31973R3509

No L 358/ 130 Official Journal of the European Communities 28 . 12. 73

REGULATION (EEC) No 3509/73 OF THE COUNCIL of 18 December 1973

on the opening of tariff preferences in the form of a partial suspension of customs duties for products made from jute and coir originating in India and products made from jute originating in Bangladesh

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES , Whereas, as regards Bangladesh, negotiations are taking place to conclude an agreement on an iden­ Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Euro­ tical basis to that of the Agreement between the Com­ pean Economic Community ; munity and India ;

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ; Whereas, it is provided, in particular, that the Com­ mission should, autonomously and within the scope of its offer on the granting of generalized tariff pre­ Whereas , within the context of UNCTAD , the Euro­ ferences for products made from jute and coir origin­ pean Economic Community offered to grant tariff ating in India and Bangladesh, partially and by preferences on finished and semi-finished products stages suspend out Common Customs Tariff duties coming from developing countries ; whereas the pre­ relating to these products from 1 January 1974 ; ferential treatment proposed in that offer covers, generally speaking, all finished and semi-finished Whereas, in accordance with Protocol No 23 to the industrial products covered by Chapters 25 to 99 of Act of Accession, the generalized tariff preference the Brussels Nomenclature which originate in devel­ scheme will be fully applicable in the new Member oping countries ; states from 1 January 1974 ; whereas , however, Article 2 (2) of the abovdmentioned Agreements con­ Whereas the offer made by the Community includes cerning these products lays down that in Denmark, a clause stating that the Community drew up the Ireland and the United Kingdom the tariff adjust­ offer on the assumption that all the main industrial­ ments resulting from the opening of the preferences ized countries which are members of the OECD would in question may be introduced gradually ; participate in granting preferences and would make similar efforts in this direction ; whereas, moreover, Whereas, therefore, in respect of the products cov­ it is evident from the conclusions worked out in ered by Article 1 of this Regulation, the Community UNCTAD that this offer, while being of a temporary should until 31 December 1974 allow imports to be nature, does not constitute a binding commitment partially free from customs duties in respect of pro­ and, in particular, may be withdrawn wholly or in ducts made from jute and coir as regards India and, part at a later date ; whereas this possibility may in respect of products made from jute as regards be adopted inter alia with a view to remedying any Bangladesh until 30 June 1974 ; unfavourable situations which might arise in the associated countries following the implementation of the generalized preference scheme ; Whereas the benefit of these suspensions should be granted to the said products originating in India and Bangladesh; whereas, to this end, the provisions con­ Whereas, however, as regards jute and coir products, cerning the definition of the concept of originating the said offer includes the elimination of customs products should be applied to tariff preferences duties only where special arrangements have been granted by the Community to the products from made with the developing exporting countries ; developing countries for the period from 1 January until 31 December 1974, Whereas an Agreement has just been concluded between the Community and India concerning pro­ ducts made from jute and coir; whereas the said Agreement refers, in particular, to the 'J°int Declar­ HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : ation of Intent on the development of trade relations with Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Singapore' contained in the Act of Accession ( 1 ) and Article 1 laying down special regulations governing trade in these products with the Community; 1 . From 1 January 1974, the Common Customs Tariff duties on the products listed hereafter shall be suspended preferentially at the rates shown in (x) OJ No L 73 , 27. 3 . 1972, p. 14. respect thereof :

28 . 12 . 73 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 358 / 131

CCT Rate heading Description No of duty

ex 57.06 Jute yarn 4-8

ex 57.10 Woven fabrics of jute : A. Of a width of not more than 150 cm and weighing per m2 : I. Less than 310 g 12 II . Not less than 310 g but not more than 500 g 11-4 III. More than 500 g 9 B. Of a width more than 150 cm 13-2

58.02 Other carpets, carpeting, rugs, mats and matting, and ' Kellem', ' Schumacks' and ' Karamanie' rugs and the like (made up or not): A. Carpets, carpeting, rugs, mats and matting : ex I. Coir mats and matting 13-8

62.03 Sacks and bags , of a kind used for the packing of goods : ex A. Of jute : II . Other : a) Of fabric weighing less than 310 g/m2 12 b) Of fabric weighing not less than 310 g/m2 but 11-4 not more than 500 g/m2 c) Of fabric weighing more than 500 g/m2 . 9

2. On imports of the said goods into Denmark and down by Commission Regulation (EEC) No 3614/73 the United Kingdom, the duties to be applied shall (*) applicable to products benefiting from tariff pre­ be those of their customs tariff suspended at the ferences granted by the Community to developing level of those applied in 1973 . For jute textile pro­ countries for the period from 1 January until 31 ducts falling within heading Nos ex 57.06, ex 57.10 December 1974. and 62.03 ex A II referred to in paragraph 1 , Ireland Article 2 shall align its national customs tariff duties on the abovementioned preferential rates on the dates and 1 . The Commission, in close collaboration with in the order fixed in Article 39 ( 1 ) and (2) of the Act Member States, shall take all necessary measures to of Accession. ensure that the foregoing provisions are applied.

3 . The benefit of the suspensions referred to in Ar­ 2. The Member States shall regularly inform the ticle 1 shall be reserved for products originating in Commission of imports benefiting under the pre­ India until 31 December 1974. The products orig­ ceding provisions. inating in Bangladesh, except coir mats and matting, Article 3 shall also benefit from these suspensions, until 30 June 1974. For the purposes of this Regulation the This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 concept of originating products shall be that laid January 1974. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States . Done at Brussels , 18 December 1973 . For the Council The President

J. CHRISTENSffN

1) See p. 132 of this Official Journal.