Agreement

in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Kingdom of Thailand pursuant to Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedules of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic in the course of their accession to the European Union

A. Letter from the European Community

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Bangkok,

Sir,

Following the initiation of negotiations between the European Communities (EC) and the Kingdom of Thailand (Thailand) under Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of GATT 1994 for the modification of concessions in the schedules of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic in the course of their accession to the EC, the following is agreed between the EC and the Thailand in order to conclude the negotiations initiated following the EC's notification of 19 January 2004 to the WTO pursuant to Article XXIV:6 of GATT 1994.

The EC agrees to incorporate in its schedule for the customs territory of EC 25, the concessions that were included in its previous schedule of EC 15.

The EC agrees that it will incorporate in its schedule for the EC 25 the concessions contained in the Annex to this Agreement.

Thailand accepts the basic components of the EC's approach to adjusting the obligation of the EC 15 and those of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic following the recent enlargement of the EC: netting out of export commitments; netting out of tariff quotas; and aggregation of domestic support commitments.

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which the EC and Thailand have exchanged letters of agreement, following consideration by the parties in accordance with their own procedures. The EC shall use its best endeavours to put in place the appropriate implementing measures before 1 January 2006 and under no circumstances later than 1 July 2006.

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

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On behalf of the European Community

ANNEX

16042070: a new annual tariff rate quota of 2558 tonnes of which 1816 tonnes shall be allocated to Thailand, the rest erga omnes, with an in quota rate of 0 %, out of quota rate 24 %.

16042050: a new annual tariff rate quota of 2275 tonnes of which 1410 tonnes shall be allocated to Thailand, the rest erga omnes, with an in quota rate of 0 %, out of quota rate 25 %.

100610 (Paddy rice): a new annual tariff rate quota (erga omnes) of 7 tonnes, in quota rate 15 %.

100620 (Husked rice): a new annual tariff rate quota (erga omnes) of 1634 tonnes, in quota rate 15 %.

100630 (Semi/wholly milled rice): an increase in annual tariff rate quota of 25516 tonnes (erga omnes) in the current EC 15 quota, in quota rate 0 %.

A country allocation of 1200 tonnes to Thailand to be integrated in the current EC 15 semi/wholly milled rice quota, in-quota rate 0 %.

100640 (Broken rice): a new annual tariff rate quota of 31788 tonnes (erga omnes) in the current EC 15 quota, in quota rate 0 %.

B. Letter from the Kingdom of Thailand

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Bangkok,

Sir,

Reference is made to your letter stating:

"Following the initiation of negotiations between the European Communities (EC) and the Kingdom of Thailand (Thailand) under Article XXIV:6 and Article XXVIII of GATT 1994 for the modification of concessions in the schedules of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic in the course of their accession to the EC, the following is agreed between the EC and Thailand in order to conclude the negotiations initiated following the EC's notification of 19 January 2004 to the WTO pursuant to Article XXIV:6 of GATT 1994.

The EC agrees to incorporate in its schedule for the customs territory of EC 25, the concessions that were included in its previous schedule of EC 15.

The EC agrees that it will incorporate in its schedule for the EC 25 the concessions contained in the Annex to this Agreement.

Thailand accepts the basic components of the EC's approach to adjusting the obligation of the EC 15 and those of the Czech Republic, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Hungary, the Republic of Malta, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of Slovenia and the Slovak Republic following the recent enlargement of the EC: netting out of export commitments; netting out of tariff quotas; and aggregation of domestic support commitments.

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which the EC and Thailand have exchanged letters of agreement, following consideration by the parties in accordance with their own procedures. The EC shall use its best endeavours to put in place the appropriate implementing measures before 1 January 2006 and under no circumstances later than 1 July 2006."

I hereby have the honour to express my government's agreement.

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

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On behalf of the Kingdom of Thailand

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