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Mauritius-TURKEY FTA

Mauritius-TURKEY FTA. Workshop on Trade Potential with Turkey By Mr Assad Bhuglah-Director Trade Policy Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade 24 June 2013 . Putting the bilateral trade relations on solid foundations.

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Mauritius-TURKEY FTA

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  1. Mauritius-TURKEY FTA Workshop on Trade Potential with Turkey By Mr Assad Bhuglah-Director Trade Policy Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade 24 June 2013

  2. Putting the bilateral trade relations on solid foundations First ever bilateral FTA signed by Mauritius First ever bilateral FTA concluded by Turkey in the Sub Saharan Africa Notified to the WTO Ratified by the Turkish Parliament

  3. Rounds of Negotiations Mauritius and Turkey initiated discussions in 2009. Negotiations completed in 2011 after five rounds of discussions. Agreement signed in 2011 and entered into force on 01 June 2013.

  4. Rationale for the FTA with Turkey • Turkey being in a customs union with the EC, has to align its trade regime to that of the EC in particular with ACP countries which have signed an EPA. (Mauritius implementing the Interim EPA as from 14 May 2012). • Government endeavour to identify other strategic markets. • Harmonising our trade regime with entire Europe.

  5. Objectives of the FTA • Increase and enhance economic cooperation between Mauritius and Turkey • Promote expansion of trade through harmonious development of economic relations between the two countries • Gradually eliminate hindrances and restrictions on trade in goods • Contribute, by the removal of barriers to trade, to the harmonious development and expansion of world trade • Provide fair conditions for competition in trade between Mauritius and Turkey

  6. Legal security and predictability • Indefinite duration • No policy reversal • Cannot be challenged by any third party • Trade policies cannot be changed by unilateral measures • Need for mutual consultation (Art 26.2)

  7. Alignment of trade regime with EU • Turkey is bound by Customs Union with EU. “Any more favourable treatment on customs duties that may be accorded by Turkey to any ACP in the context of any FTA shall automatically be extended to Mauritius in accordance with the procedures laid down in Art 34”. • Mauritius is bound by EPA with the EU (Art 12.9) “Parties agree to ensure that any changes that have a direct impact on the safeguard provision under this FTA as a result of EPA between EU and ESA and which are more favourable than the provisions of this FTA will be immediately considered by the Joint Committee for amendment in accordance with Article 34.

  8. Special Safeguard Measures • Apart from the standard safeguard measure to be applied in conformity with the WTO provisions, the FTA allows the possibility to invoke bilateral safeguard measures for a limited duration. • These safeguard measures may be taken by either Party in circumstances where sudden surge of import will cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic industry producing like or directly competitive products or cause disturbances in a sector of the economy. • In order to prevent serious injury or to provide remedy to domestic industries, safeguards measures will consist of suspension in the reduction of import duty or increase in customs duty or introduction of tariff quota on the product concerned. • Detailed procedures have been laid down in Article 19 on how to initiate and apply special safeguard measures.

  9. Relations with Third Countries • The FTA allows the Parties to maintain or establish customs unions, FTA or other arrangements with third countries. • It creates the possibility for cumulation in rules of origin with third countries

  10. Joint Committee • The FTA has established a Joint Committee represented by Senior Officials of the two countries • Platform for dialogue and consultation • The Joint Committee shall be responsible for the administration of the FTA • The Joint Committee shall meet whenever necessary upon request, but a least once a year • The Joint Committee shall endeavor to solve any difference between the two parties through direct consultations • Facilitate the resolution of disputes

  11. Evolutionary clause “The parties may mutually agree to extend this Agreement with the aim of broadening and supplementing its scope in accordance with their respective legislation, by concluding agreements on specific sectors or activities in the light of the experience gained during its implementation”.

  12. Thank you

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