WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/L/610 
30 May 2005 
 (05-2203) 
  
  
 
 
 
ALBANIA – IMPLEMENTATION OF SPECIFIC CONCESSIONS  
 
Decision of 26 May 2005∗ 
 
 
 The General Council,    Conducting  the function of the Ministerial Conference in the interval between meetings 
pursuant to paragraph 2 of Article IV of the WTO Agreement; 
  Having regard to  paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 of Article  IX of the Marrakesh Agreement 
Establishing the World Trade Organization (the "W TO Agreement"), the Guiding Principles to be 
followed in considering application for waivers adopted on 1 November 1956 (BISD 5S/25) and the 
Understanding in Respect to Waivers of Obliga tions under the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade 1994 (the "Understanding");    Recalling that under the terms of paragraph 5 of the Protocol of Accession of Albania to the 
WTO Agreement, the concessions and commitments listed in Schedule CXLVI annexed to the GATT 1994 and relating to Albania shall be implemen ted in stages as specified in Part I of that 
Schedule;  
  Taking note  of the request
1 of Albania for a waiver with respect to the staging of 
implementation of certain concessions and commitmen ts with respect to the specific group of goods 
listed in the Annex to that request2;   
 
 Noting that this request for a waiver only concerns  an extension of the time-limits for the 
staging of implementation of certain concessions  and commitments listed in Schedule CXLVI and 
does not affect the final bound rates;    Noting that Albania estimates that the costs and be nefits of the liberalization and integration 
process in the global markets, is a challenge for th e Albanian Government that requires special and 
strong consideration of the infant market economy st ructure, in order to avoid any negative impact on 
its fragile macroeconomic stability;   Noting that Albania advises that it has already reduc ed its applied rates on 303 tariff lines, and 
the maximum applied tariff rate, below those agreed in its Protocol of Accession;  
  Noting that Albania advises that, at the time of its accession to the WTO, it applied to a 
majority of its tariff lines a rate of duty equivale nt to its current maximum bound rate of 20 per cent, 
but now it applies to a majority of its tariff lines  its minimum bound rates of duty of 2 per cent and 
zero;  
                                                     
 
∗ Adopted in accordance with th e Decision-Making Procedures under Article IX of the WTO 
Agreement agreed by the General Council in November 1995 (WT/L/93). 
1 Documents G/C/W/504 and G/C/W/504/Add.1. 
2 See Annex to document G/C/W/504/Add.1. WT/L/610 
Page 2  
 
  Decides , in view of these exceptional circumstances, as follows:  
 
1. Subject to the terms and conditions set out hereunder: 
(a) the commitments to make effective the interim bound rates in Schedule CXLVI for 
the goods listed in Part A of the Annex to this Decision are waived for Albania until 
the respective dates shown in the fifth column of the table in Part A of the Annex; and 
(b) the commitments to implement the final bound rates in Schedule CXLVI for the 
goods listed in Part B of the Annex to this  Decision are waived for Albania until the 
respective dates shown in the final column of the table in Part B of the Annex. 
2. Albania shall reduce its applied rate, includi ng other duties and charges, for the goods 
listed in the Annex to this Decision in accordance w ith the columns headed "Staging of reductions of 
tariffs, as waived" in the tables in the Annex.  Th e dates refer to 1 January of the respective years 
indicated.   
3. Tariff reductions will be implemented acco rding to the dates specified in the 
"interim" or "implementation" columns of Schedul e CXLVI (no other staged reductions are implied), 
except as may otherwise be specifically noted in th at Schedule or in the Annex to this Decision. 
4. In accordance with paragraph 3 of the Unde rstanding, any Member considering that a 
benefit accruing to it under GATT 1994 is be ing nullified or impaired as a result of: 
(a) the failure of Albania to observe the terms or conditions of this waiver, or 
 
(b) the application of a measure consistent w ith the terms and conditions of the waiver,  
 may invoke the provisions of Article XXIII of GAT T 1994 as elaborated and applied by the DSU. 
 
5. This waiver shall be reviewed by the Ministerial Conference not later than one year 
after it is granted and thereafter annually until the waiver terminates, in accordance with the 
provisions of paragraph 4 of Article IX of the WTO Agreement. 
_______________   WT/L/610
 Page 3ANNEX3 
Part A 
 
 
SCHEDULE CXLVI 
  
STAGING OF REDUCTIONS OF TARIFFS, AS WAIVED     HS Interim Final Bound rate, 
Implementation Interim 
 Final Bound rate, 
Implementation 
22051010-22060089 10 (2004) 0 (2007) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 5 (2006) 0 (2007) 
22082012 - 22089099 10 (2004) 0 (2007) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 5 (2006) 0 (2007) 
72131000 – 72179090 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
72191100 – 72209090 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
72210010 – 72223098  10 (2004) /  
5 (2005) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
72224010 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
72224030 - 72224099 
 10(2004) /  
5 (2005) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
72230011- 72230099 10(2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2 004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
72249001-72249099 5 (2004) 0 (2009) 10 (2004) 5 (2007)  0 (2009) 
72251100- 73042919 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73043191- 73043910 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73043930- 73043999 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73044190- 73044910 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73044991- 73045119 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73045191- 73045939 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73045991- 73045999 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73049090-73062000   10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73063021- 73063090 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73064091- 73064099 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73065091- 73065099 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73066031- 73072100 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73072310- 73079100 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73079311- 73089099 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
                                                      
3 Staging shall be implemented on 1 Janua ry of each year ci ted in the table.   WT/L/610 
Page 4  
SCHEDULE CXLVI 
  
STAGING OF REDUCTIONS OF TARIFFS, AS WAIVED   
 
 HS Interim Final Bound rate, 
Implementation Interim 
 Final Bound rate, 
Implementation 
73121030- 73121099 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73129090- 73145000 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
73170010- 73170090 10 (2004) 0 (2009) 15 (2004) 10 (2006) 5 (2007) 0 (2009) 
94011090 10 (2004) 0 (2007) 15 (2004) 10 (2005)  0 (2007) 
94013010- 94018000 10 (2004) 0 (2007) 15 (2004) 10 (2005)  0 (2007) 
94019030- 94019080 10 (2004) 0 (2007) 15 (2004) 10 (2005)  0 (2007) 
94031010- 94031099 10 (2004) 0 (2007) 15 (2004) 10 (2005)  0 (2007) 
94032091- 94033099 10 (2004) 0 (2007) 15 (2004) 10 (2005)  0 (2007) 
94035000- 94036090 10 (2004) 0 (2007) 15 (2004) 10 (2005)  0 (2007) 
94037090- 94039090 10 (2004) 0 (2007) 15 (2004) 10 (2005)  0 (2007) 
95010010- 95059000 10 (2004) 0 (2007) 15 (2004) 10 (2005)  0 (2007) 
 
 
Part B  
 
 
 
SCHEDULE CXLVI 
  
STAGING OF REDUCTIONS OF TARIFFS, AS WAIVED 
  
  
 
HS Final Bound rate,  
Implementation Interim Final Bound rate, 
Implementation 
22030001, 22030009, 22030010 0 (2005) 10 (2005)   0 (2007) 
33030010 – 34011900 6.5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 6.5 (2007) 
34013000 6.5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 6.5 (2007) 
34031100 – 34070000 6.5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 6.5 (2007) 
34060011-34060090 6.5 (2004) 10 (2004)   6.5 (2007) 
39172110 5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 5 (2007) 
39172199 – 39172210 5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 5 (2007) 
39172299 - 39172310 5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 5 (2007) 
39172399 5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 5 (2007)   WT/L/610
 Page 5 
SCHEDULE CXLVI 
  
STAGING OF REDUCTIONS OF TARIFFS, AS WAIVED 
  
 
 
 HS Final Bound rate,  
Implementation Interim Final Bound rate, 
Implementation 
39172912-39172919 6.5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 6.5 (2007) 
39172999 6.5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 6.5 (2007) 
39173190-39173299 6.5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 6.5 (2007) 
39173390-39173919 6.5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 6.5 (2007) 
39173999 6.5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 6.5 (2007) 
39174090-39202021 6.5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 6.5 (2007) 
39202029 6.5 (2004) 10 (2004)   6.5 (2007) 
39202061 - 39269099 6.5 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 8 (2006) 6.5 (2007) 
44091011- 44092099 0 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 5 (2006) 0 (2007) 
44130000- 44190090 0 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 5 (2006) 0 (2007) 
44211000- 44219010 0 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 5 (2006) 0 (2007) 
44201011-44209099 0 (2004) 10 (2004)   0 (2007) 
48025610 0 (2004) 2 (2004)   0 (2007) 
48141000 - 48150000 0 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 5 (2006)           0 (2007) 
48171000 – 48202000 0 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 5 (2006) 0 (2007) 
48204010 - 48209000 0 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 5 (2006) 0 (2007) 
48211010 - 48219090 0 (2004) 10 (2004)   0 (2007) 
48221000 - 48236090  0 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 5 (2006) 0 (2007) 
48237010 0 (2004) 2 (2004)   0 (2007) 
48237090 0 (2004) 15 (2004)  10 (2006) 0 (2007) 
48239015- 48239090 0 (2004) 15 (2004) 10 (2005) 5 (2006) 0 (2007) 
49090010- 49100000 0 (2004) 10 (2004)   0 (2007) 
49111010 - 49119900 0 (2004) 10 (2004)   0 (2007) 
85365011-85365080 0 (2004) 10 (2004)   0 (2005) 
 
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