CELEX: 51991PC0047
Language: en
Date: 1991-02-18
Title: 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

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)
 ---pagebreak---                                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.
 ---pagebreak---                                   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
 ---pagebreak---   Di r e c t o r - G e n e r a I
  GATT
  Geneva.
                  NEGOTIATIONS         RELATING        TO S C H E D U L E    I -    AUSTRALIA
 The D e l e g a t i o n s of A u s t r a l i a and the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s have
 c o n c l u d e d t h e i r n e g o t i a t i o n s u n d e r A r t i c l e X X V I I I for the
 m o d i f i c a t i o n or w i t h d r a w a l of c o n c e s s i o n s p r o v i d e d for in
 S c h e d u l e I - A u s t r a l i a as set out in the report a t t a c h e d .
 signed f W the Delegati on                                    s i g n e d for the Deleg/t ion
of Aust ra li a                                                of the E u r o p e a n C o m m u n i t i e s
                                                               (subject to a p p r o v a l by the
                                                               C o u n c i l of the E u r o p e a n
                                                               Communit i e s )
7613G
 ---pagebreak---             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       Description of Products               Rates of Duty
 Item                                               Bound in
 Number                                             Existing
                                                    Schedule
 ex0710       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             Free
             exceeding 500 grams
             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
 ---pagebreak---                                3.
  Tariff   Description of Products             Rates of Duty
  Item                                         Bound in
  Number                                       Existing
                                              Schedule
 ex2 001   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                   $0.14/litre
          Other of 2001.90 except . capers    $0.14/litre
                                    . olives
 2002     TOMATOES PREPARED OR PRESERVED
          OTHERWISE THAN BY VINEGAR OR
          ACETIC ACID
          Tomato pulp, paste, puree or juice  $1.41/kg dry
          of 2002.90                         weight
          Other tomatoes of 2002.10 and      $0.14/litre
          2002.90
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;              $0.14/litre
         Peas of 2005.40 and beans of
         2005.51 and 2005.59, packed in
         liquid or in airtight containers
         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
 ---pagebreak---                                                      ATTACHMENT A
 New Concessions
 Tariff      Description of Products             Rates of Duty
 Item                                            to be Bound
 Number
 ex0710      VEGETABLES (UNCOOKED OR COOKED BY
             STEAMING OR BOILING IN WATER),
             FROZEN
ex0710.2     Leguminous vegetables, shelled or
             unshelled
   0710.29   -  Other                               10'
   0710.30   Spinach, New Zealand spinach and       10!
             orache spinach (garden spinach)
   0710.80   Other vegetables                       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                                  10:
ex0712.90   Other vegetables; mixtures of          10!
            vegetables
            —   except  . potatoes
                        . tomatoes
exll08      STARCHES; INULIN
   1108.13  Potato starch                          10!
                                                                  A
 ---pagebreak---                                 5.
Tariff      Description of Products             Rates of Duty
 Item                                           to be Bound
Number
   2 001    VEGETABLES, FRUIT, NUTS AND OTHER
            EDIBLE PARTS OF PLANTS, PREPARED OR
            PRESERVED BY VINEGAR OR ACETIC ACID
   2001.10  Cucumbers and gherkins                  10:
   2001.20 Onions                                   10:
   2001.90 Other                                   10J
   2 002    TOMATOES PREPARED OR PRESERVED
           OTHERWISE THAN BY VINEGAR OR ACETIC
           ACID
   2002.10 Tomatoes, whole or in pieces            20s,
   2002.90 Other                                   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                              10:
   2005.40 Peas (Pisum sativum)                    10:
   2005.5  Beans (Vigna spp., Phaseolus spp.)
   2005.51 -   Beans, shelled                      105
   2005.59 -   Other                              10'
  2005.90  Other vegetables and mixtures of       10s,
           vegetables
                                                              ;
 ---pagebreak---                                      6.
     Tariff     Description of Products              Rates of Duty
     Item                                            to be Bound
     Number
     ex3 912    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         15;
                   (body tinted), opacified, flashed
                   or having an absorbent or
                   reflecting layer
    7003.19    —   Other                                15J
    7003.20    - Wired sheets                           15'
    7003.30    - Profiles                              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:
 ---pagebreak---                                7.
INITIAL NEGOTIATOR RIGHTS
Initial negotiator rights will be accorded in respect of the
concessions on the following items:
    0710. 29  EC12
    0710. 30  EC12
    0710. 80  EC12
    0711. 40  Italy
    0712, 20  EC12
 ex0712, 90   EC12
    1108 13   Benelux
    2001 10   EC12
    2001 20   EC12
    2002 ,10   France
    2002 ,90   France, Italy
    2005 .30   EC12
    2005 .40   EC12
    2005 .51   EC12
    2005 .59   EC12
    2005 .90   EC12
 ex3912 .39    EC12
    7003 .11   EC12
    7003 .19   EC12
    7003 .20   EC12
    7003 .30   EC12
  ex9008 .30   EC12
                                                             <AJt>
 ---pagebreak---            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.
                                                                              / "
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                                                                 ISSN 0254-1475
                                                                   COM(91) 47 final
                                                       DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                                         11
                                Catalogue numbci : CB-CO-91-062-EN-C
                                                               ISBN 92-77-69382-7
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