COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
COMC89) 535 final 
Brussels, 31 October 1989 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
concerning the Conclusion of the Protocol of Accession 
of Bolivia 
to the Genera» Agreeaent on Tariffs and Trade 
(prtttnttd by the Commission) 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. On 10 July 1987 Bolivia declared its intention to accede to the 
GATT. The Working Party, established to examine the request, 
submitted to the GATT Council of 21 July 1989 a recommendation to 
accept the request and a Protocol of Accession, setting out the 
conditions under which Bolivia accedes to the GATT. The council 
adopted both texts and consequently opened the voting procedure for 
Bolivia's accession according to Article XXXIII. 
2. During bilateral negotiations with the Community Bolivia agreed to 
bind its tariff across the board at a ceiling of 40%. This level 
compares favourably with ceiling bindings in other developing 
countries such as Mexico and Colombia. In view of Bolivia's 
commitments under the Cartagena Agreement, Bolivia has the 
possibility of suspending the 40% ceiling bindings on a limited 
number of products if it has to implement the Common External 
Tariff under this Agreement. However, this suspension would be only 
for three years and if the 40% ceiling binding was not restored 
Bolivia could be required to undertake negotiations under Article 
XXVIII:3(a). Bolivia also agreed to grant the Community Initial 
negotiating rights for a number of products that are of export 
interest to the Community. 
3. After obtaining a favourable opinion from the Article 113 
Committee, the Commission has agreed to the results of the 
bilateral trade negotiations with Bolivia in the context of the 
letter's accession to the GATT. 
4. On the 3 August 1989 the necessary two thirds majority of 
contracting parties was reached in the GATT, all the Member States 
of the Community having voted in favour. The Protocol is now open 
for signature by Bolivia, the Contracting Parties and the European 
Economic Community. 
The Protocol should thus be signed on behalf of the Community. 
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COUNCIL DECISION 
concerning the Conclusion of the Protocol of Accession 
of Bol(via 
to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic 
Community, and in particular Article 113 thereof, 
Whereas Bolivia entered into negotiations with the European Economic 
Community and the other Contracting Parties to the General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade with a view to its accession to the General 
Agreement ; 
Whereas the results of these negotiations are acceptable to the 
Community, 
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 
Article 1 
The Protocol of Accession of Bolivia to the General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade is hereby approved on behalf of the European Economic 
Community. The text of the Protocol Is attached to this Decision. 
Article 2 
The President of the Council is hereby authorized to designate the 
person empowered to sign the Protocol in order to bind the Community. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
The President 
PROTOCOL FOR THE ACCESSION OF BOLIVIA 
TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE 
The governments which are contracting parties to the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (hereinafter referred to as 
"contracting parties" and "the General Agreement", respectively), the 
European Economic Community and the Government of Bolivia (hereinafter 
referred to as "Bolivia"), 
Having regard to the results of the negotiations directed towards 
the accession of Bolivia to the General Agreement, 
Have through their representatives agreed as follows: 
PART I - GENERAL 
1. Bolivia shall, upon entry into force of this Protocol pursuant to 
paragraph 6, become a contracting party to the General Agreement, as 
defined in Article XXXII thereof, and shall apply to contracting 
parties provisionally and subject to this Protocol: 
(a) Parts I, III and IV of the General Agreement, and 
(b) Part II of the General Agreement to the fullest extent not 
inconsistent with its legislation existing on the date of 
this Protocol. 
The obligations incorporated in paragraph 1 of Article I by 
reference to Article III and those incorporated in paragraph 2(b) of 
Article II by reference to Article VI of the General Agreement shall 
be considered as falling within Part II for the purpose of this 
paragraph. 
2. (a) The provisions of the General Agreement to be applied to 
contracting parties by Bolivia shall, except as otherwise provided in 
this Protocol, be the provisions contained in the text annexed to the 
Final Act of the second session of the Preparatory Committee of the 
United Nations Conference on Trade and Employment, as rectified, 
amended or otherwise modified by such instruments as may have become 
effective on the day on which Bolivia becomes a contracting party. 
(b) In each case in which paragraph 6 of Article V, 
sub-paragraph 4(d) of Article VII. and sub-paragraph 3(c) of Article X 
of the General Agreement refer to that Agreement, the applicable date 
in respect of Bolivia shall be the date of this Protocol. 
PART II - SCHEDULE 
3. The schedule in the Annex shall, upon the entry into force of 
this Protocol, become a schedule to the General Agreement relating to 
Bolivia. 
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4. (a) In each case in which paragraph 1 of Article II of the 
General Agreement refers to the date of the Agreement, the applicable 
date in respect of each product which is the subject of a concession 
provided for in the Schedule annexed to this Protocol shall be the 
date of this Protocol. 
(b) For the purpose of the reference in paragraph 6(a) of 
Article II of the General Agreement to the date of that Agreement, the 
applicable date in respect of the Schedule annexed to this Protocol 
shall be the date of this Protocol. 
PART III - FIKAL PROVISIONS 
5. This Protocol shall be deposited with the Director-General to the 
CONTRACTING PARTIES. It shall be open for signature by Bolivia until 
31 January 1990. It shall also be open for signature by contracting 
parties and by the European Economic Community. 
6. This Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day 
following the day upon which it shall have been signed by Bolivia. 
7. Bolivia, having become a contracting party to the General 
Agreement pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Protocol, may accede to the 
General Agreement upon the applicable terms of this Protocol by 
deposit of an instrument of accession with the Director-General. Such 
accession shall take effect on the day on which the General Agreement 
enters into force pursuant to Article XXVI or on the thirtieth day 
following the day of the deposit of the instrument of accession, 
whichever is the later. Accession to the General Agreement pursuant 
to this paragraph shall, for the purposes of paragraph 2 of Article 
XXXII of that Agreement, be regarded as .acceptance of the Agreement 
pursuant to paragraph 4 of Article XXVI thereof. 
8. Bolivia may withdraw its provisional application of the General 
Agreement prior to its accession thereto pursuant to paragraph 7 and 
such withdrawal shall take effect on the sixtieth day following the 
day on which written notice thereof is received by the 
Director-General. 
9. The Director-General shall promptly furnish a certified copy of 
this Protocol and a notification of each signature thereto, pursuant 
to paragraph 5 to each contracting party, to the European Economic 
Community, to Bolivia and to each government which shall have acceded 
provisionally to the General Agreement. 
10. This Protocol shall be registered in accordance with the 
provisions of Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations. 
Done at Geneva this third day of August one thousnd nine hundred 
and eighty-nine, in a single copy, in the English, French and Spanish 
languages, except as otherwise specified with respect to the Schedule 
annexed hereto, each text being authentic. 
ANNEX 
Schedule LXXXIV - Bolivia 
(The Schedule may be consulted in the GATT Secretariat in Geneva) 
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ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(89) 535 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 11 02 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-89-490-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-54202-0 
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