21996A0711(11)

ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS on trade in textile products between the European Community and the Republic of Singapore

NOTE VERBALE

The Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities presents its compliments to the Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the European Communities and has the honour to refer to the Agreement on textile products negotiated between the Republic of Singapore and the Community applied since 1 January 1987, as extended by the Exchange of Letters applied since 1 January 1992 and as further extended by the Exchange of Letters of 26 November 1992.

With a view to ensuring a smooth and efficient implementation of the Agreement on integration of the textiles and clothing sectors into GATT rules and disciplines negotiated within the framework of the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations, the Commission has the honour to inform the authorities of the Republic of Singapore that it intends to notify to the Textiles Monitoring Body the provisions, contained in the attached list, of the abovementioned Agreement on textile products as 'administrative arrangements` within the meaning of Article 2 (17) of the Uruguay Round Textiles Agreement.

The Directorate-General would be grateful if your authorities could confirm as soon as possible their agreement on the details of this notification.

The Directorate-General for External Relations avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the European Communities the assurance of its highest consideration.

Brussels, . . .

Provisions of the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Singapore on trade in textile products, initialled in Brussels, on 28 June 1986, as amended by the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters amending the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Singapore on trade in textile products, initialled in Brussels, on 26 November 1992, which will be notified as administrative arrangements under Article 2 (17) of the Uruguay Round Textiles Agreement

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NOTE VERBALE

The Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the European Communities presents its compliments to the Directorate-General for External Relations of the Commission of the European Communities and has the honour to refer to the Directorate-General's Note verbale No 020827 of 22 December 1993 and to the Agreement on textile products between the Republic of Singapore and the Community applied since 1 January 1987, as extended by the Exchange of Letters applied since 1 January 1992 and as further extended by the Exchange of Letters of 26 November 1992.

The Singapore Trade Development Board noted the Commission's intention to notify the Textile Monitoring Body selected provisions in the abovementioned Agreement on textile products as 'administrative arrangements`, within the meaning of Article 2 (17) of the Uruguay Round Textile Agreement. The Singapore Trade Development Board is of the view that Article 7 of the abovementioned Agreement should also fall within the meaning of Article 2 (17) of the Uruguay Round Textile Agreement.

The Singapore Trade Development Board understands that the text of the bilateral textile Agreements concluded between the European Communities and the exporting countries are more or less the same. As such, the Singapore Trade Development Board would like to know whether the Commission would be notifying the same provisions in the other bilateral textile Agreements of the Communities to the Textile Monitoring Body. The Singapore Trade Development Board would also be pleased to know the schedule of the notification by the Commission to the Textile Monitoring Body.

The Singapore Trade Development Board would like to reaffirm that the understanding reached between the textile negotiators of the European Community and Singapore with regard to the provisions of Article 12 of the abovementioned Agreement as recorded in the confidential Agreed Minutes signed and Confidential Letters exchanged on 26 November 1992 remain unchanged.

The Mission of the Republic of Singapore avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Directorate-General for External Relations the assurances of its highest consideration.

Brussels, . . .

NOTE VERBALE

The Directorate-General of External Economic Relations of the Commission of the European Communities presents its compliments to the Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the European Communities and has the honour to refer to the Mission's Note verbale No 030/94 concerning the Agreement on textiles products between the Republic of Singapore and the Community applied since 1 January 1987, as extended by the Exchange of Letters initialled on 26 November 1992.

The Directorate-General agrees with the suggestion made by the Singapore Trade Development Board that Article 7 of the abovementioned Agreement should also be included in the notification of administrative arrangements within the meaning of Article 2 (17) of the WTO Textiles and Clothing Agreement.

In addition, the Directorate-General wishes to confirm that the Commission intends to notify to the WTO the same provisions contained in all other bilateral Agreements which the Community has concluded under the MFA. The Commission intends to notify such administrative arrangements to the WTO secretariat before 1 October 1994.

The Directorate-General confirms that the understanding reached between the textiles negotiators of the European Communities and Singapore with regard to the provisions of Article 12 of the abovementioned Agreement as recorded in the confidential Agreed Minutes signed and Confidential Letters exchanged on 26 November 1992 remain unchanged.

The Directorate-General for External Economic Relations avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Mission of the Republic of Singapore the assurance of its highest consideration.

Brussels, . . .