22004A0828(02)

Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and Pakistan pursuant to Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 relating to the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to the GATT 1994

A. Letter from the European Community

Sir,

Following negotiations between the European Community (EC) and Pakistan under Article XXVIII of GATT 1994 for the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), the EC agrees to the conclusions as outlined below.

Final import regime

The tariff rate for husked rice (CN code 100620) shall be EUR 65/tonne.

With respect to the import regime of husked rice (CN codes 10062017 and 10062098) of the varieties Kernel (Basmati), Basmati 370, Pusa Basmati and Super Basmati the EC's specific bound rate of duty shall be zero. To that purpose:

a Community control system based on DNA analysis at the border shall be created; Pakistan shall actively cooperate with the EC to set up such a control system and the EC shall provide the appropriate technical assistance in this matter,

it is understood that Basmati rice of the varieties described above is produced in certain geographical areas and that Pakistan will protect Basmati rice as a geographical indication. The EC would welcome an application for protection as a geographical indication of Basmati rice under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs(1). The EC shall process any such application as expeditiously as possible. The EC shall provide any necessary technical assistance in this matter.

Transitional arrangement

As from 1 September 2004 and until the date of entry into force of the above-mentioned Community control system, the EC shall put in place a transitional regime with regard to husked rice (CN codes 10062017 and 10062098) of the varieties described above based on the following elements.

The EC's autonomous applied rate of duty shall be zero. However, if market disturbance occurs, the EC will consult with Pakistan's competent authorities to agree an appropriate solution. If no agreement is reached, the EC reserves the right to revert to the bound rate of duty of EUR 65/tonne for husked rice (CN code 100620).

General

For the purposes of this agreement:

the EC shall establish separate tariff lines for Basmati rice of the varieties indicated in the agreements with India and Pakistan,

the competent Pakistani authorities shall continue to issue the authenticity certificates prior to the issuance of import licences, meaning that the current system of administration of the certificates of authenticity shall be maintained.

The EC recognises that Pakistan has initial negotiating rights with respect to the concessions specified in the present letter.

This Agreement shall be approved by the Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

The provisions of this Agreement shall be applicable from 1 September 2004 .

I would be grateful if you could confirm the agreement of your Government to the above.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Hecho en Bruselas, el

V Bruselu dne

Udf忙rdiget i Bruxelles, den

Geschehen zu Br眉ssel am

Br眉ssel,

螆纬喂谓蔚 蟽蟿喂蟼 螔蟻蠀尉苇位位蔚蟼, 蟽蟿喂蟼

Done at Brussels,

Fait 脿 Bruxelles, le

Fatto a Bruxelles, addi矛

Brisel每,

Priimta Briuselyje,

Kelt Br眉sszelben,

Mag每mula fi Brussel,

Gedaan te Brussel,

Sporz每dzono w Brukseli, dnia

Feito em Bruxelas,

V Bruseli

V Bruslju,

Tehty Brysseliss盲

Utf盲rdat i Bryssel den

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

Por la Comunidad Europea

Za Evropské spoleèenstv委

For Det Europ忙iske F忙llesskab

F眉r die Europ盲ische Gemeinschaft

Euroopa 脺henduse nimel

螕喂伪 蟿畏谓 螘蠀蟻蠅蟺伪蠆魏萎 螝慰喂谓蠈蟿畏蟿伪

For the European Community

Pour la Communauté européenne

Per la Comunit脿 europea

Eiropas Kopienas v>ISO_4>脿rd>ISO_4>脿

Europos bendrijos vardu

az Eur贸pai K枚z枚sség részér>ISO_2>玫l

G>ISO_3>卤all-Komunit脿 Ewropea

Voor de Europese Gemeenschap

W imieniu Wsp贸lnoty Europejskiej

Pela Comunidade Europeia

Za Eur贸pske spoloèenstvo

za Evropsko skupnost

Euroopan yhteis枚n puolesta

P氓 Europeiska gemenskapens v盲gnar

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

B. Letter from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date, worded as follows:

芦Following negotiations between the European Community (EC) and Pakistan under Article XXVIII of GATT 1994 for the modification of concessions with respect to rice provided for in EC Schedule CXL annexed to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), the EC agrees to the conclusions as outlined below.

Final Import regime

The tariff rate for husked rice (CN code 100620) shall be EUR 65/tonne.

With respect to the import regime of husked rice (CN codes 10062017 and 10062098) of the varieties Kernel (Basmati), Basmati 370, Pusa Basmati and Super Basmati the EC's specific bound rate of duty shall be zero. To that purpose:

a Community control system based on DNA analysis at the border shall be created; Pakistan shall actively cooperate with the EC to set up such a control system and the EC shall provide the appropriate technical assistance in this matter,

it is understood that Basmati rice of the varieties described above is produced in certain geographical areas and that Pakistan will protect Basmati rice as a geographical indication. The EC would welcome an application for protection as a geographical indication of Basmati rice under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2081/92 of 14 July 1992 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs(2). The EC shall process any such application as expeditiously as possible. The EC shall provide any necessary technical assistance in this matter.

Transitional arrangement

As from 1 September 2004 and until the date of entry into force of the above-mentioned Community control system, the EC shall put in place a transitional regime with regard to husked rice (CN codes 10062017 and 10062098) of the varieties described above based on the following elements.

The EC's autonomous applied rate of duty shall be zero. However, if market disturbance occurs, the EC will consult with Pakistan's competent authorities to agree an appropriate solution. If no agreement is reached, the EC reserves the right to revert to the bound rate of duty of EUR 65/tonne for husked rice (CN code 100620).

General

For the purposes of this agreement:

the EC shall establish separate tariff lines for Basmati rice of the varieties indicated in the agreements with India and Pakistan,

the competent Pakistani authorities shall continue to issue the authenticity certificates prior to the issuance of import licences, meaning that the current system of administration of the certificates of authenticity shall be maintained.

The EC recognises that Pakistan has initial negotiating rights with respect to the concessions specified in the present letter.

This Agreement shall be approved by the Parties in accordance with their own procedures.

The provisions of this Agreement shall be applicable from 1 September 2004 .

I would be grateful if you could confirm the agreement of your Government to the above.禄

Pakistan has the honour of confirming its agreement with the contents of this letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Done at Brussels,

Hecho en Bruselas, el

V Bruselu dne

Udf忙rdiget i Bruxelles, den

Geschehen zu Br眉ssel am

Br眉ssel,

螆纬喂谓蔚 蟽蟿喂蟼 螔蟻蠀尉苇位位蔚蟼, 蟽蟿喂蟼

Fait 脿 Bruxelles, le

Fatto a Bruxelles, addi矛

Brisel每,

Priimta Briuselyje,

Kelt Br眉sszelben,

Mag每mula fi Brussel,

Gedaan te Brussel,

Sporz每dzono w Brukseli, dnia

Feito em Bruxelas,

V Bruseli

V Bruslju,

Tehty Brysseliss盲

Utf盲rdat i Bryssel den

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

On behalf of Pakistan

En nombre de Pakist谩n

Za P谩kist谩n

P氓 Pakistans vegne

Im Namen Pakistans

Pakistani nimel

螘尉 慰谓蠈渭伪蟿慰蟼 蟿慰蠀 螤伪魏喂蟽蟿维谓

Au nom du Pakistan

Per il Pakistan

Pakist>ISO_4>脿nas v>ISO_4>脿rd>ISO_4>脿

Pakistano vardu

Pakiszt谩n nevében

G>ISO_3>卤an-nom tal-Pakistan

Namens Pakistan

W imieniu Pakistanu

Pelo Paquist茫o

V mene Pakistanu

V imenu Pakistana

Pakistanin puolesta

P氓 Pakistans v盲gnar

>REFERENCE TO A GRAPHIC>

(1) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).

(2) OJ L 208, 24.7.1992, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).