Considerations on COM(2018)311 - Authorisation top open negotiations with a view to apportioning the EU's WTO concessions on Tariff Rate Quotas annexed to the 1994 GATT in view of Brexit

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dossier COM(2018)311 - Authorisation top open negotiations with a view to apportioning the EU's WTO concessions on Tariff Rate Quotas annexed to ...
document COM(2018)311 EN
date May 22, 2018
 
(1) The existing quantitative commitments in the area of goods made by the European Union in the World Trade Organization (WTO) will require certain adjustments to reflect the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) from the Union. In particular, the existing tariff rate quotas for certain agricultural, fish and industrial products included in the Union’s Schedule of concessions and commitments annexed to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994) need to be apportioned between the United Kingdom and the Union following the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the Union.

(2) The Commission should therefore be authorised to open negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 with those WTO Members that have negotiating rights with a view to modifying those tariff rate quotas.

(3) The United Kingdom needs to launch the procedures in the WTO for setting out its own schedule of concessions and commitments already before the date on which it ceases to be a Member of the Union.

(4) It is therefore necessary to authorise the United Kingdom to undertake the necessary procedures with a view to setting out its own schedule of concessions and commitments annexed to the GATT 1994, including negotiations with other WTO members on the portions of the tariff rate quotas to be included therein.