COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 15.12.1995 
COM(95) 736 final 
95/ 0354 (ACC) 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
Concerning the con elusion of the results of negotiations with certain third countries 
under GATT Article XXIV:6 and other related matters 
(presented by the Commission) 

PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION 
The Commission has now concluded negotiations with Australia, Chile, Japan, New 
Zealand and Thailand. The results of the negotiations are contained in the Proposal 
lor a Council Decision concerning the conclusion ol the rcsulls of negotiations with 
certain third countries under (ïA'IT Article XXIV:6 and other related matters 
The agreements essentially cover agricultural issues and include commitments on 
tariffs, tariffs quotas, export cornmitments and domestic support 
1 
ial for a Councji 
Concerning the conclusion of the results of negotiations with certain tliiMçmjJlloes 
under GAIT Article XX1V:6 and other related matters 
The Council of the European Union, 
having regard to the Treaty establishing the European. Community, and in particular 
Article 113 thereof, 
having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
whereas the Community has entered into negotiations under GAIT Article XXIV:6; 
whereas these negotiations have resulted in agreements with Australia, Chile, Japan, New 
Zealand and Thailand, 
whereas it was also in the interest of the Community to resolve certain other outstanding 
issues in the agricultural sector with the parties concerned, 
whereas it is in the interest of the Community to approve these agreements, 
has decided as follows : 
Article \ 
1. Agreements for the conclusion of negotiations between Australia, Chile, Japan, New 
Zealand and Thailand and the European Community under Article XXIV:6 of the 
GATT 1994, as well as Exchanges of Letters where relevant, are hereby approved on 
behalf of the Community, 
2. The texts of the agreements referred to in this Article are attached to this Decision. 
3. The President of the Council is hereby authorised to designate the person empowered 
to sign the agreement in order to bind the Community. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council 
The President 
i 
AGREEMENT 
•OR TUT; CONCLUSION OI; NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN 
AUSTRALIA AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY 
UNDER ARTICLE XXIV.6 
Australia and the European Community, 
desiring to bring their'GATT Article XXI V:6 negotiations to conclusion on the basis 
of a reasonable and mutually satisfactory compromise, and 
further desiring to strengthen the close partnership in commercial and economic 
matters between the European Community and Australia, 
agree to the following provisions : 
A. The European Community shall incorporate in its new Schedule CLX, for the 
customs territory of the EC-15, the concessions that were included in the previous 
Schedule LXXX as modified by the European Community Schedule annexed to the 
Marrakech Protocol to the General Agreement, 1994 (dated 15 April 1994). 
B. To settle the current GATT Article XXIV.6 negotiations on agriculture the following 
has been agreed and as regards the tariff rate quotas will apply with effect from 1 
January 1996 : 
- Add 2.000 tons to the allocation for Australia under the EC tariff rate quota for 
"high quality" beef. 
- Add 1.150 tons to the allocation for Australia under the EC tariff rate quota for 
sheepmeat. 
- Add 750 tons to the allocation for Australia under the EC tariff rate quota for 
cheddar. 
- Tariff rate quota 63.000 tons of "semi-milled and wholly milled rice" 
10 06 3000 at 0 Ecu/t (erga omnes)."> 
- Tariff rate quota 20.000 tons of "husked (brown) rice" 
10 06 2055 at 88 Ecu/t (erga omnes). ID 
- Tari ÇÇ rate quota 21.000 tons of oats 
10 04 0050 at 89 Ecu/t (erga omnes). 
11 ) The management of this quota will include allocation to traditional suppliers. 
A 
The Australian Government accepts the basic components ol the European Community's 
approach lo adjusting the (JATT obligations of EC 12 and those of Austria, Sweden and 
T inland, following the recent enlargement of Ihc Community 
- netting out ol export commitments 
- netting out of tariff quotas 
- aggregation of domestic support commitments. 
The appropriate legal modalities of implementation remain to be agreed. 
C. final provisions: 
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature. 
Consultations will be held with regard to the matters in this Agreement at any time at 
the request of either party. 
Signed at this 
hundred and ninety-five. day of December in the year one thousand nine 
For Australia 
Tor the Council of the European Union 
^ 
Exchange of letter; 
format : I wo duplicate letters 
Dear 
I have the honour lo confirm the following understanding reached between the 
delegations of Australia and the European Community. 
To settle the current WTC) Article XXIV.6 negotiations on agriculture the 
following has been agreed and as regards the tariff rate quotas will apply with 
effect from I January 1996 : 
Add 2.000 tons to the allocation for Australia under the EC tariff rate 
quota for "high quality" beef. 
Add 1.150 tons to the allocation for Australia under the EC tariff rate 
quota for shcepmeat. 
Add 750 tons to the allocation for Australia under the EC tariff rate quota 
for cheddar. 
Tariff rate quota 63.000 tons of "semi-milled and wholly milled rice" 
10 06 3000 at 0 Ecu/t (erga omnes).') 
Tariff rate quota 20.000 tons of "husked (brown) rice" 
10 06 2055 at 88 Ecu/t (erga omnes).1» 
Tariff rate quota 21.000 tons of oats 
10 04 0050 at 89 Ecu/t (erga omnes). 
The Australian Government accepts the basic components of the European 
Community's approach to adjusting the GATT obligations of EC 12 and those of 
Austria, Sweden and Tinland, following the recent enlargement of the 
Community. 
netting out of export commitments 
netting out of tariff quotas 
aggregation of domestic support commitments. 
The appropriate legal modalities of implementation remain to be agreed. 
Australia and the European Community agree to review in the first quarter of 
1996 the particular functioning of the "representative price" system for cereals as 
it affects Australian exports of high quality wheat to the EC. 
'» The management of this quota will include allocation to traditional suppliers. 
G> 
3. Wine. 
A i j s t ra. lianj J.api taUIiiy S1 IP wA wax\b 
Both sides agreed that: 
the EC recognizes, in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EEC) No 
3201/90, the Australian Wine Show Awards by publishing the 
organisations in question in the "C" series of the Official Journal of the 
EC. This recognition excludes any use of Community names, protected 
by virtue of the EC/Australia Wine Agreement, as class descriptors of the 
awards; 
Australia shall ensure that the show organisers will amend their rules so 
that where a class description consisting of or containing a name listed in 
Article 8 of the Wine Agreement, i.e. "Sherry class", "Port class", is used 
to describe and/or present wines, including advertising, no reference shall 
be made to the fact that the award concerned has been recognised by the 
European Community. 
Other pending issues should be addressed and resolved in the framework of the 
Wine Agreement without delay. 
I have the honour to propose that this letter and your letter in reply will constitute 
an agreement between our two authorities. 
7 
Side letter : EC, Australia 
The European Community confirms that it does not intend to include in its new schedule 
live horses or shccpmcat as products that can benefit from export subsidies listed in the 
Agreement on Agriculture. 
The European Community and Australia will resume, in the first quarter of 1996, 
discussions on outstanding issues under the Wine Agreement, and will work to resolve 
these issues as quickly as possible. 
The management of the IRQ for 63.000 tons of milled rice and the TRO lor 20.000 tons 
of husked (brown) rice will include allocation lo traditional suppliers based on their 
exports to Austria, Sweden and Tinland. 
The specifications for the TRQ for 21.000 tons of milling oats are as follows : 
a minimum test weight of 55 kg per hectolitre 
a maximum moisture level of 12 percent 
a maximum admixture (EG foreign seeds) of 2 percent. 
5 
AGREEMENT 
TOR mi; CONCLUSION Ol- NT:GO H A TioNs BT:TWT:I.N 
CHILE AND TUT; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY 
UNDER ARTICLE XXIV:6 
Chile and the European Community, 
desiring to bring their Ci ATT Article XXI V:6 negotiations to conclusion on the basis 
of a reasonable and mutually satisfactory compromise, and 
further desiring to strengthen the close partnership in commercial and economic 
matters between the European Community and Chile, 
agree to the lollowing provisions: 
A. The European Community shall incorporate in its new Schedule CLX, for the 
customs territory of the EC-15, the concessions that were included in the previous 
Schedule LXXX as modified by the European Community Schedule annexed to the 
Marrakech Protocol to the General Agreement, 1994 (dated 15 April 1994). 
B. To settle the current GATT Article XXIV:6 negotiations on agriculture the following 
has been agreed and will apply with effect from 1 January 1996: 
- 08081099 Fresh apples (1/4-31/7): reduction of the final tariff rate by 50% (from 
3% to 1.5%). 
- 08082033 Fresh pears (1/4-30/4 and 1-15/7): reduction of the final tariff rate by 
50% (from 2.5% to 1.3%). 
- 08133000 Dried apples: reduction of the final tariff rate by 50% (from 6.4% to 
3.2%). 
- 08134092 Other dried fruit: reduction of the final tariff rate by 50% ( from 4.8% to 
2.4%). 
- Add 1.510 tons to the allocation for Chile under the EC tariff rate quota for 
sheepmeat. 
Chile accepts the basic components of the European Community's approach to 
adjusting the obligations of the EC of 12 and those of Austria, Finland and Sweden 
following the recent enlargement of the Community: 
netting out of export commitments 
- netting out of tariff quotas 
- aggregation of domestic support commitments. 
'The appropriate legal modalities of implementation remain to be agreed. 
°f 
( '. The following has also been agreed : 
2 Ml 20 00 Tishmeal : reduction in the tariff rale to zero 
D. final provisions: 
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature 
Consultations will be held with regard to the matters in this Agreement al any time at 
the request ol either party. 
Signed at this 
hundred and ninety-five. day of December in the year one thousand nine 
ror Chile 
For the Council of the European Union 
^> 
NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN 
JAPAN AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY 
UNDER ARTICLE XXIV:6 
The delegations of Japan and the European Community, 
desiring to bring their GA I "radicle XXIV:6 negotiations to conclusion on the basis 
of a reasonable and mutually satisfactory compromise, and 
further desiring to strengthen the close partnership in commercial and economic 
matters between the European Community and Japan, 
have achieved a solution as described below : 
I. Market access concessions: 
A. The European Community shall incorporate in its new Schedule CLX, for the 
customs territory of the EC-15, the concessions that were included in the previous 
Schedule LXXX as modified by the European Community Schedule annexed to the 
Marrakech Protocol to the General Agreement, 1994 (dated 15 April 1994). 
B. As provided in Annex A to this Agreement, the European Community shall reduce 
and bind tariffs effective I January 1996 except as noted, shall open tariff quotas as 
indicated, and shall accelerate the staging of Uruguay Round tariff concessions. 
C. Improvements granted to third countries in European Community Article XXIV.6 
negotiations shall also be applied to Japan. 
II. Agriculture: 
A. The basic components of the European Community's approach to adjusting the 
obligations of the EC of 12 and those of Austria, Finland and Sweden following the 
recent enlargement of the Community will be as follows : 
- netting out of export commitments 
- netting out of tariff quotas 
- aggregation of domestic support commitments. 
The appropriate legal modalities of implementation remain to be agreed. 
^ 
B. The following tariff reduction will lake effect from I January 1996 
1209 91 90 : Other vegetable seeds (other than Kohlrabi). 
Reduction in the duly rate from 4% to 3%. 
Signed at this "y,, day ol December in the year one thousand nine 
hundred and ninety-five. 
For the Delegation ol Japan 
Tor the Delegation ol the European Community 
^2 
ANMLXA 
1. "Ihe European Community will accelerate the Uruguay Round reductions due to take 
place in 1997 10 I si January 1996 for all non-agricultural products (fish and industrial) 
except lor those which are separately listed in Annex I lo 111 to the Council 
Regulation providing!^ the implementation of tariff reductions resulting from Article 
XXI V:6 negotiations following the accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden. 
2. Ihe reductions listed in Annex I to HI will be implemented in the following manner: 
a) From 1 January 1996 the conventional rales of duty for the products listed in Annex 
1 shall he those indicated in column 3 of that Annex 
b) From 1 January 1996 the autonomous and conventional rates of duty for the products 
listed in Annex II shall he those indicated in column 3 and column 4 respectively of 
dial Annex. 
c) For the products listed in Section 1 of Annex HI the conventional rates of duty 
applicable on 1 January 1996 shall be those indicated in column 3. 
For the products listed in Section 2 of Annex III the conventional rates of duty shall 
he progressively reduced in accordance with the timetable contained in column 3. 
For the products listed in Section 3 of Annex III and within the limit of the quantities 
indicated in column 3, the conventional rates of duty applicable on 1 January 1996 
shall be those indicated in column 4. 
<<n 
AGREEMENT 
FOR THE CONCLUSION OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN 
NEW ZEALAND AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY 
UNDER ARTICLE XXIV6 
New Zealand and the European Community, 
desiring to bring their GATT Article XXIV:6 negotiations to conclusion on the basis 
of a reasonable and mutually satisfactory compromise, and 
further desiring to strengthen the close partnership in commercial and economic 
matters between the European Community and New Zealand, 
agree to the following provisions: 
A. The European Community shall incorporate in its new Schedule CLX, for the customs 
territory of the EC-15, the concessions that were included in the previous Schedule 
LXXX as modified by the European Community Schedule annexed to the Marrakech 
Protocol to the General Agreement, 1994 (dated 15 April 1994). 
B. To settle the current GATT Article XXIV.6 negotiations on agriculture the following 
has been agreed and as regards the tariff rate quotas will apply with effect from 1 
January 1996 : 
- Add 1.700 tons to the allocation for New Zealand under the EC tariff rate quota 
for sheepmeat 
- Add 1.000 tons to the allocation for New Zealand under the EC tariff rate quota 
for cheese for processing. 
- Add 500 tons to the allocation for Mew Zealand under the EC tariff rate quota for 
cheddar. 
- Tariff rate quota 300 tons of high quality beef at 20% (to be defined). 
- ex 0810 90 10 Kiwifruit, 15 May - 15 November : 
reduction of the final tariff rate from 8 8% to 8.0%. 
- reduction by 0.8 percentage points of the tariff rate at each stage prior to the 
final tariff rate. The first such reduction shall apply from 15 May 1996. 
- New Zealand accepts the basic components of the European Community's 
approach to adjusting the GATT obligations of EC 12 and those of Austria, 
Sweden and Finland, following the recent enlargement of the Community: 
- netting out of export commitments 
- netting out of tariff quotas 
- aggregation of domestic support commitments. 
The appropriate legal modalities of implementation remain to be agreed. 
^4 
( '. The lollowing has also been agreed : 
ex 03 04 20 W> fro/en fillets of fish of the species smooth oreo dory and black 
oreodory (( )reosomatidae) 
Tariff quota of 200 tonnes at zero duty. 
I) final provisions: 
I his Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature. 
Consultations will be held with regard to the matters in this Agreement at any time at 
the request of either party. 
Signed at this day of December in the year one thousand nine 
hundred and ninety-live. 
For New Zealand 
For the Council of the European Union 
-7f 
AGREEMENT 
FOR I Hi; CONCLUSION Ol- NEGOTIATIONS HI I WEI N 
1 HI- KINGDOM Ol; THAILAND AND Till; EUROPEAN COMMUNII Y 
UNDER ARTICLE XXIV.6 
The Kingdom of Thailand and the European Community, 
desiring to bring their GATT Article XXI V:6 negotiations to conclusion on the basis 
of a reasonable and mutually satisfactory compromise, and 
further desiring lo strengthen the close partnership in commercial and economic 
matters between the European Community and Thailand, 
agree lo the following provisions: 
A. The European Community shall incorporate in its new Schedule CLX, lor the 
customs territory of the EC-15, the concessions that were included in the previous 
Schedule LXXX as modified by the European Community Schedule annexed to the 
Marrakech Protocol to the General Agreement, 1994 (dated 15 April 1994). 
IL To settle the current GAIT Article XXIV:6 negotiations on agriculture the following 
has been agreed : 
- Bound tariff rate quota 63.000 t. of semi milled and wholly milled rice 
10 06 30 00 at zero duty (erga omnes) with effect form 1 Janaury 1996. 
- Bound tariff rale quota 20.000 t. of "husked (brown) rice" 
10 06 20 55 at 88 Ecu/t. (erga omnes) with effect from 1 January 1996. 
The Kingdom of Thailand accepts the basic components of the European 
Community's approach to adjusting the obligations of the EC of 12 and those of 
Austria, Finland and Sweden following the recent enlargement ol the Community: 
- netting out of export commitments 
- netting out of tariff quotas 
- aggregation of domestic support commitments. 
The appropriate legal modalities of implementation remain to be agreed. 
/)(s 
t . Final provisions : 
I his Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature. 
Consultations will be held with regard to the matters in this Agreement at any time at 
the request of either party. 
Signed at this o- day of December in the year one thousand nine 
hundred and ninety-live. 
For the Kingdom of Thailand 
For the Council of the European Union 
J 
Technical Annex 
The basis of the understandings arrived al are listed below: 
• Milled or semi-milled rice (1006 30 00) 
IRQ 63,000 I. (Thailand 19,505 l. » 10%) 
• Husked rice (1006 20 55) 
IRQ 20,000 t. (Thailand 1,647 t. < 10%) 
To the extent that the Kingdom of Thailand is a beneficiary under each of the TRQ's 
above, the European Community import licences will be issued automatically within the 
agreed limits on the basis of export certilicates issued by the Government of Thailand. 
/ 
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 
Section I. Financial Implications 
1. Proposal for a Council Regulation providing for offers of compensation made in 
the Article XXI V:6 Negotiations to be implemented from 1 January 1996. 
2. Budget heading: (loss of revenue: not known). 
3. Legal basis: Article 113 and 28 
4. Description: The application of the Common External Tariff duty rates by the 
three new Member States from I January 1995 has resulted in increases in duty 
payments on imports from third countries beyond levels previously in force. 
The proposed regulation is intended to implement Ihc compensation offered for 
the adverse effects experienced by third countries as a result of changed duty rates 
in the three new Member States. 
5. Type of re venue: Loss of revenue for duties paid on third country imports. 
6. Change in level of revenue: 
It is estimated that the maximum loss of revenue will be in the order of 20 MECU 
in the period 1996 until final UR rates are reached. This figure is adjusted in 
order to take into account the fact that no revenue loss occurs 1 ) where imports 
enter al lower duty rales applied under GSP; and, 2) where imports enter duty-free 
under already established temporary suspensions. 
PM. Sections 2 and 3 do not seem applicable. 
h 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 736 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 11 
Catalogue number : CB-C0-95-766-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-98735-9 
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