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20.7.2012 Official
Journal
of
the
European
Union L
192/15
COUNCIL DECISION
of 16 July 2012
establishing the position to be taken by the European Union within the General Council of the
World Trade Organisation on the Philippines’ request for a WTO waiver to extend the special
treatment for rice
(2012/410/EU)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Article 4.2 and Section B of Annex 5 of the AoA in
order to receive special treatment for rice from 1 July
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European
2012 until 30 June 2017.
Union, and in particular the first subparagraph of Article 207(4),
in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof,
(7) The
Union
is
a
net
importer
of
rice.
The
granting
of
this
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
waiver would thus be of minimal economic and trade
importance to the Union.
Whereas:
(8)
It is appropriate, therefore, to establish the position to be
(1)
The Philippines was provided with special treatment for
rice for a period of 10 years upon the entry into force of
taken by the Union within the WTO General Council in
the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade
relation to this waiver request,
Organisation (WTO Agreement) and in particular the
Agreement on Agriculture (AoA).
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(2) In accordance with the AoA the Philippines was
Article 1
subsequently granted an extension of the special
The position to be taken by the European Union within the
treatment for rice from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2012
General Council of the World Trade Organisation is to support
by modifying its Schedule LXXV.
the Philippines’ waiver request to extend its special treatment for
(3) Continuation
of
special
treatment
for
rice
after
30
June rice from 1 July 2012 until 30 June 2017 in accordance with
2012 was contingent on the outcome of the Doha
the terms of the waiver request.
Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations, providing an
alternative special mechanism. However, the DDA negoti
This position shall be expressed by the Commission.
ations have not yet been concluded.
Article 2
(4) The
Philippines
notified
the
Committee
on
Agriculture
of
the WTO on 22 November 2011 of its intention to enter
This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.
into negotiations with WTO Members that have
substantial interest in the products concerned for the
continuation of its special treatment for rice.
Done at Brussels, 16 July 2012.
(5)
Article IX paragraphs 3 and 4 of the WTO Agreement
sets out the procedures for the granting of waivers
concerning Multilateral Trade Agreements.
For the Council
(6) On
that
basis
on
20
March
2012,
the
Philippines
The President
requested a WTO waiver from its obligations under
S. ALETRARIS

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Document Outline

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