AGREEMENT

in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Russian Federation relating to the administration of tariff-rate quotas applying to exports of wood from the Russian Federation to the European Union

1.   

Letter from the Russian Federation

Geneva, 16 December 2011

Dear Sirs,

Following negotiations between the Russian Federation and the European Union (hereinafter – Parties), the Parties agree that tariff-rate quotas applicable to exports of wood from the Russian Federation to the European Union that are subject to export duties shall be implemented in the following manner:

— the Russian Federation represented by the Government of the Russian Federation shall open tariff-rate quotas based on its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods undertaken by the Russian Federation in the World Trade Organization, including the quota share allocated to the European Union on a yearly basis. The Russian Federation shall issue export licences based on relevant import documentation issued by the European Union, provided that Russian exporters fulfil all applicable requirements for exportation. The European Union shall manage the share of tariff-rate quotas allocated to it through its internal procedures. The Russian Federation shall not apply limitations or subdivisions within the share of tariff-rate quotas that is allocated to the European Union;

— every three months, the competent authorities of the Parties shall exchange data on the utilisation of the tariff-rate quotas. Technical modalities, including the details of the cooperation between the authorities of the Russian Federation and of the European Union, as well as the administrative processes shall be elaborated by the competent authorities of the Parties by the entry into force of the agreement set forth in this letter.

In case the European Union confirms its agreement with the terms set forth in this letter, I propose that this letter and the reply letter of the European Union shall constitute the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the European Union relating to the administration of tariff-rate quotas applying to exports of wood from the Russian Federation to the European Union, and this Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which the Parties exchange written notifications certifying that they have completed their respective internal procedures.

This Agreement shall be applied provisionally from the date of the Russian Federation’s accession to the World Trade Organization.

Please accept, Sirs, the assurance of my highest consideration.

For the Russian Federation

2.   

Letter from the European Union

Geneva, 16 December 2011

Dear Minister,

We have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today’s date which reads as follows:

‘Following negotiations between the Russian Federation and the European Union (hereinafter – Parties), the Parties agree that tariff-rate quotas applicable to exports of wood from the Russian Federation to the European Union that are subject to export duties shall be implemented in the following manner:

— the Russian Federation represented by the Government of the Russian Federation shall open tariff-rate quotas based on its Schedule of Concessions and Commitments on Goods undertaken by the Russian Federation in the World Trade Organization, including the quota share allocated to the European Union on a yearly basis. The Russian Federation shall issue export licences based on relevant import documentation issued by the European Union, provided that Russian exporters fulfil all applicable requirements for exportation. The European Union shall manage the share of tariff-rate quotas allocated to it through its internal procedures. The Russian Federation shall not apply limitations or subdivisions within the share of tariff-rate quotas that is allocated to the European Union;

— every three months, the competent authorities of the Parties shall exchange data on the utilisation of the tariff-rate quotas. Technical modalities, including the details of the cooperation between the authorities of the Russian Federation and of the European Union, as well as the administrative processes shall be elaborated by the competent authorities of the Parties by the entry into force of the agreement set forth in this letter.

In case the European Union confirms its agreement with the terms set forth in this letter, I propose that this letter and the reply letter of the European Union shall constitute the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the European Union relating to the administration of tariff-rate quotas applying to exports of wood from the Russian Federation to the European Union, and this Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which the Parties exchange written notifications certifying that they have completed their respective internal procedures.

This Agreement shall be applied provisionally from the date of the Russian Federation’s accession to the World Trade Organization.’.

The European Union has the honour to confirm its agreement with the contents of this letter.

Please accept, Madame, the assurance of our highest consideration.

For the European Union

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Waldemar PAWLAK

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Economy of the Republic of Poland

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Karel DE GUCHT

Commissioner for Trade of the European Commission