. Table AI.10 shows the market access opportunities in Egypt for Switzerland's top 25 exports, 
which in 2004-2006 accounted on average for 38.8%  of Switzerland's global exports.  The table 
shows the year in which all HS 8-digit ta riff lines corresponding to the product definition 
(i.e. applying to the 6-digit HS code used to cap ture the volume of trade) will become duty-free in 
Egypt.  Switzerland's top 25 exports (at the HS 6-dig it level) cover a total of 38 HS 8-digit tariff lines 
in Egypt's tariff schedule.  Of these, 12 are MFN duty free while 26 are subject to duties.  Of the 
dutiable tariff lines, 12 were liberalized in 2008 a nd 14 are scheduled to be liberalized by 2017.  On 
the liberalized tariff lines Egypt will be granting to  Switzerland a margin of preference that ranges 
from 0.5 to 30%. 
 
   
 
   WT/REG232/1 
Page 32  
 
  Table AI.10 – Egypt:  
Market access opportunities under the agree ment for Switzerland's top 25 exports 
Access Conditions to Egypt's import 
markets  
MFN (2007)  Switzerland's top export products in 2004-2006  
No. of 
tariff lines  Duty-free in  
HS number and description of the product  Share in 
global 
exports 
(%) Average 
MFN applied 
rate (%)  
Duty-free 
Dutiable 
2008 
2014 
2017 
300490 Other medicaments, other than medicaments containing 
vitamins or other products of heading 29.36 9.8 2.5 1 1   1 
300210 Antisera and other blood fractions and modified 
immunological products, whether or not obtained by means 
of biotechnological processes 4.2 0.0 1     
910221 With automatic winding 2.6 10.0  1  1  
711319 Of other precious metal, whethe r or not plated or clad with 
precious metal 2.1 10.0  1   1 
910211 With mechanical display only 1.9 10.0  1  1  
271600 Electrical energy. 1.8 0.0 1     
293399 Other 1.5 2.0  1 1   
910121 With automatic winding 1.2 10.0  2  1 1 
300420 Containing other antibiotics 1.2 5.0  1   1 
294190 Other antibiotics 1.1 2.0  1 1   
711011 Unwrought or in powder form 1.0 5.0  1  1  
300439 Other medicaments, other than pe nicillins, antibiotics 1.0 5.0  1   1 
841199 Other parts of other gas turbines 1.0 5.0  1 1   
710239 Other non-industrial diamonds  other than unworked or 
simply sawn or roughly shaped 0.9 5.0  1  1  
293719 Other hormones other than somatotropin and insulin and its 
salts 0.9 2.0  1 1   
292429 Other cyclic amides other th an ureines and their derivatives,   
and its salts and Ethinamate 0.9 2.0  1 1   
902150 Pacemakers for stimulating heart muscles, excluding parts 
and accessories 0.8 2.0  1 1   
847989 Other machines and mechanical appliances other than for 
treating metal and mixing, kneading, et.al. machines 0.8 0.5 9 1 1   
293499 Other nucleic acids other than aminorex,  brotizolam, 
clotiazepam, cloxazolam, dextromoramide, haloxazolam, 
ketazolam, mesocarb, oxazolam,  pemoline, phendimetrazine, 
phenmetrazine, sufentanil; salts thereof 0.7 2.0  1 1   
880230 Airplanes and other aircraft, of an unladen weight exceeding 
2,000 kg but not exceeding 15,000 kg 0.7 5.0  1 1   
902110 Orthopaedic or fracture appliances 0.7 2.0  1 1   
330290 Other mixtures of odoriferous substances other than those of 
a kind used in the food or drink industries 0.6 5.0  1   1 
910111 With mechanical display only 0.6 10.0  2  1 1 
970110 Paintings, drawings and pastels 0.6 30.0  1   1 
901890 Other instruments and appliances 0.5 3.5  2 2   
Total of above 38.8  12 26 12 6 8 
 
Source:  WTO estimates based on data provided by Egypt, WTO-IDB and UNSD, Comtrade data. 
 
__________