EU and Thailand agree on a new EU import regime for cooked and salted poultrymeat - Main contents

The European Commission has concluded an agreement with Thailand on a new regime for imports of salted poultrymeat and cooked chicken meat into the EU. The agreement modifies the current bound tariff rate concessions for these two items and foresees the creation of new tariff rate quotas (TRQs), in conformity with the procedure set out by GATT Article XXVIII. Under this procedure, a WTO Member has the right to withdraw a concession provided that compensation is offered to the main trade partners.

"I am very pleased with the outcome of these negotiations, which ensures that our interests are safeguarded while at the same time successfully completing the necessary changes to our bound duties for poultry meat in accordance with WTO rules", said Mariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.

For salted poultry meat, currently subject to a bound tariff rate of 15.4% with no volume restrictions, the new concession will provide for a total ceiling of 264,245 tonnes imported at the same bound rate of 15.4% ad valorem. For quantities above this, the out-of-quota rate will be 1,300€/tonne. The allocation for Thailand will be 92,610 tonnes. For cooked chicken meat, currently subject to a bound tariff rate of 10.9%, the concession will provide for a total tariff quota of 250,953 tonnes imported under a tariff of 8.0% ad valorem. The out-of-quota rate will be 1,024€/tonne. The volume attributed to Thailand will be 160,033 tonnes.

The EU will manage the TRQs on the basis of an import licensing system.

Background

The EC notified to the WTO on 15 June 2006 its intention to modify the concessions contained in the EC Schedule for three poultry lines in accordance with GATT Article XXVIII.

The Commission conducted negotiations with WTO Members having negotiating rights: Brazil, for salted poultrymeat (HS code 0210 99 39), for turkey meat (HS code 1602 31) and for cooked chicken meat (HS code 1602 32 19) and with Thailand, for salted poultrymeat and cooked chicken meat. Negotiations with Brazil were concluded on 26 October 2006 (see IP/06/1487).