(1)

The Union market for jet fuel depends considerably on imports of jet fuel from third countries.

(2)

Although bilateral aviation agreements between Member States and third countries typically include provisions concerning duty relief for jet fuel, it is necessary to lay down common rules on duty relief for jet fuel in order to ensure clarity and uniformity in this regard, to provide legal certainty for operators and to avoid any distortion of competition resulting from differing practices and rules.

(3)

A significant part of jet fuel imports to the Union originates in countries that benefit from the scheme of generalised tariff preferences or have preferential access to the Union market, and thus the imports are duty-free.

(4)

With the application of tariff preferences in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) starting from 1 January 2014, a number of countries which are important exporters of jet fuel will cease to be beneficiaries of that preferential access to the Union market, and certain other exporting countries will not benefit from preferential access for certain product categories, including fuel, in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1213/2012 (2).

(5)

The imposition of customs duties on jet fuel from those suppliers would likely cause an increase in the price of jet fuel on the Union market as it is not economically viable for refineries in the Union to increase their production of aviation fuel to any significant degree.

(6)

It is therefore appropriate to suspend the autonomous rate of customs duty for jet fuel. The suspension should cover all products falling within CN code 2710 19 21. Taking into account possible future changes in the market situation of jet fuel, the suspension should be reviewed on the basis of an assessment within five years.

(7)

Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 (3) should therefore be amended accordingly,