PROTOCOL 14 on trade in coal and steel products

Article 1

This Protocol applies to products covered by the bilateral Free Trade Agreements (hereinafter referred to as the 'Free Trade Agreements`) concluded between, on the one hand, the European Coal and Steel Community and its Member States and the individual EFTA States, on the other hand, or, as the case may be, between the Member States of the European Coal and Steel Community and the respective EFTA States.

Article 2

1. The Free Trade Agreements shall remain unaffected unless otherwise provided in this Protocol. Where the Free Trade Agreements do not apply, the provisions of this Agreement are applicable. Where the substantive provisions of the Free Trade Agreements continue to be applied, the institutional provisions of those agreements will also be applicable.

2. Quantitative restrictions on exports, measures having equivalent effect and customs duties and charges having equivalent effect, applicable to trade within the European Economic Area, shall be abolished.

Article 3

The Contracting Parties shall not introduce any restrictions or administrative and technical regulations which would form, in trade between the Contracting Parties, an impediment to the free movement of products covered by this Protocol.

Article 4

The substantive competition rules applicable to undertakings concerning products covered by this Protocol are included in Protocol 25. Secondary legislation is set out in Protocol 21 and Annex XIV.

Article 5

The Contracting Parties shall comply with the rules for aid to the steel industry. They recognize in particular the relevance of, and accept, the Community rules for aid to the steel industry as laid down in Commission Decision 322/89/ECSC which expires on 31 December 1991. The Contracting Parties declare their commitment to integrate into the EEA Agreement new Community rules for aid to the steel industry by the entry into force of this Agreement, provided that they are substantially similar to those of the aforementioned act.

Article 6

1. The Contracting Parties shall exchange information on markets. The EFTA States shall use their best endeavours in order to ensure that steel producers, consumers and merchants provide such information.

2. The EFTA States shall use their best endeavours in order to ensure that the steel-producing undertakings established within their territories will participate in annual surveys concerning investment referred to in Article 15 of Commission Decision No 3302/81/ECSC of 18 November 1981. The Contracting Parties will exchange, without prejudice to the requirements of business confidentiality, information on significant investment or disinvestment projects.

3. All matters relating to the exchange of information between the Contracting Parties shall be covered by the general institutional provisions of this Agreement.

Article 7

The Contracting Parties note that the rules of origin laid down in Protocol 3 of the Free Trade Agreements concluded between the European Economic Community and individual EFTA States are replaced by Protocol 4 to this Agreement.