article xxiv:6 negotiations

communication from THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

The following communication, dated 3 November 2015, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic.

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In connection with the Accession of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) on 23 December 2014, and in view of ensuring that Members reserve their rights pending the communication to the WTO Secretariat of the agreements reached in the context of Article XXIV:6 (GATT), the Kyrgyz Republic believes that it is desirable to provide for an extension of twelve months, i.e. 9 November 2016.

As a consequence, and in continuation of the Kyrgyz Republic's notification of 16 April 2015 (G/SECRET/38) concerning its accession to the EAEU, the Kyrgyz Republic wishes hereby to inform that it will not assert that WTO Members who have submitted a claim pursuant to Article XXIV:6 of the GATT 1994 are precluded from withdrawing substantially equivalent concessions under Article XXVIII:3 of the GATT 1994 because this withdrawal occurs later than six months after the Kyrgyz Republic's withdrawal of concessions (9 May 2015), provided that the claiming WTO Member withdraws concessions no later than 18 months after the Kyrgyz Republic's modification of concessions.

We should be grateful if you would circulate this communication to Members and place this item on the agenda of the next meeting of the Council for Trade in Goods.

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