Textile Protocol between Uzbekistan and the EU enter into force
This month the textile protocol between Uzbekistan the European Union enter into force. This process was conducted by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Brussels.
Timeline of the process:
On 14 December 2016 the European Parliament during plenary in Strasbourg (France) by an overwhelming majority had given its consent to the legislative resolution to conclude the Protocol the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Uzbekistan and the EU amending the PCA in order to extend the provisions of the Agreement to bilateral trade in textiles, which was signed on 7 April 2011 (Textile Protocol).
During the event, the Standing rapporteur on Uzbekistan in the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament Maria Arena noted that the approval of this document by the EP will positively affect the trade relations between the EU and Uzbekistan.
EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström noted that the endorsement of the Textile Protocol will facilitate the trade in textiles between the EU and Uzbekistan. “It is in the interest of the EU Member states to conclude such a protocol with Uzbekistan. The European Commission is ready to support Uzbekistan’s economic diversification efforts via EU development cooperation assistance programme to Uzbekistan, in which rural development is a focal sector.”
On 21 March 2017 the Council of the European Union based on the positive decision by Council’s Trade Policy Committee on Steel, Textiles and other Industrial Sectors (STIS) and the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the EU Member States to the European Union (COREPER II) without further discussion adopted the final decision on approval of the Textile Protocol.
On 31 March 2017 the General Secretariat of the EU Council officially notified the Uzbek side on the completion by the EU of the internal procedures necessary for the entry of the Protocol into force.
On 31 March 2017 the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis adopted the the law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the ratification of the Protocol the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Uzbekistan and the EU amending the PCA in order to extend the provisions of the Agreement to bilateral trade in textiles (Tashkent, 7 April 2011).
On 1 June the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev has signed the Law Ratifying the Textile Protocol which confirms final completion by the Uzbek side of the internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the specified document.
The entry into force of this document will increase the bilateral trade in textiles on the basis of:
- introduction the most favoured nation treatment on a reciprocal basis with regard to transit, commodity warehouses, customs duties, payments, taxes and other internal charges applicable to imported Uzbek textile products;
- removal of quantitative restrictions with respect to the trade in textiles.
