. /.  
 WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/REG133/4 
6 December 2004 
 
 (04-5355) 
Committee on Regional Trade Agreements Original:   English 
  
 
FREE TRADE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EFTA STATES AND JORDAN 
 
Questions and Replies
 
  The following communication, dated 30 November 2004, is being circulated at the request of 
the Delegations of the EFTA States  (Iceland, Li echtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) and Jordan. 
  This document reproduces the questions addressed  to the Parties and the responses submitted. 
The questions and replies set out below are or ganized in accordance with document WT/REG133/3. 
 
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I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF THE AGREEMENT 
4. Trade Data 1. The table found on page 12-13 of the Standard Format report showing trade coverage 
under the agreement is an interesting presentation.  Please provide further clarification on the 
following points: 
- The bottom line of the table indicates that under the terms of the agreement, 34 
percent of the trade flows in 2002 would enter duty-free, 61 percent would enter at reduced duty and 5 percent would enter without concessions. 
- Do these percentages reflect fully phased in concessions under the terms of this 
agreement, or is this a snapshot of what  the initial terms of the agreement are? 
 The percentages on the bottom line of the trad e coverage table page 12-13 of the standard 
format for information (WT/REG133/3), show that at the entry into force of the EFTA-Jordan FTA, 
and on the basis of 2002 trade figures, 34% of bilate ral EFTA-Jordan trade entered duty free, 61% at a 
reduced duty and 5% with no concessions. The Ag reement foresees that customs duties on trade 
entering at reduced rates will be gradually disman tled: customs duties on 83% of this trade will be 
reduced to zero after 4 years while the remaining tr ade is subject to a 12 year dismantling period.  
95% of bilateral EFTA-Jordan trade will enter duty free at the end of the 12-year dismantling period. 
  
- How many lines are duty free at entry in to force and how many lines will be duty 
free at the end of the agreement’s staging , e.g. when the full extent of the 
concessions are phased in at the end of the 12-year dismantling period?  
 The Parties have submitted, in the standa rd format for information (WT/REG133/3), a 
comprehensive overview of the trade coverage of  the Agreement and the bilateral agricultural 
agreements. As already mentioned, the overview shows the total trade between the EFTA States and WT/REG133/4 
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Jordan. For each chapter of the Harmonized System , it also indicates the amount and the proportion of 
the trade that would enter duty-free, w ith reduced duties and without concessions. 
 
II. TRADE PROVISIONS 
8. Sector-Specific Provisions 
8.1 Agriculture 
 
2. What chapters in the agricultural tariff sche dule are covered by each of the bilateral 
agricultural protocols and what percent of the tariff line coverage is duty-free? 
 Each of the three bilateral protocols contains, as Annex I thereto, a list of products for which 
the respective EFTA State grants preferential treatme nt when originating in Jordan. The protocols 
between Jordan and both Norway and Switzerland c ontain, as Annex II, the list of products for which 
Jordan grants preferential treatment wh en originating in these EFTA States.  
  
 
3. Why is there no bilateral agricultural pr otocol between Liechtenstein and Jordan? 
 Switzerland and Liechtenstein form a custom s union under their Customs Union Treaty of 29 
March 1923. It is stated in the bilateral agricultu ral arrangement between Switzerland and Jordan that 
the arrangement shall likewise apply to Liechtenstein as long this Treaty remains in force.  Therefore, 
the bilateral arrangement between Switzer-land and Jordan likewise applies to trade between 
Liechtenstein and Jordan. 
  
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