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Trade Liberalisation and Facilitation |
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Objectives
The Trade Initiative
of the Stability Pact focuses its efforts on the liberalization and facilitation
of trade through the reduction and elimination of tariffs and non tariff barriers
to trade in the SEE region in the framework of an intra-regional trade co-operation.
Description
A Memorandum
of Understanding on Trade Liberalization and Facilitation signed in Brussels
on the 27th of June 2001 by Albania, BIH, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania,
Yugoslavia sets the strategic objectives of the Trade Initiative. Its major goal
is to establish a network of Free Trade Agreements in the SEE
region by the end of 2002. Free Trade Agreements, in full conformity with
the WTO, are basic building blocks and WTO membership is to be
actively pursued. Stabilization and Association Agreements (SAAs)
between the countries of the region and the EU are underway. The trade arrangements
embedded in the context of the SAAs will be an important component of the integration
process of these countries. As an early first step, unilateral trade preferences
have been granted by the EU to the countries of the region ensuring duty free
treatment for more than 90% of imports. Maintaining open trade regimes
towards the rest of the world represents a major principle of the reforms.
Implementation
Working
Group on Trade Liberalization and Facilitation of the WT II of the Stability
Pact was established in January 2000 under Macedonian chairmanship. Members of
the group are the countries of the SEE region, namely Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina,
Bulgaria, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Yugoslavia,. Supporting countries
and international organizations: Hungary, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US,
furthermore the EC, UNECE, WTO and the World Bank. Other Stability Pact countries
and other international organizations, initiatives and missions can be associated
to the work of the Group as appropriate.
Key Contacts
Ms. Mary O’Mahony, Expert WT II
Tel: + 32 2 401 87 09
Fax: + 32 2 401 87 12
Email: mary.omahony@stabilitypact.org
Strategy of the Trade InitiativeMemorandum of Understanding on Trade Liberalisation and FacilitationMinisterial Meeting on Trade Liberalisation, Sofia, 20 June 2002 Ministerial Meeting on Trade Liberalisation, Brussels, 27 June 2001Trade Working Group ActivitiesTrade Policy Forum in Geneva, January 17-18, 2001Terms of Reference of the Trade Working GroupRelated Documents
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