FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN MERCOSUR AND THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY
The Argentine Republic, the Federative Republic of
Brazil, the Republic of Paraguay and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Parties
to the MERCOSUR, and the Republic of Turkey;
Desiring to establish clear, predictable and lasting
rules to promote the development of reciprocal trade and investments, by means
of establishing a Free Trade Area;
Reaffirming their commitment to further strengthen the
rules of international trade in accordance with the rules of the World Trade
Organization (WTO);
Recognizing that free trade agreements contribute to
the expansion of world trade, to greater international stability, and, in
particular, to the development of closer relations among their peoples;
Considering that the process of economic integration
includes not only gradual and reciprocal trade liberalization but also the
establishment of comprehensive economic co-operation;
AGREE:
Article 1
For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Contracting
Parties” are the MERCOSUR and the Republic of Turkey. The “Signatory Parties”
are the Governments of the Argentine Republic, the Federative Republic of
Brazil, the Republic of Paraguay and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay and the
Government of Turkey.
Article 2
The aim of this Framework Agreement is to strengthen
relations between the Contracting Parties through promoting the expansion of
trade and providing the necessary framework and mechanisms to negotiate a Free Trade
Area in conformity with the rules and disciplines of the WTO.
Article 3
The Contracting Parties agree to undertake periodic
negotiations with a view to create a Free Trade Area, aimed at increasing
bilateral trade flows through enhanced market access by means of mutual
concessions.
Article
4
1. The Contracting Parties agree to create a
Negotiating Committee. The Committee’s members shall be for the MERCOSUR: the
Common Market Group, or its representatives; for the Republic of Turkey: the
Undersecretariat of the Prime Ministry for Foreign Trade, or its
representatives. In order to achieve the objective set out in Article 2, the
Negotiating Committee shall establish a work program for the negotiations.
2. The Negotiating Committee shall meet as often as
the Contracting Parties agree.
Article 5
The Negotiating Committee shall serve as the forum to:
a) Exchange information on tariffs applied by each Contracting
Party; with respect to bilateral trade and trade with third parties as well as
their respective trade policies;
b) Exchange information on market access; tariff and
non-tariff measures; sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical standards
and regulations, rules of origin, safeguard, anti-dumping and countervailing
measures; special customs regimes and dispute settlement, among other matters;
c) Identify and propose measures to achieve the
objectives set out in Article 2, including those related to trade facilitation;
d) Establish criteria for the negotiation of a Free Trade
Area between the Contracting Parties, as stipulated in Article 3;
e) Negotiate an Agreement for the establishment of a Free
Trade Area between the Contracting Parties, on the basis of the agreed
criteria;
f) Carry out other tasks as determined by the Contracting
Parties.
Article 6
In order to broaden reciprocal knowledge about trade
and investment opportunities, the Contracting Parties shall stimulate trade
promotion activities such as seminars, trade missions, fairs, exhibitions and
conferences.
The Contracting Parties shall promote the development
of joint activities aimed at the implementation of co-operation projects in the
agricultural and industrial areas among others, by means of information
exchange, training programmes and technical missions.
The Contracting Parties shall co-operate with the aim
of promoting the expansion and diversification of trade in services between
them, in accordance with what might be decided by the Negotiating Committee and
with the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) of the World Trade
Organization.
The Contracting Parties
agree to co-operate in promoting closer relationships among their relevant
organizations in the areas of plant and animal health, standardization, food
safety and sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
Article 10
1. This
Agreement shall enter into force thirty days after the date of the last
notification by the Contracting Parties, in writing and through diplomatic
channels, of the completion of the internal legal procedures necessary to that
effect.
2. This Agreement
shall remain in force for a period of three years and thereafter shall be
deemed to have been automatically extended, unless one of the Contracting
Parties decides by written notification and through diplomatic channels, not to
renew it. This decision has to be taken at least thirty days before the
expiration of the three years period. The denunciation will enter into force
six months after its notification date.
Article 11
1. For the
purposes of Article 10.1, the Government of the Republic of Paraguay shall be
the Depositary of this Agreement for the MERCOSUR.
2. In fulfillment
of the Depositary functions assigned in Article 11.1, the Government of the
Republic of Paraguay shall notify the other Member States of MERCOSUR, the date
on which this Agreement shall enter into force.
This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent
between the Contracting Parties by an exchange of notes through diplomatic
channels.
Done in the city of San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentine
Republic, on June 30, 2008, in two copies in the Spanish,
Portuguese, English and Turkish languages, all texts being equally authentic.
In case of any doubt or divergence in the interpretation of this Agreement, the
English text shall prevail.
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Jorge
TAIANA |
Hayri
Hayret YALAV |
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Minister
of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship |
Ambassador |
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For
the Argentine Republic |
For
the Republic of Turkey |
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Celso
AMORIM |
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Minister
of Foreign Affairs |
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For
the Federative Republic of Brazil |
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Rubén
RAMÍREZ LEZCANO |
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Minister
of Foreign Affairs |
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For
the Republic of Paraguay |
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Gonzalo
FERNÁNDEZ |
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Minister
of Foreign Affairs |
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For
the Oriental Republic of Uruguay |
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