PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION CONCERNING THE CONCLUSION OF THE AGREEMENT IN FORM OF AGREED MINUTES RELATING TO CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND AUSTRALIA UNDER ARTICLE XXVIII OF THE GATT
Date: 1991-02-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Australia, GATT, agricultural product, tariff preference, trade agreement

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

C0M(91)  47  final 

Brussels, 18 February 1991 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL PECl§ION 

concerning  the conclusion of the Agreement  In form of agreed 
minutes  relating  to certain  agricultural  products  negotiated 
between  the European  Economic  Community  and Australia 
under  Article XXVI 11 of the GATT 

(presented  by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

1.  On  24 September  1987, Australia  informed  the GATT Secretariat  that they 
wanted  to  amend  their  bound  rates  for  certain  semi-processed  and 
processed vegetables. 

2.  The  Community,  as  principal  supplier  and/or  with  initial  negotiation 
rights on most of the  products, opened negotiations with Australia under 
Article XXVI I I of GATT. 

These negotiations have been concluded on 30 January  1991  as set out  in 
the agreed minutes which provides 

- amendments of bound customs duties resulting  in the collecting of  less 

customs duties  in Australia for the vegetables concerned 

- extension of the number of products  in the vegetable sector  subject to 

bound customs duties 

- granting of  initial  negotiation rights to the Community  for additional 

vegetables and certain  industrial products 

- reduction  of  bound  customs  duties  for  the  industrial  products 

concerned. 

3.  Taking  into  account  the  positive  results  for  the  Community,  the  113 
Committee  has expressed  a  favourable  opinion  on  the  conclusions  of  the 
negot iat ions. 

4.  The agreement has no consequences for the Community budget. 

5.  It is proposed that the Council approve the agreement. 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

of 

concerning  the conclusion of  the Agreement  in form of  agreed 
minutes  relating  to certain  agricultural  products  negotiated 
between  the European  Economic Community  and  Australia 
under  Article XXVIII  of  the  GATT 

THE COUNCIL  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES, 

Having  regard  to  the Treaty  establishing  the  European  Economic  Community, and 
in particular  Article  113 thereof, 

Having  regard  to  the proposal  from  the Commission, 

Whereas  Australia,  pursuant  to  Article  XXVI I I of  the  General  Agreement  on 
Tariffs  and  Trade  (GATT),  has  made  known  its  intention  of  modifying  or 
withdrawing  tariff  concessions  for  certain  agricultural  products  for  which 
the Community  is the main  supplier  or  has  initial  negotiating  rights; 

Whereas  the  Commission  has  conducted  negotiations  with  Australia  under 
Article XXVIII  of  the  GATT;  whereas  a  satisfactory  Agreement  has  been 
reached; whereas  that  Agreement  should  therefore  be  approved, 

HAS DECIDED  AS  FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

The  Agreement  in  the  form  of  agreed  minutes  relating  to  certain  agricultural 
products  negotiated  between  the  European  Economic  Community  and  Australia 
under  Article  XXVIII  of  the  GATT  Is  hereby  approved  on  behalf  of  the 
Community. 

The  text of  the Agreement  is attached  to this Decision. 

Article  2 

The  President  of  the  Council  is  hereby  authorized  to  designate  the  person 
empowered  to sign  the Agreement  in order  to bind  the  Community. 

Done  at 

For  the Counc 
The  President 

Di r e c t o r - G e n e ra I 
G A TT 
G e n e v a. 

N E G O T I A T I O NS  R E L A T I NG  TO  S C H E D U LE  I  -  A U S T R A L IA 

The  D e l e g a t i o ns  of  A u s t r a l ia  and  the  E u r o p e an  C o m m u n i t i es  have 
c o n c l u d ed  t h e ir  n e g o t i a t i o ns  u n d er  A r t i c le  X X V I II  for  the 
m o d i f i c a t i on  or  w i t h d r a w al  of  c o n c e s s i o ns  p r o v i d ed  for  in 
S c h e d u le  I  -  A u s t r a l ia  as  set  out  in  the  report  a t t a c h e d. 

signed  fW  the  Delegati on 
of  Aust ra li a 

s i g n ed  for  the  Deleg/t ion 
of  the  E u r o p e an  C o m m u n i t i es 
(subject  to  a p p r o v al  by  the 
C o u n c il  of  the  E u r o p e an 
Communit i e s) 

7613G 

RESULTS  OF NEGOTIATIONS  BETWEEN AUSTRALIA  AND 
THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 
UNDER ARTICLE  XXVIII FOR THE MODIFICATION  OF  CONCESSIONS 
IN THE SCHEDULE OF AUSTRALIA 

CHANGES  IN SCHEDULE  I - AUSTRALIA 

Concessions  Withdrawn 

Tariff 
Item 
Number 

ex0710 

Description  of  Products 

Rates  of  Duty 
Bound  in 
Existing 
Schedule 

VEGETABLES  (UNCOOKED OR COOKED  BY 
STEAMING  OR BOILING IN WATER), 
FROZEN 

Leguminous vegetables  of  0710.29 
except peas and beans; 
Spinach  of 0710.30; 
Other vegetables  of 0710.80  except 
mushrooms, truffles and  olives 

$0.003/kg 

ex0711 

VEGETABLES  PROVISIONALLY  PRESERVED 
(FOR EXAMPLE, BY SULPHUR  DIOXIDE 
GAS,  IN BRINE, IN SULPHUR WATER  OR 
IN OTHER  PRESERVATIVE  SOLUTIONS), 
BUT UNSUITABLE  IN THAT STATE FOR 
IMMEDIATE  CONSUMPTION 

Gherkins of  0711.40 

$0.071/litre 

ex0712 

DRIED VEGETABLES, WHOLE, CUT, 
SLICED, BROKEN OR IN POWDER,  BUT 
NOT FURTHER  PREPARED 

Herbs of  0712.90  in packs 
exceeding  500 grams 

Free 

Onions of 0712.20 and  vegetables 
of  0712.90 

-  except  . potatoes 
.  tomatoes 
. herbs 
. sweet corn 
. mixtures 

$0.4 2/kg 

exll08 

STARCHES,  INULIN 

Potato  starch of  1108.13 

Free 

Tariff 
Item 
Number 

ex2 001 

3. 

Description  of  Products 

Rates of Duty 
Bound  in 
Existing 
Schedule 

VEGETABLES, FRUIT, NUTS AND OTHER 
EDIBLE PARTS OF PLANTS, PREPARED 
OR  PRESERVED  BY VINEGAR OR ACETIC 
ACID 

Cucumbers  and gherkins of  2001.10 

$0.12/litre 

Onions of  2001.20 

Other of  2001.90 except  . capers 
.  olives 

$0.14/litre 

$0.14/litre 

2002 

TOMATOES  PREPARED OR  PRESERVED 
OTHERWISE THAN BY VINEGAR OR 
ACETIC ACID 

Tomato pulp, paste, puree or juice 
of  2002.90 

$1.41/kg dry 
weight 

Other tomatoes of 2002.10 and 
2002.90 

$0.14/litre 

ex2004 

OTHER VEGETABLES  PREPARED OR 
PRESERVED  OTHERWISE THAN BY 
VINEGAR  OR ACETIC ACID, FROZEN 

- except  . potatoes of  2004.10 

. beans, peas and 

mixtures of  2004.90 

$0.003/kg 

ex2 005 

OTHER VEGETABLES  PREPARED OR 
PRESERVED  OTHERWISE THAN BY 
VINEGAR  OR ACETIC ACID, NOT FROZEN 

Sauerkraut  of 2005.30; 
Peas of 2005.40 and beans of 
2005.51 and  2005.59, packed  in 
liquid  or  in airtight  containers 

$0.14/litre 

Cucumbers  and gherkins of 2005.90 

$0.12/litre 

Other vegetables  of 2005.90, 
packed  in liquid  or in airtight 
containers 

-  except  . mixtures 

.  capers 
. cucumbers and gherkins  $0.14/litre 

New  Concessions 

ATTACHMENT A 

Tariff 
Item 
Number 

ex0710 

Description  of  Products 

Rates of  Duty 
to be  Bound 

VEGETABLES  (UNCOOKED OR  COOKED BY 
STEAMING  OR BOILING  IN  WATER), 
FROZEN 

ex0710.2 

Leguminous vegetables, shelled  or 
unshelled 

0710.29 

-  Other 

0710.30 

Spinach, New Zealand  spinach  and 
orache spinach  (garden  spinach) 

0710.80 

Other  vegetables 

10' 

10! 

10* 

ex0711 

VEGETABLES  PROVISIONALLY  PRESERVED 
(FOR EXAMPLE, BY SULPHUR  DIOXIDE 
GAS,  IN BRINE, IN SULPHUR WATER  OR 
IN OTHER  PRESERVATIVE  SOLUTIONS), 
BUT UNSUITABLE  IN THAT STATE FOR 
IMMEDIATE  CONSUMPTION 

0711.4 0 

Cucumbers and  gherkins 

Free 

ex0712 

DRIED VEGETABLES, WHOLE, CUT, 
SLICED, BROKEN OR IN POWDER,  BUT NOT 
FURTHER  PREPARED 

0712.20 

Onions 

ex0712.90 

Other vegetables; mixtures of 
vegetables 

—  except  . potatoes 
.  tomatoes 

exll08 

STARCHES; INULIN 

1108.13 

Potato  starch 

10: 

10! 

10! 

A 

Tariff 
Item 
Number 

2 001 

5. 

Description  of Products 

Rates of  Duty 
to be  Bound 

VEGETABLES, FRUIT, NUTS AND OTHER 
EDIBLE PARTS OF PLANTS, PREPARED OR 
PRESERVED  BY VINEGAR OR ACETIC ACID 

2001.10 

Cucumbers and gherkins 

2001.20 

Onions 

2001.90 

Other 

2 002 

TOMATOES  PREPARED OR  PRESERVED 
OTHERWISE THAN  BY VINEGAR OR ACETIC 
ACID 

2002.10 

Tomatoes, whole or in pieces 

2002.90 

Other 

10: 

10: 

10J 

20s, 

20' 

ex2 004 

OTHER VEGETABLES  PREPARED OR 
PRESERVED OTHERWISE THAN BY VINEGAR 
OR ACETIC ACID, FROZEN 

2004.90 

Other vegetables and mixtures of 
vegetables 

10: 

ex2005 

OTHER VEGETABLES  PREPARED OR 
PRESERVED OTHERWISE THAN  BY VINEGAR 
OR ACETIC ACID, NOT  FROZEN 

2005.30 

Sauerkraut 

2005.40 

Peas  (Pisum sativum) 

2005.5 

Beans  (Vigna spp., Phaseolus  spp.) 

2005.51 

-  Beans, shelled 

2005.59 

-  Other 

2005.90 

Other vegetables and mixtures of 
vegetables 

10: 

10: 

105 

10' 

10s, 

; 

Tariff 
Item 
Number 

ex3 912 

6. 

Description  of Products 

Rates of  Duty 
to be  Bound 

CELLULOSE AND ITS  CHEMICAL 
DERIVATIVES, NOT ELSEWHERE  SPECIFIED 
OR  INCLUDED, IN PRIMARY  FORMS 

ex3912.39 

Hydroxyethylcellulose 

15; 

7 003 

CAST GLASS AND ROLLED GLASS, IN 
SHEETS OR PROFILES, WHETHER OR NOT 
HAVING AN ABSORBENT OR  REFLECTING 
LAYER, BUT NOT OTHERWISE  WORKED 

7003.1 

- Non-wired  sheets: 

7003.11 

—  Coloured  throughout  the mass 

(body tinted),  opacified,  flashed 
or having  an absorbent or 
reflecting  layer 

7003.19 

—  Other 

7003.20 

- Wired  sheets 

7003.30 

- Profiles 

15; 

15J 

15' 

153 

ex9008 

IMAGE PROJECTORS, OTHER  THAN 
CINEMATOGRAPHIC; PHOTOGRAPHIC  (OTHER 
THAN CINEMATOGRAPHIC)  ENLARGERS  AND 
REDUCERS 

ex9008.3 0 

Other  image projectors 

Free 

—  except  . overhead  projectors 

. projectors designed  for 
the projection  of  film 
strip  transparencies 

is: 

7. 

INITIAL NEGOTIATOR  RIGHTS 

Initial  negotiator  rights will be accorded  in respect  of  the 
concessions  on the  following items: 

0710. 
0710. 
0710. 
0711. 
0712, 
ex0712, 
1108 
2001 
2001 
2002 
2002 
2005 
2005 
2005 
2005 
2005 
ex3912 
7003 
7003 
7003 
7003 
ex9008 

29 
30 
80 
40 
20 
90 
13 
10 
20 
,10 
,90 
.30 
.40 
.51 
.59 
.90 
.39 
.11 
.19 
.20 
.30 
.30 

EC12 
EC12 
EC12 
Italy 
EC12 
EC12 
Benelux 
EC12 
EC12 
France 
France, 
EC12 
EC12 
EC12 
EC12 
EC12 
EC12 
EC12 
EC12 
EC12 
EC12 
EC12 

Italy 

<AJt> 

Fiche concerning the Impact on competition and employment 

Proposal  for a Council  Decision concerning the conclusion of the Agreement In 
form of agreed minutes  relating  to certain agricultural  products  negotiated 
between the European Economic Community and Australia under Article XXVIII of 
the GATT. 

The  proposed  Decision  provides  for  the  approval  of  an  agreement  whereby 
Australia  is allowed to amend bound customs duties for certain processed and 
semi-processed  vegetables.  The  result  of  these  amendments  would  be  that 
Australia - based on a 3 year  reference period - would  collect  less customs 
duties on the products concerned when exported  from  the EC and  imported  into 
Australia. 

Taking  into account the result of the negotiation, the agreement will have no 
negative effect on competition and employment. 

/" 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(91) 47 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

11 

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ISBN 92-77-69382-7 

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