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Workshop on EU Trade matters

Join us for a workshop on EU trade matters, co-organized by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Learn about the history of the EU, its relationship with the World Trade Organization, and the function of the WTO in global trade. Gain insights from industry experts and explore current affairs in international trade.

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Workshop on EU Trade matters

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  1. Workshop on EU Trade matters Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (co-organiser) The EU and the World Trade Organisation. Sofia, 09 -10 November 2005 Fernando Carmo Lawyer & Customs Agent President of Chamber of Customs Agents - PORTUGAL Managing Director of IFCBA – International Federation Customs Broker Association

  2. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. Contents: • European Union History • World Trade Organization • - EU / WTO Relationship

  3. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. European Union History: • European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) • - The first major step toward European integration took place in 1950 (Robert Schuman). • In 1957 the participants in the ECSC signed two more treaties in Rome: • European Economic Community (EEC) • EURATOM - European Atomic Energy Community

  4. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. European Union History: - The three organizations (the EEC, the ECSC, and Euratom) fully merged: 1967 -European Community (EC) and signed... 1972 - Single European Act (SEA) - The admission of less-developed Mediterranean countries: 1981 - Greece 1986 - Spain and Portugal

  5. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. European Union History: After lengthy negotiations, it was accepted by the European Council at Maastricht, in December 1991: The Treaty on European Union - Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) Signed by EU members on October 2, 1997: The Amsterdam Treaty - Agenda 2000, strategy for EU enlargement Signed in 2001: Treaty of Nice, outlined a series of staged reforms to prepare the EU for enlargement

  6. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. European Union History: Monetary Union: EU officially agreed in May 1998 to adopt the Euro for 11 of the 15 member countries beginning on January 1, 1999. The countries to adopt the euro were Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.

  7. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. European Union History: Enlargements: 1st May 2004: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, and Slovakia. 2007: Bulgaria and Romania Future: Turkie, Croatia ...

  8. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. WTO: An International Organization dealing with the global rules of trade between nations • The essential functions: • Administration of trade agreements • Establishment as a forum for trade negotiations • Trade dispute settlements • National Trade Policies review • Provision of assistance for developing countries in trade issues, by giving • technical assistance funding training programs • - Cooperation with several other international organizations

  9. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. World Trade Organization: Cornerstone of the multilateral trading system: - Trade in Goods - Trade in Services - Protection of Intellectual Property Rights Contract: - Rights and Obligations - Dispute settlement Successor

  10. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. WTO – The Organization & Its Fundamental Principles: Ministerial Conference General Council - Dispute Settlement Body - Trade Policy Review Body Councils - Council for Trade in Goods - Council for Trade in Services - Council for TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Committees and other Subsidiary Bodies Decision-Making

  11. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. WTO – Basic Principles: • Trade without discrimination: • - Provision of the most-favoured nation clause (MFN) • Mutual Provision of the national regime for goods and services • produced abroad • Regulation of trade by tariff methods only • Renouncement of using quantitative and other restrictions • Transparency of trade policies • - Resolving trade disputes through consultations and talks • Predictable and Growing Access to Markets

  12. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. WTO – General Joining Procedures: Who can apply: “Any state or customs territory having full autonomy in the conduct of its trade policies is eligible to accede to the WTO on terms agreed between it and WTO Members” (Article XII of WTO Agreement). The Request for accession Submission of a memorandum on the foreign trade regime Conditions of entry (Cont.)

  13. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. WTO – General Joining Procedures (Cont.): Bilateral and Multilateral Negotiations: - Full application of WTO Agreements - Reduction and removal of discriminating measures - Modification of laws and regulations The Final “Accession Package”: - a Report of the Working Party containing a summary of proceedings and conditions for entry - a Protocol of Accession - Schedules of market access commitments in good and services agreed between the acceding government and WTO Members Approval of the “Accession Package” Becoming a full Member

  14. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. WTO – Current Affairs: The 4th DOHA Ministerial Conference, 14 November 2001, Qatar, resulted in some far-reaching decisions on the future development of the WTO: - Launch a new round of trade negotiations – the DOHA Development Agenda (DDA) – comprising both future trade liberalization and new rule-making, underpinned by commitments to strengthen substantially assistance to developing countries; - Help developing countries to implement the existing WTO agreements. (Cont.)

  15. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. WTO – Current Affairs (Cont.): - Interpret the TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement in a manner that ensures Member’s rights under TRIPS to take actions to protect public health. The 5th Ministerial Conference in Cancun, Mexico, September 2003 The 6th Ministerial Conference will be held in Hong Kong, December 2005

  16. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. World Trade Organization: Please Note: WTO represents 148 Countries And 70% of the International Trade

  17. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. EU Trade Policy and World Trade Organization: “Common Commercial Policy Article 133 of the European Community Treaty: - The common commercial policy shall be based on uniform principles, particularly in regard to changes in tariff rates, the conclusion of tariff and trade agreements, the achievement of uniformity in measures of liberalization, export policy and measures to protect trade such as those to be taken in the event of dumping or subsidies. The Article 133 Committee (Cont.)

  18. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. EU Trade Policy and World Trade Organization (Cont.): • The EU’s Objectives for the DDA – Basic EU Priorities in the DDA: • On Market Access for Industrial Goods • Further Market Access negotiations on Services • EU is strongly determined to further liberalise Agriculture • Sustainable Development of Opportunities of Individual Members • The Proposals in DOHA World Trade sets key parameters for further negotiations in key areas of: • - Agriculture • - Industrial Tariffs • - Trade Facilitation • - Development issues • - Services

  19. The EU and the World Trade Organisation. Thank you very much for your attention

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