Partial Scope
Agreement between El Salvador and Cuba (GOODS)
Note
on the meeting of 28 JUNE 2021
Chairman: H.E. Dr.
Muhammad Mujtaba Piracha (Pakistan)
1. The 14th Dedicated
Session on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) was convened in document WTO/AIR/COMTD/RTA/9/Rev.1
of 18 June 2021. Under item D
(IV) of the agenda, the Committee considered the Partial Scope Agreement
between El Salvador and Cuba (Goods) (WT/COMTD/RTA20/N/1, WT/COMTD/RTA20/1,
WT/COMTD/RTA20/2). The present document contains the minutes relating to the
consideration of this agreement.[1]
2. The Chairman said that the Partial Scope
Agreement between El Salvador and Cuba was notified under paragraph 4(a) of the
Enabling Clause on 27 November 2013. It was originally circulated on 29 November
2013 in document WT/COMTD/N/43, and then re-circulated on 16 April 2021 in
document WT/COMTD/RTA20/N/1, in accordance with the new symbols for
notifications and subsequent documentation relating to RTAs agreed to by the
CTD at its 108th Regular Session on 5 April 2019. The
factual presentation – document WT/COMTD/RTA20/1 dated 16 April 2021 – had been
prepared by the Secretariat on its own responsibility, and in full consultation
with the parties. Written questions from Thailand, as well as the replies
received from El Salvador, were circulated in document WT/COMTD/RTA20/2.
The representative of El Salvador said
that Cuba and El Salvador resumed diplomatic relations in 2009, and had rapidly
re-established special ties of friendship, solidarity, cooperation and
complementarity. In terms of commerce, both countries had complementary markets,
and trade had been increasing. In 2011, negotiations began on the signing of a
Partial Scope Economic Complementarity Agreement with a view to strengthening
existing trade relations through the establishment of tariff preferences for
products originating in the parties, and the elimination of non‑tariff
restrictions in bilateral trade, on a predictable, transparent and permanent
basis. The agreement constituted a step towards boosting Latin American
integration, while remaining consistent with the rights and obligations
acquired by both parties within the WTO framework, and with the rights and
obligations of El Salvador as a Member State of the Central American
Integration System (SICA) and its Economic Integration Subsystem. Negotiations
were conducted in three rounds between March and September 2011. The agreement
was signed in San Salvador on 19 September 2011 and entered into
force on 1 August 2012. With this agreement, opportunities for exporting to
Cuba initially opened up for 433 Salvadoran products in sectors such as those
producing plastics; bakery products and biscuits; candies; chocolate; snacks
and beverages, among others. Duty-free access to the Cuban market was granted
for 299 Salvadoran products, including among others prepared or preserved tuna;
food preparations; fertilizers and paper bags. With the deepening of the agreement
in October 2018, preferential tariff treatment was extended to 111 Salvadoran
products. The products benefitting from this arrangement included food
preparations; juices and nectars; rice; roasted coffee and cocoa beans and
preparations thereof; maize for sowing and maize flour; boxes and various
products of plastic; cement; agricultural tools; polypropylene sacks and foods
obtained by the swelling of cereals. The agreement had also made it easier for
Salvadoran importers to import Cuban products such as flowers; fruits and
vegetables; cocoa products; rum; tobacco; ceramics; furniture and white goods.
[1] The general minutes of the CTD's 14th Dedicated Session
on RTAs are contained in document WT/COMTD/RTA/M/14.