Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement
Agreement on SAARC Preferential Trading
Arrangement (SAPTA)
Article - 4 Components
SAPTA may, inter-alia, consist of arrangements relating to:-
- tariffs;
- para-tariffs;
- non-tariff measures;
- direct trade measures.
Article - 5 Negotiations
- The Contracting States may conduct their negotiations for trade
liberalisation in accordance with any or a combination of the following
approaches and procedures:-
- Product-by-product basis;
- Across-the-board tariff reductions;
- Sector basis;
- Direct trade measures.
- Contracting States agreed to negotiate tariff preferences initially
on a product-by-product basis.
- The Contracting States shall enter into negotiations from time to
time with view to further expanding SAPTA and the fuller attainment
of its aims.
Article - 6
Additional Measures
- Contracting States agree to consider, in addition to the measures
set out Article 4, the adoption of trade facilitation and other measures
to support and complement SAPTA to mutual benefit.
- Special consideration shall be given by Contracting States to requests
from Least Developed Contracting States for technical assistance and
cooperation arrangements designed to assist them in expanding their
trade with other Contracting States and in taking advantage of the
potential benefits of SAPTA. The possible areas for such technical
assistance and cooperation are listed in Annex - I
Article - 7
Schedules of Concessions
The tariff, para-tariff and non-tariff concessions negotiated and exchanged
amongst Contracting States shall be incorporated in the National Schedules
of Concessions. The initial concessions agreed to by the Contracting States
are attached as Annex - II
Article - 8
Extension of Negotiated Concessions
The concessions agreed to under SAPTA, expect those made exclusively to
the Least Developed Contracting States in pursuance of Article 10 of this
Agreement should be extended unconditionally to all Contracting States.
Article - 9
Committee of Participants
A committee of Participants, hereinafter referred to as the Committee
consisting of representatives of Contracting States, is hereby established.
The Committee shall meet at least once a year to review the progress made
in the implementation of this Agreement and to ensure that benefits of
trade expansion emanating from this Agreement accrue to all Contracting
States equitably. The committee shall also accord adequate opportunities
for consultation on representations made by any Contracting States with
respect to any matter affecting the implementation of the Agreement. The
committee shall determine its own rules of procedures.
Article - 10
Special Treatment for the Least Developed Contracting States
- In addition to other provisions of this agreement, all Contracting
States shall provide, wherever possible, special and more favorable
treatment exclusively to the Least Developed Contracting States as
set out in the following sub-paragraphs:
- Duty-free access, exclusive tariff preferences or deeper tariff
preferences for the export products
- The removal of non-tariff barriers.
- The removal, where appropriate, of para-tariff barriers,
- The negotiations of long-term contracts with a view to assisting
least developed contracting states to achieve reasonable levels
of sustainable exports of their products.
- Special consideration of exports from least developed contracting
states in the application of safeguard measures.
- Greater flexibility in the introduction and continuance of quantitative
or other restrictions provisionally and without discrimination
in critical circumstances by the least developed contracting states
of import from other contracting stages.
Article - 11
Non-applicatio
Notwithstanding the measures as set out in Articles 4 and 6, the provisions
of this agreement shall not pply in relation to preferences already granted
or to be granted by any contracting stage to other contracting states
outside the framework of this agreement, and to third countries through
bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral trade agreements, and similar
agreements. The contracting states shall also not be obliged to grant
preferences in SAPTA which impair the concession extended under those
agreements.
Article - 12
Communication, Transport and Transit
Contracting stages agree to undertake appropriate steps and measures for
developing and improving communication system, transport infrastructure
and transit facilities for accelerating the growth of trade within the
region.
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