RESOLUTION ECO 3/97

MODIFICATION OF RESOLUTION ECO 1/96 "SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE BARRIERS FOR   VITIVINICULTURAL SPIRITS"

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

ON THE PROPOSAL of Commission III « Vitivinicultural economy », after study by the expert group « Study of wine spirits and alcohols of vitivinicultural origin » modifies the title of its Resolution ECO 1/96 and completes it by the following text:

« SUPPRESSION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE BARRIERS FOR SPIRIT BEVERAGES OF VITIVINICULTURAL ORIGIN,

CONSIDERING the necessity of taking into account the bilateral agreement between the United States and the European Union signed at the Ministerial Conference of the W.T.O. in Singapour in December 1996, which aims at abolishing custom duties for spirits by the year 2000 and thus also for the  spirit beverages of vitivinicultural origin,

NOTES that the bilateral agreement between the United States of America and the European Union signed in Singapour in December 1996 aims at abolishing customs duties for the aforementioned products by the year 2000. It constitutes, compared to the Tokyo double zero option, a reduction by four years of the initial period of abolishment, which is in the interest of the Member States of the O.I.V. on this subject and recommends the Member States to adhere to these conditions. »

REMINDER

RESOLUTION ECO 1/96 (Adopted in Cape Town on 15/11/96)

ABOLITION OF OBSTACLES TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF VITIVINICULTURAL SPIRITS

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

ON THE PROPOSAL of the Commission III "Vitivinicultural Economy", after a study by the expert group "Study of Wine Spirits and Alcohols of Vitivinicultural Origin",

CONSIDERING that the missions of the O.I.V., provided for in the Agreement of 29 November 1924 and particularly in its article 1 c), specify that this Office must indicate to the Governments the appropriate measures to ensure the improvement of the conditions of international trade,

ACKNOWLEDGES that the GATT Agreement signed in Marrakesh have concluded to the lowering of the custom duties and their abolition by the year 2004 to facilitate international trade of brandies, marc and wine spirits,

NOTICES that the Agreement on the double zero option concluded in Tokyo, in July 1993, concerning 18 countries, for the aforementioned products, sways in the interest of the Member States of the O.I.V. on this subject,

RECOMMENDS to all Member States of the O.I.V. to join this Agreement.