Proposal for a Council Decision on the position to be adopted by the Community within the Association Council established by the Euro-Mediterranean agreement establishing an association between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part, with regard to the establishment of a tariff dismantling schedule for products appearing in Annex IV to the Association Agreement
Date: 2008-05-21
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Jordan, association agreement (EU), exemption from customs duties, footwear industry, furniture industry, lighting equipment, motor vehicle, textile product, transport of patients

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 21.5.2008 
COM(2008) 309 final 

Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the position to be adopted by the Community within the Association Council 
established by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between 
the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the 
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part, with regard to the establishment of a 
tariff dismantling schedule for products appearing in Annex IV to the Association 
Agreement 

(presented by the Commission) 

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 

Annex  IV  to  the  Association  Agreement  between  the  European  Communities  and  their 
Member States and the Kingdom of Jordan (hereinafter, "Association Agreement") includes a 
list  of  products  (including  textiles,  used  cars,  furniture  and  sensitive  processed  agricultural 
products) exported from the EU to Jordan. These exports are worth about € 150 million per 
year and were excluded from immediate tariff dismantling when the Association Agreement 
entered into force on 1 May 2002. Article 11(5) of the Association Agreement foresees that, 
four years after the date of entry into force, the joint Association Council should establish a 
tariff dismantling schedule for these products. 

The  Commission  carried  out  negotiations  on  the  products  listed  in  Annex  IV  with  Jordan 
throughout  2006  and  2007.  The  draft  agreement  reached  with  Jordan  foresees  that  tariff 
dismantling  for  products  listed  in  Annex  IV  should  begin  in  May  2008  based  on  3  lists  of 
products: the tariffs for the products on the first list will be dismantled over 2 years (all tariff 
lines falling under "ex 8703" - used vehicles) and the tariffs for the products on the second list 
over  7  years  (mostly  textiles  and  furniture).  The  third  list  consists  of  sensitive  processed 
agricultural products for which tariffs will remain in place. 

Particular  difficulties  were  encountered  with  respect  to  beer  (HS  2203)  and  vermouth  (HS 
2205).  While  showing  understanding  for  Jordan's  arguments  about  cultural  sensitivities  to 
imports  of  alcoholic  beverages,  the  Commission  decried  Jordan's  discriminatory  treatment 
compared to imports of beer and vermouth under their FTA with the USA. The FTA with the 
USA foresees that duties will be reduced to 44.5% of the original duty level as of 2010. The 
Jordanian  import  market  for  beer  and  especially  of  vermouth  is  very  small  and  currently 
dominated by imports from the Community.  

While  tariffs  on  imports  of  EC  beer  and  vermouth  will  remain  in  place,  Jordan  agreed  to 
jointly  monitor  the  evolution  of  imports  of  those  two  products  in  the  EC-Jordan  Industry, 
Trade  and  Services  sub-committee  (which  usually  meets  once  a  year),  to  assess  any 
significant  reduction  of  imports  from  the  Community  caused  by  the  preferential  treatment 
accorded to the USA. Where a significant reduction of beer and vermouth imports from the 
Community  was  proved,  it  was  agreed  that  the  Jordanian  authorities  and  the  Commission 
should review the applicable customs duties on those two products with a view to remedying 
the identified imbalance. 

In order to facilitate the entry into effect of the tariff dismantling schedule by 1 May 2008, a 
written procedure for the adoption of the corresponding decision by the Association Council 
is envisaged. 

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Proposal for a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the position to be adopted by the Community within the Association Council 
established by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between 
the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the 
Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part, with regard to the establishment of a 
tariff dismantling schedule for products appearing in Annex IV to the Association 
Agreement 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 
300 (2) second subparagraph thereof, 

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1, 

Whereas: 

(1) 

The  Euro-Mediterranean  Agreement  establishing  an  Association  between  European 
Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of 
Jordan,  of  the  other  part,  provides  in  Article  11  (5)  thereof  that  the  Association 
Council is to re-examine the arrangements to be applied to products listed in Annex IV 
to the Agreement four years after the date of its entry into force, and at the time of that 
re-examination, establish a tariff dismantling schedule for those products. 

(2) 

The tariff dismantling schedule for products appearing in Annex IV to the Association 
Agreement  has  been  negotiated  by  the  European  Commission  and  the  Hashemite 
Kingdom of Jordan, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:  

Sole article 

The position to be taken by the Community within the Association Council with regard to the 
establishment  of  a  tariff  dismantling  schedule  for  products  appearing  in  Annex  IV  to  the 
Association Agreement shall be based on the draft Decision annexed hereto. 

1 

OJ C […], […], p. […]. 

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Done at Brussels, […] 

For the Council 
The President 
[…] 

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ANNEX  

Decision of the Association Council established by the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement 
establishing  an  Association  between,  the  European  Communities  and  their  Member 
States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, of the other part, with 
regard  to  the  establishment  of  a  tariff  dismantling  schedule  for  products  appearing  in 
Annex IV to the Association Agreement 

THE ASSOCIATION COUNCIL, 

Having regard to the Euro-Mediterranean Agreement establishing an Association between, the 
European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Hashemite Kingdom 
of Jordan, of the other part (hereinafter the "Association Agreement"), signed in Brussels on 
24 November 1997 and which entered into force on 1 May 2002, and in particular Articles 6, 
and 11(5) thereof, 

Whereas: 

(1) Under the Association Agreement the Community and Jordan are gradually to establish a 
free trade area over a transitional period lasting a maximum of 12 years starting from the date 
of the entry into force of the Association Agreement, in accordance with the provisions of the 
Agreement  and  in  conformity  with  those  of  the  General  Agreement  on  Tariffs  and  Trade 
(1994). 

(2) In accordance with the Association Agreement, the Association Council is to re-examine 
the arrangements to be applied to products listed in Annex IV to the agreement, containing a 
list of industrial products originating in the Community, four years after the date of its entry 
into force, and at the time of that re-examination, establish a tariff dismantling schedule for 
those products. 

(3)  The  tariff  dismantling  schedule  for  products  appearing  in  Annex  IV  to  the  Association 
Agreement has been negotiated by the European Commission and Jordan, 

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: 

Article 1 

Imports into Jordan of the products originating in the Community listed in Annex IV to the 
Association Agreement shall be subject to the tariff dismantling schedule detailed in Article 2. 
The schedule shall apply with effect from 1 May 2008. 

Article 2 

1. Customs duties applicable on imports into Jordan of products originating in the Community 
listed in list (1) of the Annex to this Decision shall be eliminated over two years, beginning on 
1 May 2008, and such products shall be duty free with effect from 1 May 2009. The phasing 
out of the customs duties shall take place in accordance with the following schedule: 

(a) on 1 May 2008, the duty shall be reduced to 3% of the basic duty; 

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(b) on 1 May 2009, the remaining duty shall be abolished.  

2. Customs duties applicable on imports into Jordan of products originating in the Community 
listed in list (2) of the Annex to this Decision shall be eliminated over seven years beginning 
on  1  May  2008,  and  such  products  shall  be  duty  free  with  effect  from  1  May  2014.  The 
phasing out of the customs duties shall take place in accordance with the following schedule:  

(a) on 1 May 2008, the duty shall be reduced to 90% of the basic duty; 

(b) on 1 May 2009, the duty shall be reduced to 80% of the basic duty; 

(c) on 1 May 2010, the duty shall be reduced to 70% of the basic duty; 

(d) on 1 May 2011, the duty shall be reduced to 60% of the basic duty; 

(e) on 1 May 2012, the duty shall be reduced to 50% of the basic duty; 

(f) on 1 May 2013, the duty shall be reduced to 40% of the basic duty; 

(g) on 1 May 2014, the remaining duty shall be abolished.  

3. Customs duties applicable on imports into Jordan of products originating in the Community 
listed in list (3) of the Annex to this Decision shall not be abolished. The Jordanian authorities 
and  European  Commission  shall  jointly  review  in  the  industry,  trade  and  services  sub-
committee the evolution of Community imports into Jordan of beer (HS 2203) and vermouth 
(HS  2205),  to  assess  any  significant  reduction  of  Community  imports  caused  by  the 
preferential  treatment  accorded  to  other  trading  partners.  In  the  event  where  a  significant 
reduction  of  Community  imports  was  proved,  the  Jordanian  authorities  and  the  European 
Commission shall review the applicable customs duties on those two products with a view to 
remedying the identified imbalance. 

This Decision shall enter into force the day of its adoption by the Association Council. 

Article 3 

Done at …, 

For the Association Council 

The President 

HS Code 

Description 

List 1 

ex 
870310000(*) 

-  Vehicles  specially  designed  for  travelling  on  snow;  golf  cars  and  similar 
vehicles 

ex 
870321300(*) 

--- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

ex 

--- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

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870321400(*) 

ex 
870321900(*) 

--- Other 

ex 
870322300(*) 

ex 
870322400(*) 

--- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

--- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 
870322900(*) 

--- Other 

ex 
870323130(*) 

ex 
870323140(*) 

---- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

---- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 
870323190(*) 

---- Other 

ex 
870323210(*) 

ex 
870323220(*) 

---- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

---- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 
870323290(*) 

---- Other 

ex 
870323310(*) 

ex 
870323320(*) 

---- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

---- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 
870323390(*) 

---- Other 

ex 
870324100(*) 

ex 
870324200(*) 

--- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

--- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 
870324900(*) 

--- Other 

ex 
870331300(*) 

ex 
870331400(*) 

--- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

--- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 

--- Other 

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870331900(*) 

ex 
870332130(*) 

ex 
870332140(*) 

---- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

---- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 
870332190(*) 

---- Other 

ex 
870332210(*) 

ex 
870332220(*) 

---- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

---- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 
870332290(*) 

---- Other 

ex 
870333110(*) 

ex 
870333120(*) 

---- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

---- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 
870333190(*) 

---- Other 

ex 
870333210(*) 

ex 
870333220(*) 

---- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

---- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 
870333290(*) 

---- Other 

ex 
870390300(*) 

ex 
870390400(*) 

--- Vehicles specially designed as ambulances and hearses 

--- Furnished vehicles prepared for picnics (campers) 

ex 
870390590(*) 

---- Other 

ex 
870390600(*) 

---- Others,  of  a  cylinder  capacity  exceeding  2000 cc  but  not exceeding  2500 
cc. 

ex 
870390700(*) 

---- Others, of a cylinder capacity exceeding 2500 cc 

ex 
870390900(*) 

--- Other 

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(*) Used vehicles defined as vehicles with more than six months after registration and having 
run at least 6 000 km. 

HS Code 

Description 

List 2 

570110000 

- Of wool or fine animal hair 

570190000 

- Of other textile materials 

570210000 

- Kelem, Schumacks, Karamanie and similar hand-woven rugs 

570220000 

- Floor coverings of coconut fibres (coir) 

570231000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

570239000 

-- Of other textile materials 

570241000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

570249000 

-- Of other textile materials 

570251000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

570259000 

-- Of other textile materials 

570291000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

570299000 

-- Of other textile materials 

570310000 

- Of wool or fine animal hair 

570390000 

- Of other textile materials 

570410000 

- Tiles, having a maximum surface area of 0.3 m² 

570500000  Other carpets and other textile floor coverings, whether or not made up. 

610110000 

- Of wool or fine animal hair 

610190000 

- Of other textile materials 

610210000 

- Of wool or fine animal hair 

610230000 

- Of man-made fibres 

610290000 

- Of other textile materials 

610312000 

-- Of synthetic fibres 

610319000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610321000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

610322000 

-- Of cotton 

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610323000 

-- Of synthetic fibres 

610329000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610339000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610349000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610412000 

-- Of cotton 

610413000 

-- Of synthetic fibres 

610423000 

-- Of synthetic fibres 

610429000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610431000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

610439000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610444000 

-- Of artificial fibres 

610449000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610459000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610461000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

610469000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610610000 

- Of cotton 

610811000 

-- Of man-made fibres 

610819000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610829000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610832000 

-- Of man-made fibres 

610839000 

-- Of other textile materials 

610899000 

-- Of other textile materials 

611090000 

- Of other textile materials 

611190000 

- Of other textile materials 

611220000 

- Ski suits 

611231000 

-- Of synthetic fibres 

611239000 

-- Of other textile materials 

611241000 

-- Of synthetic fibres 

611249000 

-- Of other textile materials 

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611300000  Garments,  made  up  of  knitted  or  crocheted  fabrics of  heading  59.03,  59.06  or 

59.07. 

611410000 

- Of wool or fine animal hair 

611490000 

- Of other textile materials 

611599900 

--- Other 

611610000 

- Impregnated, coated or covered with plastics or rubber 

611691000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

611692000 

-- Of cotton 

611693000 

-- Of synthetic fibres 

611699000 

-- Of other textile materials 

611710000 

- Shawls, scarves, mufflers, mantillas, veils and the like 

611720000 

- Ties, bow ties and cravats 

611780000 

- Other accessories 

611790900 

--- Other 

620113000 

-- Of man-made fibres 

620119000 

-- Of other textile materials 

620199000 

-- Of other textile materials 

620219000 

-- Of other textile materials 

620291000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

620299000 

-- Of other textile materials 

620590000 

- Of other textile materials 

620610000 

- Of silk or silk waste 

620640000 

- Of man-made fibres 

620690000 

- Of other textile materials 

620711000 

-- Of cotton 

620719000 

-- Of other textile materials 

620722000 

-- Of man-made fibres 

620729000 

-- Of other textile materials 

620792000 

-- Of man-made fibres 

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620799000 

-- Of other textile materials 

620811000 

-- Of man-made fibres 

620819000 

-- Of other textile materials 

620821000 

-- Of cotton 

620822000 

-- Of man-made fibres 

620829000 

-- Of other textile materials 

620891000 

-- Of cotton 

620892000 

-- Of man-made fibres 

620899000 

-- Of other textile materials 

620910000 

- Of wool or fine animal hair 

620990000 

- Of other textile materials 

621010000 

- Of fabrics of heading 56.02 or 56.03 

621040000 

- Other men's or boys' garments 

621050000 

- Other women's or girls' garments 

621111000 

-- Men's or boys' 

621112000 

-- Women's or girls' 

621120000 

- Ski suits 

621131000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

621133000 

-- Of man-made fibres 

621139000 

-- Of other textile materials 

621141000 

-- Of wool or fine animal hair 

621143000 

-- Of man-made fibres 

621149000 

-- Of other textile materials 

621220000 

- Girdles and panty-girdles 

621230000 

- Corselettes 

621290000 

- Other 

621310000 

- Of silk or silk waste 

621320000 

- Of cotton 

621390000 

- Of other textile materials 

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621600000  Gloves, mittens and mitts. 

621710000 

- Accessories 

621790900 

--- Other 

630900100 

--- Footwear 

630900900 

--- Other 

640110000 

- Footwear incorporating a protective metal toe-cap 

640191000 

-- Covering the knee 

640192000 

-- Covering the ankle but not covering the knee 

640199000 

-- Other 

640212000 

-- Ski-boots, cross-country ski footwear and snowboard boots 

640219000 

-- Other 

640220000 

-  Footwear  with  upper  straps  or  thongs  assembled  to  the  sole  by  means  of 
plugs 

640230000 

- Other footwear, incorporating a protective metal toe-cap 

640291000 

-- Covering the ankle 

640299000 

-- Other 

640510000 

- With uppers of leather or composition leather 

640520000 

- With uppers of textile materials 

640590000 

- Other 

640610000 

- Uppers and parts thereof, other than stiffeners 

640620000 

- Outer soles and heels, of rubber or plastics 

640691000 

-- Of wood 

640699000 

-- Of other materials 

940120000 

- Seats of a kind used for motor vehicles 

940130000 

- Swivel seats with variable height adjustment 

940140000 

- Seats other than garden seats or camping equipment, convertible into beds 

940150000 

- Seats of cane, osier, bamboo or similar materials 

940161000 

-- Upholstered 

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940169000 

-- Other 

940171000 

-- Upholstered 

940179000 

-- Other 

940180900 

--- Other 

940190000 

- Parts 

940210100 

--- Barbers' chairs 

940310000 

- Metal furniture of a kind used in offices 

940320000 

- Other metal furniture 

940330000 

- Wooden furniture of a kind used in offices 

940340000 

- Wooden furniture of a kind used in the kitchen 

940350000 

- Wooden furniture of a kind used in the bedroom 

940360000 

- Other wooden furniture 

940370000 

- Furniture of plastics 

940380000 

- Furniture of other materials, including cane, osier, bamboo or similar materials 

940390000 

- Parts 

940410000 

- Mattress supports 

940421000 

-- Of cellular rubber or plastics, whether or not covered 

940429000 

-- Of other materials 

940430000 

- Sleeping bags 

940490000 

- Other 

940510000 

- Chandeliers and other electric ceiling or wall lighting fittings, excluding those of 
a kind used for lighting public open spaces or thoroughfares 

940520000 

- Electric table, desk, bedside or floor-standing lamps 

940530000 

- Lighting sets of a kind used for Christmas trees 

940540900 

--- other 

940550900 

--- Other 

940560000 

- Illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates and the like 

940591900 

--- Other 

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940592900 

--- Other 

940599900 

--- Other 

940600900 

--- Other 

List 3 

HS Code 

Description 

220300000  Beer made from malt. 

220510000 

-  Vermouth  and  other  wine  of  fresh  grapes  flavoured  with  plants  or  aromatic 
substances, in containers holding 2 litres or less 

220590000 

-  Vermouth  and  other  wine  of  fresh  grapes  flavoured  with  plants  or  aromatic 
substances : other 

240210000 

- Cigars, cheroots and cigarillos, containing tobacco 

240220000 

- Cigarettes containing tobacco 

240290100 

--- Cigars 

240290200 

--- Cigarettes 

240399900 

--- Other 

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