# Official Journal L 233/2020

| | ISSN 1977-0677 |
| --- | --- |
| Official Journal
  of the European Union | L 233 |
| | |
| English edition | Legislation | Volume 6321 July 2020 |

ISSN 1977-0677

Official Journal

of the European Union

L 233

English edition

Legislation

Volume 6321 July 2020

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| Contents | | II   Non-legislative acts | page |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | | INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS |
| | * | Council Decision (EU) 2020/1067 of 13 July 2020 on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat | 1 |
| | * | Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat | 3 |

Contents

II   Non-legislative acts

page

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

*

Council Decision (EU) 2020/1067 of 13 July 2020 on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat

1

*

Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat

3

| EN | Acts whose titles are printed in light type are those relating to day-to-day management of agricultural matters, and are generally valid for a limited period.
  The titles of all other Acts are printed in bold type and preceded by an asterisk. |
| --- | --- |

EN

Acts whose titles are printed in light type are those relating to day-to-day management of agricultural matters, and are generally valid for a limited period.

The titles of all other Acts are printed in bold type and preceded by an asterisk.

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II Non-legislative acts

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

| 21.7.2020 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 233/1 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

21.7.2020

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 233/1

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COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2020/1067

of 13 July 2020

on the conclusion of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4), in conjunction with point (a)(v) of the second subparagraph of Article 218(6) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

Having regard to the consent of the European Parliament (1),

Whereas:

| (1) | In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2019/1864 (2), the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) was signed on 9 December 2019, subject to its conclusion at a later date. |
| --- | --- |

(1)

In accordance with Council Decision (EU) 2019/1864 (2), the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Agreement’) was signed on 9 December 2019, subject to its conclusion at a later date.

| (2) | This Decision relates exclusively to Union trade policy and implements an agreement following negotiations in the framework of the Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994, a Union right under the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization. |
| --- | --- |

(2)

This Decision relates exclusively to Union trade policy and implements an agreement following negotiations in the framework of the Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994, a Union right under the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization.

| (3) | The Agreement should be approved, |
| --- | --- |

(3)

The Agreement should be approved,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.

The text of the Agreement is attached to this Decision.

Article 2

The President of the Council shall, on behalf of the Union, give the notification provided for in the Agreement. (3)

Article 3

This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 13 July 2020,

For the Council

The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES

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(1)  Consent of 17 June 2020 (not yet published in the Official Journal).

1

(2)  Council Decision (EU) 2019/1864 of 24 October 2019 on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat (OJ L 289, 8.11.2019, p. 1).).

2

(3)  The date of entry into force of the Agreement will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union by the General Secretariat of the Council.

3

Official Journal of the European Union

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| 21.7.2020 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | L 233/3 |
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21.7.2020

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 233/3

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AGREEMENT

in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat

A.   Letter from the Swiss Confederation

Dear Sir/Madam,

Following negotiations under Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedule of the Swiss Confederation (Schedule LIX Switzerland-Liechtenstein), I have the honour to propose the following:

The Swiss Confederation shall incorporate in its schedule, for the customs territory of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the following amendments:

| 1. | Amendment to the bound duties listed in Schedule LIX in force: | Meat not further prepared than seasoned, of swine:









  Tariff line | Product description | Current bound duty | Proposed bound duty | Special safeguard |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | - - - Other | | | |
| 1602.4991 | - - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned | CHF 850/100 kg gross | CHF 2 304 /100 kg gross | SMS |
| 1602.4999 | - - - - Other | CHF 850/100 kg gross | CHF 850/100 kg gross | SMS |

1.

Amendment to the bound duties listed in Schedule LIX in force:

Meat not further prepared than seasoned, of swine:

Tariff line

Product description

Current bound duty

Proposed bound duty

Special safeguard

- - - Other

1602.4991

- - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned

CHF 850/100 kg gross

CHF 2 304 /100 kg gross

SMS

1602.4999

- - - - Other

CHF 850/100 kg gross

CHF 850/100 kg gross

SMS

| | Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, of bovine animals:









  Tariff line | Product description | Current bound duty | Proposed bound duty | Special safeguard |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | - - - Other | | | |
| 1602.5093 | - - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, except No 1602.5098 | CHF 638/100 kg gross | CHF 2 212 /100 kg gross | SMS |
| 1602.5098 | - - - - Other, including trimmed, raw, boneless, salted and seasoned cuts of beef leg, for the production of dried meat | CHF 638/100 kg gross | CHF 638/100 kg gross | SMS |

Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, of bovine animals:

Tariff line

Product description

Current bound duty

Proposed bound duty

Special safeguard

- - - Other

1602.5093

- - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, except No 1602.5098

CHF 638/100 kg gross

CHF 2 212 /100 kg gross

SMS

1602.5098

- - - - Other, including trimmed, raw, boneless, salted and seasoned cuts of beef leg, for the production of dried meat

CHF 638/100 kg gross

CHF 638/100 kg gross

SMS

| | New and amended tariff quotas:








  Quota number | Product description | Current quota | Proposed quota |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5 | Animals for slaughter; meat from animals raised primarily on a roughage-based diet | Tonnes
  22 500 | Tonnes
  23 700  (1) |

New and amended tariff quotas:

Quota number

Product description

Current quota

Proposed quota

5

Animals for slaughter; meat from animals raised primarily on a roughage-based diet

Tonnes

22 500

Tonnes

23 700  (1)

1

This Agreement shall be subject to the completion of the Parties’ internal approval procedures. The European Union and Switzerland shall notify each other in writing of the completion of any internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement and Switzerland shall notify the European Union of the certification of the amendments to the Schedule LIX Switzerland-Liechtenstein. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last notification.

I should be grateful if you would confirm the agreement of the European Union with the above. I have the honour to propose that, if the above is acceptable to the European Union, this letter and your confirmation shall together constitute an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the Swiss Confederation and the European Union, which shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last notification.

Please accept, Sir/Madam, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Image 1

B.   Letter from the European Union

Dear Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date, which reads as follows:

‘Following negotiations under Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedule of the Swiss Confederation (Schedule LIX Switzerland-Liechtenstein), I have the honour to propose the following:

The Swiss Confederation shall incorporate in its schedule, for the customs territory of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the following amendments:

| 1. | Amendment to the bound duties listed in Schedule LIX in force: | Meat not further prepared than seasoned, of swine:









  Tariff line | Product description | Current bound duty | Proposed bound duty | Special safeguard |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | - - - Other | | | |
| 1602.4991 | - - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned | CHF 850/100 kg gross | CHF 2 304 /100 kg gross | SMS |
| 1602.4999 | - - - - Other | CHF 850/100 kg gross | CHF 850/100 kg gross | SMS |

1.

Amendment to the bound duties listed in Schedule LIX in force:

Meat not further prepared than seasoned, of swine:

Tariff line

Product description

Current bound duty

Proposed bound duty

Special safeguard

- - - Other

1602.4991

- - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned

CHF 850/100 kg gross

CHF 2 304 /100 kg gross

SMS

1602.4999

- - - - Other

CHF 850/100 kg gross

CHF 850/100 kg gross

SMS

| | Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, of bovine animals:









  Tariff line | Product description | Current bound duty | Proposed bound duty | Special safeguard |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | - - - Other | | | |
| 1602.5093 | - - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, except No 1602.5098 | CHF 638/100 kg gross | CHF 2 212 /100 kg gross | SMS |
| 1602.5098 | - - - - Other, including trimmed, raw, boneless, salted and seasoned cuts of beef leg, for the production of dried meat | CHF 638/100 kg gross | CHF 638/100 kg gross | SMS |

Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, of bovine animals:

Tariff line

Product description

Current bound duty

Proposed bound duty

Special safeguard

- - - Other

1602.5093

- - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, except No 1602.5098

CHF 638/100 kg gross

CHF 2 212 /100 kg gross

SMS

1602.5098

- - - - Other, including trimmed, raw, boneless, salted and seasoned cuts of beef leg, for the production of dried meat

CHF 638/100 kg gross

CHF 638/100 kg gross

SMS

| | New and amended tariff quotas:








  Quota number | Product description | Current quota | Proposed quota |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 5 | Animals for slaughter; meat from animals raised primarily on a roughage-based diet | Tonnes
  22 500 | Tonnes
  23 700  (2) |

New and amended tariff quotas:

Quota number

Product description

Current quota

Proposed quota

5

Animals for slaughter; meat from animals raised primarily on a roughage-based diet

Tonnes

22 500

Tonnes

23 700  (2)

2

This Agreement shall be subject to the completion of the Parties’ internal approval procedures. The European Union and Switzerland shall notify each other in writing of the completion of any internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement and Switzerland shall notify the European Union of the certification of the amendments to the Schedule LIX Switzerland-Liechtenstein. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last notification.

I should be grateful if you would confirm the agreement of the European Union with the above. I have the honour to propose that, if the above is acceptable to the European Union, this letter and your confirmation shall together constitute an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the Swiss Confederation and the European Union, which shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last notification.’.

I can confirm the agreement of the European Union with the content of your letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Image 2

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(1)  In addition to the current subquotas, a quantity of at least 600 tonnes shall be allocated for trimmed, boneless, salted and seasoned cuts of beef under tariff item 1602.5091.

1

(2)  In addition to the current subquotas, a quantity of at least 600 tonnes shall be allocated for trimmed, boneless, salted and seasoned cuts of beef under tariff item 1602.5091.

2

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