RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
21 June 1999
(99-2513)
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:  English
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND LATVIA
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC AND LATVIA
Questions and Replies
This document reproduces questions addressed to the Parties and the responses submitted.
The questions and replies set out below are organized in accordance with documents WT/REG45/2
and WT/REG47/2.
_______________
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE AGREEMENTS
1. Membership, Dates of Signature, Ratification and Entry into Force
What were the various dates for signature, ratification and entry into force of the
agreement, and when was it notified to the WTO?
The Free Trade Agreement between the Czech Republic and the Republic of Latvia has been
signed on April 15th, 1996 in Riga, Republic of Latvia.  This agreement entered into force on
1 July 1997.  Notification to the WTO has been submitted on 23 October 1997 and was subsequentlycirculated in WTO document WT/REG45/N/1.
The Free Trade Agreement between the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Latvia has been
signed on April 19
th, 1996 in Riga, Republic of Latvia.  This agreement entered into force on
1 July 1997.  Notification to the WTO has been submitted on 14 November 1997 and wassubsequently circulated in WTO document WT/REG47/N/1.
2. Type of Agreements
Article 1.1. (Objectives) states that the Parties shall gradually establish a free-trade area
on substantially all their bilateral trade.  Grateful if the Parties could confirm the timeframe/
deadline for full implementation of the free-trade area.
Although there are no specific deadlines mentioned in the Agreements, free-trade areas on
substantially all the trade will be established on 1 January 2001 at the latest.
4. Trade Data
We would appreciate trade and tariff statistics or intra-FTA trade and MFN trade
according to major products and partners.
See Tables 1-4 in Annex.WT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 2
What percentage of FTA trade (both in tota l and by sector) between the Parties (for
each party):
- has the duties eliminated?
- has other regulations of commerce eliminated?
- is given concessions (rather than having duties etc. removed)?
- is excluded from the FTA (e.g., under Annex II)?
In respect of Chapters 1-24, please provide details on the concessions granted, that is the
percentage of trade (by value and tariff line) wh ich will be duty free and that which will have
tariff preferences.
See Tables 5 and 6 in Annex.
Please confirm that when these two Agreemen ts are fully implemented, all originating
trade under Chapters 25-97 will be duty free.
Yes.  All originating trade in industrial products under Chapters 25-97 is already duty free.
II. TRADE PROVISIONS
1. Import Restrictions
1.1 Duties and charges
Do the Parties intend to remove the duties on products listed in Protocol 2, Annexes B,
C, E and F, at some stage in the future, and if so when might that be?  Is there a consultative
mechanism to discuss further concessions on agricultural products?  Are there any agriculturalproducts not covered by Protocol 2?
Possibilities of further liberalisation are foreseen in paragraph 3 of Articles 35 and in
paragraph 3 of the Records of Understanding and, to this extent, the consultations between the Parties
to the FTAs about the possibility of further liberalisation in agricultural trade already started inyear 1999.
There are no agricultural products not covered by Protocol 2.
5. Safeguards
Have any specific safeguards actions been taken under Article 15 on agricultural
products?  If so, on which products and what was the nature of the measures taken?
No specific safeguard measures have been taken so far.
Under Article 15 (Special Safeguards), what measures, pending solution, do the Parties
envisage taking to deal with market disturbance?  Would such measure be WTO consistent?
Can the Parties give assurances that such measure would not prejudice the rights of non partiesWT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 3
to this agreement?  What criteria are to be used to determine whether a “serious disturbance”
to agricultural markets is being caused?
As regards to the measures which the Parties to  the FTAs are entitled to take to deal with
market disturbance, they shall be selected on a case-by-case basis.  In the selection of such measures,
priority shall be given to those which least disturb the functioning of these FTAs.  The measures
foreseen under Articles 15 of the respective FTAs are not considered as third-country measures but
measures relating strictly to the agricultural trade between the Parties.  These measures are not in
conflict with the WTO rules and they do not prejudice the rights of non-parties to these FTAs.
Can the Parties explain whether there is  any difference in practice between the
obligations under Articles 28, 29, 30 and 32 (general safeguards/structural
adjustments/re-export and serious shortage/safeguard procedures) and the manner in which
they will operate, and the obligations of th e Parties under the WTO?  Have any safeguards
action been taken under these Articles?  If so, on what products, what was the measure for and
for what duration?
Parties to these FTAs believe that there is no contradiction between obligations under
Articles 28, 29, 30 and 32 of these FTAs and the manner in which they operate and the Parties’
appropriate obligations under the WTO.
No safeguard measures have been taken so far.
Article 29 on structural adjustments makes provision for exceptional measures to be
taken concerning infant industries, or sector s undergoing restructuring or facing serious
difficulties.  How is it decided that exceptional measure can be taken?
No exceptional measures under Article 29 concerning  infant industries, or sectors undergoing
restructuring or facing serious difficulties, have been taken so far.
Will balance-of-payments (BOP) measures under Article 33 be applied in
a non-discriminatory manner and without prejudice to the interests of non-parties to the
Agreements?
Yes, the BOP measures under Articles 33 will be applied in a non-discriminatory manner and
without prejudice to the interests of non-parties to these FTAs, in compliance with provisions of
Article XII of GATT 1994.
Are the safeguard measures on intra-trade (i.e. between the Parties to the Agreement)
transitional in nature or can they be applied at any time and left in place for any period of time?
Safeguard measures concerning infant industries, or certain sectors undergoing restructuring
or facing serious difficulties according to Article 29, are transitional.  There are no such measures inforce at present.  Any possible measure shall cease to apply on 1 January 2001 at the latest.
Other safeguards provided for in the FTAs (Article 28 – General Safeguards, Article 30 –
Re-Export and Serious Shortage) can be applied at any time on condition all requirements set up in
the respective Articles of FTAs have been met.WT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 4
7. Subsidies and State-Aid
7.1 State aid
Under Article 24 on State Aid, have any measures been taken, and if so on what
products and what was the measure and for what duration?
No measures have been taken so far under Article 24.
7.2 State monopolies
Which products are currently subject to state monopolies (Article 21)?  This article
suggests that state monopolies might currently dis criminate in their commercial decisions – can
the Parties confirm that such monopolies operate in a manner consistent with GATT
Article XVII in their purchase from and sales to third countries?
The main aim of these Articles is to ensure that the abolition of governmental restrictions on
trade between the Parties is not nullified by discriminatory behaviour in the purchasing and marketing
activities of state monopolies of a commercial character, therefore there is no contradiction with the
provisions and obligations of Article XVII of the GATT 1994.
In present time there are no state monopolies of trading character (with exclusive rights) in
the Czech Republic and in the Slovak Republic.  The Cereal Trade Agency, having some features of a
state-trading entity within the meaning of GATT Article XVII, is established in Latvia.
7.3 Rules of competition concerning undertakings
We acknowledge that competition policy (Art icle 23) is not covered explicitly by the
WTO rules.  However, certain aspects of competition are captured by various WTO rules and
we therefore would be grateful for comments on the following questions:
- What criteria are to be applied in asse ssing whether actions prevent, restrict or
distort competition, or whether actions by dominant undertakings constitute anabuse of their position?
- Are these considerations subject to specific legally based processes?
Can the Parties give assurances that implementation of this provision does not
discriminate against the interests of non-parties to the Agreements (particularly given that it
exempts agricultural products which “form an integral part of a national market organisation”)
from the provisions stipulated in para 1 (a) of this Article)?
At the outset it should be noted that, in our opinion, competition rules issues go beyond the
scope of examination within the meaning of Article XXIV.
Competition policy in the Czech Republic is regulated by the Act No. 63/1991 Coll. on
Protection of Competition amended by the Act No. 286/1993 Coll. and in the Slovak Republic by the
Act No. 188/ 1994 Coll. on Protection of Competition.  These Acts are applicable to all entrepreneurs,as well as associations of these entrepreneurs, performing economic activities and are aimed at
protection of the competition on market relating to the trade in goods and services.  They also prohibit
conclusion of agreements and integration procedures of entrepreneurs aimed at limitation of
competition. Antimonopoly Offices, both in Czech Republic and in the Slovak Republic, responsibleWT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 5
for surveillance of competition policy, prohibit agreements limiting competition by issuing of
a decisions, based on provisions and conditions set out in above mentioned Acts.  Consequently,
agreements to which such decisions apply are considered to be invalid.  These Acts apply to
horizontal as well as vertical limitations, they generally prohibit abusing of dominant position of anyundertaking and do not allow any exceptions.
Competition policy in Latvia is regulated by the Competition Law adopted in 18 June 1997.
This Law is applicable to all market participants and to any form of registered and unregistered
market participants and is aimed at protection of the competition on market relating to the trade in
goods and services.  The Law also prohibits conclusion of agreements and integration procedures of
entrepreneurs aimed at limitation of competition.  A Competition Council is responsible forsurveillance of competition policy, prohibiting agreements and mergers limiting competition as well
as other unfair competition practices by issuing of  decisions, based on provisions and conditions set
out in this Law.  Consequently, agreements to which such decisions apply are considered to be
invalid.  The Law applies to horizontal as well as vertical limitations and they generally prohibit
abusing of dominant position of any undertaking and do not allow any exceptions.WT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 6
ANNEX
Table 1
Latvia's Imports of Products above US$100,000 from the Czech Republic, in 1998
(Value and percentage shares)
CN Product Value
(US$)Share in
total
imports
(%)
8702 Motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, including the driver. 6,318,979 14.58
3402 Organic surface-active agents (other than soap); surface-active preparations,
washing preparations (including auxiliary washing preparations) and cleaning
preparations, whether or not containing soap, other than those of heading No.
34.01.3,943,837 9.10
1517 Margarine; edible mixtures or preparations of animal or vegetable fats or oils
or of fractions of different fats or oils of this Chapter, other than edible fats oroils or their fractions of heading No. 15.16.1,846,298 4.26
8403 Central heating boilers other than those of heading No. 84.02. 1,402,478 3.24
8703 Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of
persons (other than those of heading No. 87.02),including station wagons andracing cars.1,323,807 3.06
4011 New pneumatic tyres, of rubber. 1,057,985 2.44
3917 Tubes, pipes and hoses, and fittings therefor (for example, joints, elbows,
flanges), of plastics.1,032,934 2.38
7013 Glassware of a kind used for table, kitchen, toilet, office, indoor decoration or
similar purposes (other than that of heading No. 70.10 or 70.18).950,664 2.19
9405 Lamps and lighting fittings including searchlights and spotlights and parts
thereof, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated
name-plates and the like, having a permanently fixed light source, and parts
thereof not elsewhere specified or included.887,046 2.05
3004 Medicaments (excluding goods of heading No. 30.02, 30.05 or 30.06)
consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses,put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale.801,546 1.85
6910 Ceramic sinks, wash basins, wash basin pedestals, baths, bidets, water closet
pans, flushing cisterns, urinals and similar sanitary fixtures.747,763 1.73
8544 Insulated (including enamelled or anodised) wire, cable (including co-axial
cable) and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted withconnectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres,
whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors.723,436 1.67
2103 Sauces and preparations therefor; mixed condiments and mixed seasonings;
mustard flour and meal and prepared mustard.561,822 1.30
7306 Other tubes, pipes and hollow profiles (for example, open seam or welded,
riveted or similarly closed), of iron or steel.541,779 1.25
6403 Footwear with outer soles of rubber, plastics, leather or composition leather
and uppers of leather.521,326 1.20
4009 Tubes, pipes and hoses, of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber, with or
without their fittings (for example, joints, elbows, flanges).515,868 1.19
9403 Other furniture and parts thereof. 507,409 1.17
8536 Electrical apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits, or for
making connections to or in  electrical circuits (for example, switches, relays,
fuses, surge suppressors, plugs, sockets, lamp-holders, junction boxes), for avoltage not exceeding 1,000 volts.478,038 1.10
7322 Radiators for central heating, not electrically heated, and parts thereof, of iron 431,205 1.00WT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 7
CN Product Value
(US$)Share in
total
imports
(%)
or steel; air heaters and hot air distributors (including distributors which can
also distribute fresh or conditioned air), not electrically heated, incorporating a
motor-driven fan or blower, and parts thereof, of iron or steel.
8481 Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats
or the like, including pressure-reducing valves and thermostatically controlled
valves.408,163 0.94
8607 Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling-stock. 398,875 0.92
8443 Printing machinery, including ink-jet printing machines, other than those of
heading No. 84.71; machines for uses ancillary to printing.384,568 0.89
1107 Malt, whether or not roasted. 362,566 0.84
6804 Millstones, grindstones, grinding wheels and the like, without frameworks, for
grinding, sharpening, polishing, trueing or cutting, hand sharpening orpolishing stones, and parts thereof, of natural stone, of agglomerated natural orartificial abrasives, or of ceramics, with or without parts of other materials.361,436 0.83
9504 Articles for funfair, table or parlour games, including pintables, billiards,
special tables for casino games and automatic bowling alley equipment.354,966 0.82
8309 Stoppers, caps and lids (including crown corks, screw caps and pouring
stoppers), capsules for bottles, threaded bungs, bung covers, seals and other
packing accessories, of base metal.350,447 0.81
7321 Stoves, ranges, grates, cookers (including those with subsidiary boilers for
central heating), barbecues, braziers, gas-rings, plate warmers and similar non-
electric domestic appliances, and pa rts thereof, of iron or steel.344,631 0.80
4818 Toilet paper and similar paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres,
of a kind used for household or sanitary purposes, in rolls of a width notexceeding 36 cm, or cut to size or shape; handkerchiefs, cleansing tissues,towels, tablecloths, serviettes, napkins for babies, tampons, bed sheets andsimilar household, sanitary or hospital articles, articles of apparel and clothing
accessories, of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose
fibres.342,394 0.79
6911 Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles, of
porcelain or china.341,933 0.79
8716 Trailers and semi-trailers; other vehicles, not mechanically propelled; parts
thereof.322,095 0.74
8415 Air conditioning machines, comprising a motor-driven fan and elements for
changing the temperature and humidity, including those machines in which thehumidity cannot be separately regulated.305,303 0.70
4010 Conveyor or transmission belts or belting, of vulcanised rubber. 291,395 0.67
3916 Monofilament of which any cross-sectional dimension exceeds 1 mm, rods,
sticks and profile shapes, whether or not surface-worked but not otherwiseworked, of plastics.276,160 0.64
1514 Rape, colza or mustard oil and fractions thereof, whether or not refined, but
not chemically modified.274,942 0.63
3401 Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap, in the
form of bars, cakes, moulded pieces or shapes, whether or not containing soap;paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered withsoap or detergent.271,453 0.63
6805 Natural or artificial abrasive powder or grain, on a base of textile material, of
paper, of paperboard or of other materials, whether or not cut to shape or sewnor otherwise made up.252,142 0.58
8708 Parts and accessories of the motor vehicles  of headings Nos. 87.01 to 87.05. 247,987 0.57
6810 Articles of cement, of concrete or of artificial stone, whether or not reinforced. 212,416 0.49WT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 8
CN Product Value
(US$)Share in
total
imports
(%)
8712 Bicycles and other cycles (including delivery tricycles), not motorised. 208,380 0.48
8441 Other machinery for making up paper pulp, paper or paperboard, including
cutting machines of all kinds.204,091 0.47
3924 Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles, of
plastics.198,074 0.46
8479 Machines and mechanical appliances having individual functions, not
specified or included elsewhere in this Chapter.188,627 0.44
3922 Baths, shower-baths, wash-basins, bidets, lavatory pans, seats and covers,
flushing cisterns and similar sanitary ware, of plastics.186,040 0.43
7115 Other articles of precious metal or of metal clad with precious metal. 182,417 0.42
1701 Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form. 180,098 0.42
6812 Fabricated asbestos fibres; mixtures with a basis of asbestos or with a basis of
asbestos and magnesium carbonate; articles of such mixtures or of asbestos
(for example, thread, woven fabric, clothing, headgear, footwear, gaskets),whether or not reinforced, other than goods of heading No. 68.11 or 68.13.176,631 0.41
9404 Mattress supports; articles of bedding and similar furnishing (for example,
mattresses, quilts, eiderdowns, cushions, pouffes and pillows) fitted withsprings or stuffed or internally fitted with any material or of cellular rubber orplastics, whether or not covered.176,024 0.41
8516 Electric instantaneous or storage water heaters and immersion heaters; electric
space heating apparatus and soil heating apparatus; electro-thermic hair-
dressing apparatus (for example, hair dr yers, hair curlers, curling tong heaters)
and hand dryers; electric smoothing irons; other electro-thermic appliances ofa kind used for domestic purposes; electric heating resistors, other than thoseof heading No. 85.45.175,822 0.41
8608 Railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings; mechanical (including electro-
mechanical) signalling, safety or traffic control equipment for railways,tramways, roads, inland waterways, parking facilities, port installations or
airfields; parts of the foregoing.174,920 0.40
3926 Other articles of plastics and articles of other materials of headings Nos. 39.01
to 39.14.164,183 0.38
9018 Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary
sciences, including scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatusand sight-testing instruments.161,400 0.37
9609 Pencils (other than pencils of heading No. 96.08), crayons, pencil leads,
pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks and tailors' chalks.147,412 0.34
2203 Beer made from malt. 145,596 0.34
1902 Pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed (with meat or other substances) or
otherwise prepared, such as spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, lasagne, gnocchi,ravioli, cannelloni; couscous, whether or not prepared.142,080 0.33
6802 Worked monumental or building stone (except slate) and articles thereof, other
than goods of heading No. 68.01; mosaic cubes and the like, of natural stone
(including slate), whether or not on a backing; artificially coloured granules,
chippings and powder, of natural stone (including slate).140,906 0.33
4016 Other articles of vulcanised rubber other than hard rubber. 136,808 0.32
7308 Structures (excluding prefabricated buildings of heading No. 94.06) and parts
of structures (for example, bridges and bridge-sections, lock-gates, towers,lattice masts, roofs, roofing frame-works, doors and windows and their framesand thresholds for doors, shutters, balustrades, pillars and columns), of iron orsteel; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for usein structures, of iron or steel.135,090 0.31WT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 9
CN Product Value
(US$)Share in
total
imports
(%)
3920 Other plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, of plastics, non-cellular and not
reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined with other materials.134,716 0.31
7323 Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, of iron or steel;
iron or steel wool; pot scourers and scouring or polishing pads, gloves and the
like, of iron or steel.130,574 0.30
8428 Other lifting, handling, loading or unloading machinery (for example, lifts,
escalators, conveyors, teleferics).129,231 0.30
6115 Panty hose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery, including stockings for
varicose veins and footwear without applied soles, knitted or crocheted.128,781 0.30
5607 Twine, cordage, ropes and cables, whether or not plaited or braided and
whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or sheathed with rubber orplastics.124,634 0.29
7009 Glass mirrors, whether or not framed, including rear-view mirrors. 121,466 0.28
8419 Machinery, plant or laboratory equipment, whether or not electrically heated,
for the treatment of materials by a pro cess involving a change of temperature
such as heating, cooking, roasting, distilling, rectifying, sterilising,pasteurising, steaming, drying, evaporating, vaporising, condensing or
cooling, other than machinery or plant of a kind used for domestic purposes;
instantaneous or storage water heaters, non-electric.119,482 0.28
5105 Wool and fine or coarse animal hair, carded or combed (including combed
wool in fragments).117,412 0.27
5603 Nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated. 116,613 0.27
9027 Instruments and apparatus for physical or chemical analysis (for example,
polarimeters, refractometers, spectrometers, gas or smoke analysis apparatus);instruments and apparatus for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity,expansion, surface tension or the like; instruments and apparatus formeasuring or checking quantities of heat, sound or light (including exposure
meters); microtomes.115,962 0.27
8448 Auxiliary machinery for use with machines of heading No. 84.44, 84.45, 84.46
or 84.47 (for example, dobbies, Jacquards, automatic stop motions, shuttlechanging mechanisms); parts and accessories suitable for use solely orprincipally with the machines of this heading or of heading No. 84.44, 84.45,84.46 or 84.47 (for example, spindles and spindle flyers, card clothing, combs,extruding nipples, shuttles, healds and heald-frames, hosiery needles).115,672 0.27
3002 Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic, prophylactic or
diagnostic uses; antisera and other blood fractions and modified
immunological products, whether or not obtained by means ofbiotechnological processes; vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms(excluding yeasts) and similar products.115,404 0.27
8507 Electric accumulators, including separators therefor, whether or not
rectangular (including square).114,561 0.26
7309 Reservoirs, tanks, vats and similar containers for any material (other than
compressed or liquefied gas), of iron or steel, of a capacity exceeding 300 l,whether or not lined or heat-insulated, but not fitted with mechanical or
thermal equipment.113,805 0.26
8438 Machinery, not specified or included elsewhere in this Chapter, for the
industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink, other than machineryfor the extraction or preparation of anim al or fixed vegetable fats or oils.112,909 0.26
9306 Bombs, grenades, torpedoes, mines, missiles and similar munitions of war and
parts thereof; cartridges and other ammunition and projectiles and partsthereof, including shot and cartridge wads.110,958 0.26WT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 10
CN Product Value
(US$)Share in
total
imports
(%)
2201 Waters, including natural or artificial mineral waters and aerated waters, not
containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured; ice and
snow.110,055 0.25
3214 Glaziers' putty, grafting putty, resin cements, caulking compounds and other
mastics; painters' fillings; non-refractory surfacing preparations for fa ēades,
indoor walls, floors, ceilings or the like.109,353 0.25
3207 Prepared pigments, prepared opacifiers and prepared colours, vitrifiable
enamels and glazes, engobes (slips), liquid lustres and similar preparations, ofa kind used in the ceramic, enamelling or glass industry; glass frit and otherglass, in the form of powder, granules or flakes.108,513 0.25
9506 Articles and equipment for general physical exercise, gymnastics, athletics,
other sports (including table- tennis) or outdoor games, not specified or
included elsewhere in this Chapter; swimming pools and paddling pools.107,907 0.25
8422 Dish washing machines; machinery for cleaning or drying bottles or other
containers; machinery for filling, closing, sealing or labelling bottles, cans,
boxes, bags or other containers; machinery for capsuling bottles, jars, tubesand similar containers; other packing or wrapping machinery (including heat-shrink wrapping machinery); machinery for aerating beverages.106,560 0.25
6405 Other footwear. 103,791 0.24
8701 Tractors (other than tractors of heading No. 87.09). 103,391 0.24
Table 2
Latvia's Imports of Products above US$100,000 from the Slovak Republic, in 1998
(Value and percentage shares)
CN Product Value
(US$)Share in
total
imports
(%)
7210 Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more,
clad, plated or coated.5,059,375 40.80
4011 New pneumatic tyres, of rubber. 978,042 7.89
4818 Toilet paper and similar paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres,
of a kind used for household or sanitary purposes, in rolls of a width notexceeding 36 cm, or cut to size or shape; handkerchiefs, cleansing tissues,
towels, tablecloths872,460 7.04
4901 Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in
single sheets.377,073 3.04
7307 Tube or pipe fittings (for example, couplings, elbows, sleeves), of iron or
steel.318,411 2.57
3004 Medicaments (excluding goods of heading No. 30.02, 30.05 or 30.06)
consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses,put up in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale.316,513 2.55
5402 Synthetic filament yarn (other than sewing thread), not put up for retail sale,
including synthetic monofilament of less than 67 decitex.274,948 2.22
2519 Natural magnesium carbonate (magnesite); fused magnesia; dead-burned
(sintered) magnesia, whether or not containing small quantities of other oxidesadded before sintering; other magnesium oxide, whether or not pure.252,840 2.04
9018 Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary 232,907 1.88WT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 11
CN Product Value
(US$)Share in
total
imports
(%)
sciences, including scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus
and sight-testing instruments.
8438 Machinery, not specified or included elsewhere in this Chapter, for the
industrial preparation or manufacture of food or drink, other than machinery
for the extraction or preparation of anim al or fixed vegetable fats or oils.224,827 1.81
8701 Tractors (other than tractors of heading No. 87.09). 219,741 1.77
8482 Ball or roller bearings. 218,769 1.76
7212 Flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of less than 600 mm,
clad, plated or coated.215,331 1.74
7002 Glass in balls (other than microspheres of heading No. 70.18), rods or tubes,
unworked.147,241 1.19
7304 Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, of iron (other than cast iron) or
steel.141,719 1.14
7322 Radiators for central heating, not electrically heated, and parts thereof, of iron
or steel; air heaters and hot air distributors (including distributors which canalso distribute fresh or conditioned air), not electrically heated, incorporating amotor-d129,600 1.05
7308 Structures (excluding prefabricated buildings of heading No. 94.06) and parts
of structures (for example, bridges and bridge-sections, lock-gates, towers,lattice masts, roofs, roofing frame-works, doors and windows and their frames
and thresholds129,408 1.04
1108 Starches; inulin. 112,538 0.91
3808 Insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, anti-sprouting products and
plant-growth regulators, disinfectants and similar products, put up in forms orpackings for retail sale or as preparations or articles (for example, sulphur-treated bands110,562 0.89
Table 3
Czech Republic's Imports of Products above US$100,000 from Latvia, in 1998
(Value and percentage shares)
HS
CodeDescription Value
(US$)Share in
total
imports
(%)
160413  Sardines,sardinella&brislg o sprats prep o presvd,whole o pce ex mincd 582,181 9.81
160415  Mackerel, prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces, but not minced 154,871 2.61
160420  Fish prepared or preserved, except whole or in pieces 322,438 5.44
300490  Medicaments nes, in dosage 139,225 2.35
441214  Plywood, other, with at least one outer ply of non-coniferous wood 683,129 11.52
442190  Wood articles nes 608,128 10.25
701919  Glass fibres, other, of staple fibres 1,499,855 25.28
701959  Glass fibres, other 108,151 1.82
711220  Waste&scrap of platinum,inc met clad w plat ex sweepg contg/o prec met 159,156 2.68
841191  Parts of turbo-jets or turbo-propellers 768,433 12.95WT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 12
Table 4
Slovak Republic's Imports of Products above US$100,000 from Latvia, in 1998
(Value and percentage shares)
HS
CodeDescription Value
(US$)Share in
total
imports
(%)
1604 Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar  substitutes prepared from fish
eggs263,707 7.60
4401 Fuel wood, in logs, in billets, in twigs, in faggots or in similar forms; wood in
chips or particles; sawdust and wood waste and scrap, whether or not
agglomerated in logs, briquettes, pellets or similar forms:308,661 8.89
4407 Wood sawn or chipped lengthwise, sliced or peeled, whether or not planed,
sanded or finger-jointed129,684 3.74
5509 Yarn (other than sewing thread) of synthetic staple fibres, not put up for retail
sale1,277,771 36.80
7019 Glass fibres (including glass wool) and articles thereof (for example, yarn,
woven fabrics)877,330 25.27
8802 Other aircraft (for example, helic opters, aero-planes); spacecraft (including
satellites) and suborbital and spacecraft launch vehicles386,324 11.13
Table 5
Tariff Treatment of Trade under HS Chapters 1-24 between the Parties in 1998
(Value and percentage shares)
With concessions MFN rate HS 1-24 imports
Zero import duties Reduced duties
Value
(US$)Share
in total
imports
(%)Import
value
(US$)Share
in total
HS 1-24
imports
(%)Import
value
(US$)Share
in total
HS 1-24
imports
(%)Import
value
(US$)Share
in total
HS 1-24
imports
(%)
Imports from  Latvia
into:
- Czech Rep. 1,145,000 19 1,115,000 97 0 0 30,000 3
- Slovak Rep. 271,000 7.8 271,000 100 0 0 0 0
Imports into Latvia
from :
- Czech Rep. 4,086,997 9.5 270,721 6.62 300,907 7.36 3,515,369 86.01
- Slovak Rep. 276,561 2.2 205,522 74.31 57,684 20.86 13,355 4.82WT/REG45/4
WT/REG47/4
Page 13
Table 6
Tariff Treatment of Trade in Agricultural Products and Industrial Goods
between the Parties in 1998
(Percentage shares in corresponding total imports)
With concessions MFN rate
Zero import duties Reduced duties
Agricultural
productsIndustrial
goodsAgricultural
productsIndustrial
goodsAgricultural
productsIndustrial
goods
Imports from  Latvia
into:
- Czech Republic 18.3 81.2 0 0 0.5 0
- Slovak Republic 7.8 92.2 0 0 0 0
Imports into Latvia
from :
- Czech Republic 0.64 90.53 0.69 0 8.14 0
- Slovak Republic 1.70 97.70 0.49 0 0.11 0
__________