31977R2707

19 . 12 . 77 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 324/93

COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 2707/77

of 28 November 1977 opening tariff preferences in the form of a suspension of customs duties for jute manufactures originating in India, Thailand and Bangladesh and for coir manufactures originating in India and Sri Lanka

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Community has considered that is is advisable in gen­ eral to extend for 1976 the preferential tariff scheme Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European which was in force for 1975 ; whereas the same scheme Economic Community, has also been for Bangladesh but exclusively for its jute products, whose situation is appreciably the same as Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, that described above; whereas for 1977, on the basis of the negotiations with India and Bangladesh, new tariff Having regard to the opinion of the European suspensions have been applied, as in respect of Thailand Parliament (*), and Sri Lanka; Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ( 2), Whereas, under the Agreements between the Com­ munity and India of the one part and Bangladesh of the Whereas, within the context of UNCTAD , the other, duties are to be completely suspended for the European Economic Community offered to grant tariff second half of 1978 ; whereas it seems advisable to put preferences on finished and semi-finished products this measure into force right from the beginning of the coming from developing countries; whereas the 1978 preference year; preferential treatment proposed in that offer covers, generally speaking, all finished and semi-finished Whereas in view of the ad hoc measures agreed between industrial products covered by Chapters 25 to 99 of the the Community and Sri Lanka in respect of coir manu­ Common Customs Tariff which originate in developing factures and between the Community and Thailand in countries; respect of jute manufactures, an equivalent preferential tariff scheme may be adjusted as regards these two Whereas the offer made by the Community includes a countries; clause stating that the Community drew up the offer on the assumption that all the main industrialized countries Whereas, in accordance with Protocol 23 to the Act of which are members of the OECD would participate in Accession (3 ), the generalized tariff preference scheme granting preferences and would make similar efforts in became fully applicable in the new Member States on this direction ; whereas, moreover, it is evident from the 1 January 1974 ; conclusions worked out in UNCTAD that this offer, while being of a temporary nature, does not constitute a Whereas the benefit of these suspensions should be re­ binding commitment and, in particular, may be stricted to the said products originating in India, Ban­ withdrawn wholly or in part at a later date ; whereas gladesh, Thailand and Sri Lanka, the concept of 'origi­ this possibility may be adopted inter alia with a view to nating products' being determined in accordance with remedying any unfavourable situations which might the procedure laid down in Article 14 of Council Regu­ arise in the ACP States following the implementation of lation (EEC) No 802/68 of 27 June 1968 on the com­ the generalized preference scheme; mon definition of the concept of the origin of goods (4), Whereas, however, as regards jute and coir products, the said offer includes the elimination of customs duties only where special arrangements have been made with HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: the developing exporting countries;

Whereas the Agreements concluded between the Article 1 Community and India on jute and coir manufactures expired on 31 December 1975 ; whereas pending the 1 . From 1 January to 31 December 1978 , the Com­ conclusion of a new Agreement with this country and mon Customs Tariff duties on the products listed with particular reference to terms enabling the special hereinafter shall be suspended , at the following preferen­ arrangements referred to above to be put into effect, the tial rates :

(*) OJ No C 266 , 7. 11 . 1977, p. 16 . (2) Opinion delivered on 26/27 October 1977 (not yet pub­ (3 ) OJ No L 73 , 27. 3 . 1972 , p. 14 . lished in the Official Journal). (4) OJ No L 148 , 28 . 6 . 1968 , p. 1 .

No L 324/94 Official Journal of the European Communities 19 . 12 . 77

CCT Prefential heading Description rate of duty No %

57.06 Yarn of jute or of other textile bast fibres of heading No 57.03 0

57.10 Woven fabrics of jute or of other textile bast fibres of heading No 57.03 :

A. Of a width of not more than 150 cm and weighing per m2 : I. Less than 310 g 0 II. Not less than 310 g but not more than 500 g 0 III. More than 500 g 0 B. Of a width of more than 150 cm 0

58.02 Other carpets, carpeting, rugs, mats and matting and ' Kelem ', 'Schumacks' and ' Karamanie' rugs and the like (made up or not): A. Carpets, carpeting, rugs, mats and matting: ex I. Coir mats and matting, and tufted carpets of jute or of other textile bast fibres of heading No 57.03 and of coir 0 ex 11 . Carpets, carpeting, rugs, mats and matting, of jute or of other textile bast fibres of heading No 57.03 0

ex 59.04 Twine, cordage, ropes and cables, plaited or not, of jute or of other textile bast fibres of heading No 57.03 0

62.03 Sacks and bags, of a kind used for the packing of goods : A. Of jute or of other textile bast fibres of heading No 57.03 : II . Other : a) Of fabric weighing less than 310 g/m2 0 b) Of fabric weighing not less than 310 g/m 2 but not more than 500 g/ m 2 0 c) Of fabric weighing more than 500 g/m 2 0

2. The benefit of the suspensions referred to in para­ Member States, shall take all necessary measures to graph 1 shall be restricted to products originating in ensure that the foregoing provisions are applied. India until 31 December 1978 . Products originating in Bangladesh and Thailand, except coir mats and matting and tufted carpets of coir, shall also benefit from these suspensions . Coir mats and matting and tufted carpets 2 . The Member States shall, on request, inform the of coir originating in Sri Lanka shall also benefit from Commission of imports benefiting under the preceding the suspensions. For the purposes of This Regulation, provisions . the concept of 'originating products' shall be deter­ mined in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 802/68 . Article 3

Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on 1 January 1 . The Commission, in close collaboration with 1978 .

19 . 12 . 77 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 324/95

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 28 November 1977. For the Council

The President L. OUTERS