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WTO: The membership negotiations and the occurred problems. Emir Djikic Tirana, October 21 st 2005. With the support of the European Commission. Start of the Process. May 18 th 1999 BiH Presidency made the decision to start Accession process to WTO
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WTO: The membership negotiations and the occurred problems Emir Djikic Tirana, October 21st 2005 With the support of the European Commission With the support of the European Commission
Start of the Process • May 18th 1999 BiH Presidency made the decision to start Accession process to WTO • May 1999 Official submission is made to the WTO Secretariat • July 15th 1999 BiH obtained the Observer status to the WTO and the Working Party is established • WP Chairman is H.E. P.R. Jenkins With the support of the European Commission
Real Work starting • Formulation of the Negotiation Team • Narrow Team and Broad Team established • Preparation of the Foreign Trade Memorandum • Memorandum Submitted in September 2002 to WTO Secretariat with 30 relevant laws • Problems in gathering data, lack of data, HR capacities in the Governments With the support of the European Commission
Clarification process • 3 Rounds of questions - First round 326 questions - Second round 110 questions - Third round 84 questions Submission of the additional documentation: Legislative action plan, Domestic support, Services TRIPS, SPS/TBT With the support of the European Commission
Offers • BiH Prepared offers in goods and services and submitted them to the WTO Secretariat in October 2004. • 2 WP meetings until now With the support of the European Commission
1. Application Received 11 May 1999 2. Working Party Established 15 July 1999 Chairperson: Mr. P.R. Jenkins(United Kingdom) 3. Memorandum 10 October 2002 4. Questions and Replies 5 September 2003 5 November 2003 5. Meetings of the Working Party 7 November 2003 6 December 2004 Key dates With the support of the European Commission
6. Other Documentation (a) Additional Questions & Replies 14 October 2004 (b) Agriculture (WT/ACC/4) 17 September 2003 (c) Services (WT/ACC/5) 5 September 2003 (d) SPS/TBT (WT/ACC/8) 5 September 2003 (e) TRIPS (WT/ACC/9) 5 September 2003 (f) Legislative Action Plan 14 October 2004 7. Market Access Negotiations Goods Offer 15 October 2004 Services Offer 14 October 2004 8. Factual Summary 9. Draft Working Party Report Key dates With the support of the European Commission
Sectoral Priorities 16 initiatives • Zero for zero and harmonization requirements • Agricultural equipment, beer, Civil Aircrafts, Construction equipment, Distilled alcohol, Fish and fish products, Furniture, IT, Medical equipment, Metals – excluding iron, oilseeds, pharmaceuticals, Steel, paper and Scientific equipment (Zero for Zero) • Chemical industry (Harmonization on 6,5-5,5%) With the support of the European Commission
HS Chapter: 28 5,5 % 3,2 2901-02 0 % 4,2 2903-15 5,5 % 1,2 2916-42 6,5 % 0,8 30 0 % 2,8 31 6,5 % 2,75 32 6,5 % 4,57 33 6,5 % 5,45 34 6,5 % 7,92 35 6,5 % 4,72 36 6,5 % 4,54 37 6,5 % 6,37 38 6,5 % 2,74 39 6,5 % 7,43 Example – Harmonization in the Chemical Industry With the support of the European Commission
Applied Custom Tariff – basis for negotiations • Average ad valorem tariff is 6,4% • Agriculture (HS 1-24 excluding fish 3) 5,26% + specific duty for 851 product • Low tariff should provide to BiH not difficult accession negotiations With the support of the European Commission
Domestic support • Insignificant support in the base period (2000-2002) • Preparations of new base period (2002-2004) • No export subsidies (no commitment either) With the support of the European Commission
Services • Liberalized services sectors • Problem with audiovisual services (US – EU) With the support of the European Commission
TRIPS • Legislation in preparation • Conventions in process of signature • Main problem is implementation With the support of the European Commission
Problems • Most of exports and imports with FTA and EU countries (cca. 90%) • More of problems in the disciplines implementation then in trade • Not enough capacities to cover all WTO areas • Lack of coordination • Parallel process of WTO Accession and SAA Negotiations and unification of the processes • Potential loss of revenues With the support of the European Commission
MAIN PROBLEM SELL IT HOME With the support of the European Commission
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION With the support of the European Commission