article xxiv:6 negotiations

ENLARGEMENT OF THE European Union

COMMUNICATION FROM THE European Union

Addendum

The following communication, dated 15 March 2016, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of the European Union.

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In connection with the enlargement of the European Union on 1 July 2013, 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 EU believes that it is desirable to provide for a further extension of 6 months, i.e. until 1 January 2017.

As a consequence, and in continuation of the EU's notification of 27 March 2013 concerning the accession to the European Union of the Republic of Croatia on 1 July 2013, the European Union wishes hereby to inform that the EU will not assert that WTO Members who have submitted a claim pursuant to Article XXIV:6 of GATT 1994 are precluded from withdrawing substantially equivalent concessions under Article XXVIII:3 of GATT 1994 because this withdrawal occurs later than six months after the EU's withdrawal of concessions, provided that the claiming WTO Member withdraws concessions no later than 42 months after the EU's modification of concessions.

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