OAS
 
 
European Union-Central America Association Agreement
(This Agreement has been marked up by SICE. A PDF version can be found here)
Index  
  Preamble  
Part I

General and Institutional Provisions

 
Title I

Nature and Scope of this Agreement

 
Article 1

Principles

 
Article 2

Objectives

 
Article 3

Scope

 
Title II

Institutional Framework

 
Article 4

Association Council

 
Article 5

Composition and Rules of Procedures

 
Article 6

Decision-Making Powers

 
Article 7

Association Committee

 
Article 8

Sub-Committees

 
Article 9

Association Parliamentary Committee

 
Article 10

Joint Consultative Committee

 
Article 11

Civil Society

 
Part II

Political Dialogue

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Article 12

Objectives

 
Article 13

Areas

 
Article 14

Disarmament

 
Article 15

Weapons of Mass Destruction

 
Article 16

Fight Against Terrorism

 
Article 17

Serious Crimes of International Concern

 
Article 18

Finance for Development

 
Article 19

Migration

 
Article 20

Environment

 
Article 21

Citizen Security

 
Article 22

Good Governance in the Tax Area

 
Article 23

Common Economic-Financial Credit Fund

 
Part III

Cooperation

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Article 24

Objectives

 
Article 25

Principles

 
Article 26

Modalities and Methodology

 
Article 27

Evolutionary Clause

 
Article 28

Statistics Cooperation

 
Title I

Democracy, Human Rights and Good Governance

 
Article 29

Democracy and Human Rights

 
Article 30

Good Governance

 
Article 31

Modernisation of the State and Public Administration, including Decentralisation

 
Article 32

Conflict Prevention and Resolution

 
Article 33

Reinforcement of Institutions and Rule of Law

 
Title II

Justice, Freedom and Security

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Article 34

Personal Data Protection

 
Article 35

Illicit Drugs

 
Article 36

Money Laundering, including the Financing of Terrorism

 
Article 37

Organised Crime and Citizen Security

 
Article 38

The Fight against Corruption

 
Article 39

Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons

 
Article 40

The Fight against Terrorism with full Respect for Human Rights

 
Title III

Social Development and Social Cohesion

 
Article 41

Social Cohesion including the Fight against Poverty, Inualities and Exclusion

 
Article 42

Employment and Social Protection

 
Article 43

Education and Training

 
Article 44

Public Health

 
Article 45

Indigenous Peoples and other Ethnic Groups

 
Article 46

Vulnerable Groups

 
Article 47

Gender

 
Article 48

Youth

 
Title IV Migration Back to top!
Article 49

Migration

 
Title V

Environment, Natural Disasters and Climate Change

 
Article 50

Cooperation on Environment

 
Article 51

Management of Natural Disasters

 
Title VI

Economic and Trade Development

 
Article 52

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in the Field of Competition Policy

 
Article 53

Customs Cooperation and Mutual Assistance

 
Article 54

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Customs and Trade Facilitation

 
Article 55

Cooperation and Technical Assistance onIntellectual Property and Technology Transfer

 
Article 56

Cooperation on Establishment, Trade in Services and Electronic Commerce

 
Article 57

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Technical Barriers to Trade

 
Article 58

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Government Procurement

 
Article 59

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Fisheries and Aquaculture

 
Article 60

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Artisanal Goods

 
Article 61

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Organic Goods

 
Article 62

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Food Safety, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters and Animal Welfare Issues

 
Article 63

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Trade and Sustainable Development

 
Article 64

Industrial Cooperation

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Article 65

Energy (Including Renewable Energy)

 
Article 66

Cooperation on Mining

 
Article 67

Fair and Sustainable Tourism

 
Article 68

Transport Cooperation

 
Article 69

Good Governance in the Tax Area

 
Article 70

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

 
Article 71

Cooperation on Microcredit and Microfinance

 
Title VII

Regional Integration

 
Article 72

Cooperation in the Field of Regional Integration

 
Article 73

Regional Cooperation

 
Title VIII

Culture and Audio-Visual Cooperation

 
Article 74

Culture and Audio-Visual Cooperation

 
Title IX

Knowledge Society

 
Article 75

Information Society

 
Article 76

Scientific and Technological Cooperation

 
Part IV

Trade

 
Title I

Initial Provisions

 
Article 77

Establishment of a Free Trade Area and Relation to the WTO Agreement

 
Article 78

Objectives

 
Article 79

Definitions of General Application

 
Title II

Trade In Goods

 
Chapter I

National Treatment and Market Access for Goods

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Section A

General Provisions

 
Article 80

Objective

 
Article 81

Scope

 
Section B

Elimination of Customs Duties

 
Article 82

Classification of Goods

 
Article 83

Elimination of Customs Duties

 
Article 84

Standstill

 
Section C

Non-Tariff Measures

 
Article 85

National Treatment

 
Article 86

Import and Export Restrictions

 
Article 87

Fees and Other Charges on Imports and Exports

 
Article 88

Duties or Taxes on Exports

 
Section D

Agriculture

 
Article 89

Agricultural Export Subsidies

 
Section E

Fisheries, Aquaculture, Artisanal Goods and Organic Products

 
Article 90

Technical Cooperation

 
Section F

Institutional Provisions

 
Article 91

Sub-Committee on Market Access for Goods

 
Chapter 2

Trade Remedies

 
Section A

Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures

 
Article 92

General Provisions

 
Article 93

Transparency and Legal Certainty

 
Article 94

Consideration of Public Interest

 
Article 95

Lesser Duty Rule

 
Article 96

Causal Link

 
Article 97

Cumulative Assessment

 
Article 98

Exclusion from Dispute Settlement Procedures

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Section B

Safeguard Measures

 
Sub-Section B.1 General Provisions  
Article 99

Administration of Safeguard Proceedings

 
Article 100

Non Cumulation

 
Sub-Section B.2

Multilateral Safeguard Measures

 
Article 101

General Provisions

 
Article 102

Transparency

 
Article 103

Exclusion from Dispute Settlement Procedures

 
Sub-Section B.3

Bilateral Safeguard Measures

 
Article 104

Application of a Bilateral Safeguard Measure

 
Article 105

Conditions and Limitations

 
Article 106

Provisional Measures

 
Article 107

Compensation and Suspension of Concessions

 
Article 108

Time Lapse in between Two Measures

 
Article 109

Outermost Regions

 
Sub-Section B.4

Procedural Rules Applicable to Bilateral Safeguard Measures

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Article 110

Applicable Law

 
Article 111

Initiation of a Proceeding

 
Article 112

Investigation

 
Article 113

Evidence of Injury and Causal Link

 
Article 114

Hearings

 
Article 115

Confidential Information

 
Article 116

Notifications and Publications

 
Chapter 3

Customs and Trade Facilitation

 
Article 117

Objectives

 
Article 118

Customs and Trade-Related Procedures

 
Article 119

Transit Movements

 
Article 120

Relations with the Business Community

 
Article 121

Customs Valuation

 
Article 122

Risk Management

 
Article 123

Sub-Committee on Customs, Trade Facilitation and Rules of Origin

 
Article 124

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Customs and Trade Facilitation

 
Chapter 4

Technical Barriers to Trade

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Article 125

Objectives

 
Article 126

General Provisions

 
Article 127

Scope and Coverage

 
Article 128

Definitions

 
Article 129

Technical Regulations

 
Article 130

Standards

 
Article 131

Conformity Assessment and Accreditation

 
Article 132

Special and Differential Treatment

 
Article 133

Cooperation and Technical Assistance

 
Article 134

Collaboration and Regional Integration

 
Article 135

Transparency and Notification Procedures

 
Article 136

Market Surveillance

 
Article 137

Fees

 
Article 138

Marking and Labelling

 
Article 139

Sub-Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade

 
Chapter 5

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

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Article 140

Objectives

 
Article 141

Multilateral Rights and Obligations

 
Article 142

Scope

 
Article 143

Definitions

 
Article 144

Competent Authorities

 
Article 145

General Principles

 
Article 146

Import Requirements

 
Article 147

Trade Facilitation

 
Article 148

Verifications

 
Article 149

Measures Linked to Animal and Plant Health

 
Article 150

Equivalence

 
Article 151

Transparency and Exchange of Information

 
Article 152

Notification and Consultation

 
Article 153

Emergency Measures

 
Article 154

Cooperation and Technical Assistance

 
Article 155

Special and Differential Treatment

 
Article 156

Sub-Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters

 
Article 157

Dispute Settlement

 
Chapter 6 Exceptions Related to Goods  
Article 158

General Exceptions

 
Title III

Establishment, Trade In Services and Electronic Commerce

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Chapter 1

General Provisions

 
Article 159

Objective, Scope and Coverage

 
Article 160

Definitions

 
Article 161

Cooperation on Establishment, Trade in Services and E-Commerce

 
Chapter 2 Establishment  
Article 162

Definitions

 
Article 163

Coverage

 
Article 164

Market Access

 
Article 165

National Treatment

 
Article 166

Lists of Commitments

 
Article 167

Other Agreements

 
Article 168

Review

 
Chapter 3

Cross-Border Supply of Services

 
Article 169

Coverage and Definitions

 
Article 170

Market Access

 
Article 171

National Treatment

 
Article 172

Lists of Commitments

 
Chapter 4

Temporary Presence Of Natural Persons For Business Purposes

 
Article 173

Coverage and Definitions

 
Article 174

Key Personnel and Graduate Trainees

 
Article 175

Business Services Sellers

 
Article 176

Contractual Services Suppliers and Independent Professionals

 
Chapter 5

Regulatory Framework

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Section A

Provisions of General Application

 
Article 177

Mutual Recognition

 
Article 178

Transparency and Disclosure of Confidential Information

 
Article 179

Procedures

 
Section B

Computer Services

 
Article 180

Understanding on Computer Services

 
Section C

Courier Services

 
Article 181

Scope and definitions

 
Article 182

Prevention of Anti-Competitive Practices in the Courier Sector

 
Article 183

Licences

 
Article 184

Independence of the Regulatory Bodies

 
Section D

Telecommunications Services

 
Article 185

Definitions and Scope

 
Article 186

Regulatory Authority

 
Article 187

Authorisation to Provide Telecommunications Services

 
Article 188

Competitive Safeguards on Major Suppliers

 
Article 189

Interconnection

 
Article 190

Scarce Resources

 
Article 191

Universal Service

 
Article 192

Confidentiality of Information

 
Article 193

Disputes between Suppliers

 
Section E

Financial Services

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Article 194

Scope and Definitions

 
Article 195

Prudential Carve-Out

 
Article 196

Effective and Transparent Regulation

 
Article 197

New Financial Services

 
Article 198

Data Processing

 
Article 199

Specific Exceptions

 
Section F

International Maritime Transport Services

 
Article 200

Scope, Definitions and Principles

 
Chapter 6

Electronic Commerce

 
Article 201

Objective and Principles

 
Article 202

Regulatory Aspects of E-Commerce

 
Chapter 7

Exceptions

 
Article 203

General Exceptions

 
Title IV

Current Payments and Capital Movements

 
Article 204

Objective and Scope

 
Article 205

Current Account

 
Article 206

Capital Account

 
Article 207

Safeguard Measures

 
Article 208

Final Provisions

 
Title V

Government Procurement

 
Article 209

Introduction

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Article 210

Scope and Coverage

 
Article 211

General Principles

 
Article 212

Publication of Procurement Information

 
Article 213

Publication of Notices

 
Article 214

Conditions for Participation

 
Article 215

Qualification or Registration of Suppliers

 
Article 216

Technical Specifications

 
Article 217

Tender Documentation

 
Article 218

Time Periods

 
Article 219

Negotiations

 
Article 220

The Use of Limited Tendering or other equivalent Tendering Procedures

 
Article 221

Electronic Auctions

 
Article 222

Treatment of Tenders and Award of Contracts

 
Article 223

Transparency of Procurement Information

 
Article 224

Disclosure of Information

 
Article 225

Domestic Review Procedures

 
Article 226

Modifications and Rectifications of Coverage

 
Article 227

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Government Procurement

 
Title VI

Intellectual Property

 
Chapter 1

Objectives and Principles

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Article 228

Objectives

 
Article 229

Nature and Scope of Obligations

 
Article 230

Most Favoured Nation and National Treatment

 
Article 231

Transfer of Technology

 
Article 232

Exhaustion

 
Chapter 2

Standards Concerning Intellectual Property Rights

 
Section A

Copyright and Related Rights

 
Article 233

Protection Granted

 
Article 234

Duration of Authors' Rights

 
Article 235

Duration of Related Rights

 
Article 236

Collective Management of Rights

 
Article 237

Broadcasting and Communication to the Public

 
Section B

Trademarks

 
Article 238

International Agreements

 
Article 239

Registration Procedure

 
Article 240

Well-Known Trademarks

 
Article 241

Exceptions to the Rights Conferred by a Trademark

 
Section C

Geographical Indications

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Article 242

General Provisions

 
Article 243

Scope and Coverage

 
Article 244

System of Protection

 
Article 245

Established Geographical Indications

 
Article 246

Protection Granted

 
Article 247

Addition of New Geographical Indications

 
Article 248

Relationship between Geographical Indications and Trademarks

 
Article 249

Right of Use of Geographical Indications

 
Article 250

Dispute Settlement

 
Section D

Industrial Designs

 
Article 251

International Agreements

 
Article 252

Requirements for Protection

 
Article 253

Exceptions

 
Article 254

Rights Conferred

 
Article 255

Term of Protection

 
Article 256

Invalidity or Refusal of Registration

 
Article 257

Relationship to Copyright

 
Section E

Patents

 
Article 258

International Agreements

 
Section F

Plant Varieties

 
Article 259

Plant Varieties

 
Chapter 3

Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights

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Article 260

General Obligations

 
Article 261

Entitled Applicants

 
Article 262

Evidence

 
Article 263

Measures for preserving Evidence

 
Article 264

Right of Information

 
Article 265

Provisional and Precautionary Measures

 
Article 266

Corrective Measures

 
Article 267

Damages

 
Article 268

Legal Costs

 
Article 269

Publication of Judicial Decisions

 
Article 270

Presumption of Ownership

 
Article 271

Criminal Sanctions

 
Article 272

Limitations on Liability for Service Providers

 
Article 273

Border Measures

 
Chapter 4

Institutional Provisions

 
Article 274

Sub-Committee on Intellectual Property

 
Article 275

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Intellectual Property

 
Article 276

Final Provisions

 
Title VII

Trade and Competition

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Article 277

Definitions

 
Article 278

Principles

 
Article 279

Implementation

 
Article 280

Public Enterprises and Enterprises Entrusted with Special or Exclusive Rights including Designated Monopolies

 
Article 281

Exchange of Non Confidential Information and Enforcement Cooperation

 
Article 282

Cooperation and Technical Assistance

 
Article 283

Dispute Settlement

 
Title VIII

Trade and Sustainable Development

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Article 284

Context and Objectives

 
Article 285

Right to Regulate and Levels of Protection

 
Article 286

Multilateral Labour Standards and Agreements

 
Article 287

Multilateral Environmental Standards and Agreements

 
Article 288

Trade Favouring Sustainable Development

 
Article 289

Trade in Forest Products

 
Article 290

Trade in Fish Products

 
Article 291

Upholding Levels of Protection

 
Article 292

Scientific Information

 
Article 293

Sustainability Review

 
Article 294

Institutional and Monitoring Mechanism

 
Article 295

Civil Society Dialogue Forum

 
Article 296

Government Consultations

 
Article 297

Composition of the Panel of Experts

 
Article 298

Rules of Procedure

 
Article 299

Initial Report

 
Article 301

Final Report

 
Article 302

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Trade and Sustainable Development

 
Title IX

Regional Economic Integration

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Article 303

General Provisions

 
Article 304

Customs Procedures

 
Article 305

Technical Barriers to Trade

 
Article 306

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

 
Article 307

Implementation

 
Title X

Dispute Settlement

 
Chapter 1

Objective and Scope

 
Article 308

Objective

 
Article 309

Scope

 
Chapter 2

Consultations

 
Article 310

Consultations

 
Chapter 3

Dispute Settlement Procedures

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Section A

Panel Procedure

 
Article 311

Initiation of the Panel Procedure

 
Article 312

Establishment of the Panel

 
Article 313

Panel Ruling

 
Section B Compliance  
Article 314

Compliance with the Panel Ruling

 
Article 315

The Reasonable Period of Time for Compliance

 
Article 316

Review of any Measure taken to Comply with the Panel Ruling

 
Article 317

Temporary Remedies in case of Non-Compliance

 
Article 318

Review of any Measure taken to Comply After the Suspension of Obligations

 
Section C

Common Provisions

 
Article 319

Rules of Procedure

 
Article 320

Information and Technical Advice

 
Article 321

Amicus Curiae

 
Article 322

Rules and Principles of Interpretation

 
Article 323

Common Provisions regarding the Panel Rulings

 
Chapter 4

General Povisions

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Article 324

Mutually Satisfactory Solution

 
Article 325

List of Panelists

 
Article 326

Relation with WTO Obligations

 
Article 327

Time Periods

 
Article 328

Adoption and Modification of the Rules of Procedure and the Code of Conduct

 
Title XI

Mediation Mechanism for Non-Tariff Measures

 
Chapter 1

Scope

 
Article 329 Scope  
Chapter 2

Procedure Under The Mediation Mechanism

 
Article 330

Initiation of the Procedure

 
Article 331

Selection of the Mediator

 
Article 332

Rules of the Mediation Procedure

 
Chapter 3

Implementation

 
Article 333

Implementation of a Mutually Agreed Solution

 
Chapter 4

General Provisions

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Article 334

Relationship to Title X on Dispute Settlement

 
Article 335

Time Periods

 
Article 336

Confidentiality of Information

 
Article 337

Costs

 
Title XII

Transparency and Administrative Procedures

 
Article 338

Cooperation on Increased Transparency

 
Article 339

Publication

 
Article 340

Contact Points and Exchange of Information

 
Article 341

Administrative Proceedings

 
Article 342

Review and Appeal

 
Article 343

Specific Rules

 
Article 344

Transparency in Subsidies

 
Tittle XIII

Specific Tasks in Trade Matters of the Bodies Established under this Agreement

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Article 345

Specific Tasks of the Association Council

 
Article 346

Specific Tasks of the Association Committee

 
Article 347

Coordinators of Part IV of this Agreement

 
Article 348

Sub-Committees

 
Title XIV

Exceptions

 
Article 349

Balance of Payments

 
Article 350

Taxation

 
Article 351

Regional Preference

 
Part V

Final Provisions

 
Article 352

Definition of the parties

 
Article 353

Entry into force

 
Article 354

Duration

 
Article 355

Fulfilment of the obligations

 
Article 356

Rights and obligations under this Agreement

 
Article 357

Exceptions

 
Article 358

Future developments

 
Article 359

Accession of new members

 
Article 360

Territorial application

 
Article 361

Reservations and interpretative declarations

 
Article 362

Annexes, appendices, protocols and notes, footnotes and joint declarations

 
Article 363

Authentic texts

 
     
Annexes    Back to top!
Annex I

Elimination of Customs Duties PDF:

 
 

Appendix 1: Import Tariff Rate Quotas of the Republics of the CA PartyPDF

 
 

Appendix 2: Import Tariff Rate Quotas of the EU PartyPDF

 
 

Appendix 3: Special Treatment on BananasPDF

 
 

EU's schedulePDF

 
 

Central America' schedulePDF

 
  Panama's schedulePDF  
Annex II

Concerning the definition of the concept of “originating products” and methods of administrative co-operationPDF:

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Appendix 1: Introductory notes to Annex IIPDF

 
 

Appendix 2: List of working or processing required to be carried out on non-originating aterials in order that the product manufactured can obtain originating statusPDF

 
 

Appendix 2 A: Addendum to the list of working and processing required to be carried out on non-originating materials in order that the product manufactured can obtain originating statusPDF

 
 

Appendix 3: Specimens of movement certificate EUR.1 and application for a movement certificate EUR.1PDF

 
 

Appendix 4: Invoice declarationPDF

 
 

Appendix 5: Period of time for the presentation of an invoice declaration or reimbursement of tariffs in accordance with Articles 19, paragraph 6 and 21, paragraph 4 of Annex II, concerning the definition of the concept of “originating products” and methods of administrative co-operationPDF

 
 

Appendix 6: Amounts referred to in Articles 19, paragraph 1 (b) and 24, paragraph 3 of Annex II, concerning the Definition of the Concept of “Originating Products” and ethods of Administrative Co-operationPDF

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Annex III

Mutual Administrative Assistance in Customs MattersPDF

 
Annex IV

Special Provisions on Administrative Co-operationPDF

 
Annex V

Management of Administrative ErrorsPDF

 
Annex VI

Competent Authorities (SPS) PDF

 
Annex VII

Requirements and provisions for approval of establishments for products of animal origin (SPS) PDF

 
Annex VIII

Guidelines for conducting verifications (SPS) PDF

 
Annex IX

Contact Points and Web-Sites (SPS) PDF

 
Annex X

Lists of Commitments on EstablishmentPDF

 
Annex XI

Lists of Commitments on Cross-Border Supply of ServicesPDF

 
Annex XII

Reservations on Key Personnel and Graduate Trainees of the EU PartyPDF

 
Annex XIII

Lists of Commitments of the Republics of the CA Party on Key Personnel and Graduate TraineesPDF

 
Annex XIV

Lists of Commitments of the Republics of the CA Party on Business Service SellersPDF

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Annex XV

Enquiry PointsPDF

 
Annex XVI

Government ProcurementPDF

 
Annex XVII

List of names to be applied for protection as geographical indications in the territory of the PartiesPDF

 
Annex XVIII

Protected geographical indicationsPDF

 
Annex XIX

List of products referred to in paragraph 4 of Article 306PDF

 
Annex XX

List of Central American Technical Regulations (RTCA) in the process of harmonisationPDF

 
Annex XXI Sub-Committees PDF  
     
Joint DeclarationsPDF  
  Joint Declaration of Costa Rica and the European Union to Chapter 1 of Title II (Trade in Goods) of the Agreement  
  Joint Declaration on Article 88 of Chapter 1 of Title II (Trade in Goods)  
  Joint Declaration concerning the Principality of Andorra  
  Joint Declaration concerning the Republic of San Marino  
  Joint Declaration concerning derogations  
  Joint Declaration concerning the revision of the rules of origin contained in Annex II (Concerning the Definition of the Concept of “Originating Products” and Methods of Administrative Co-operation)  
  Joint Declaration concerning the revision of the rules of origin applicable to products of Chapters 61 and 62 of the Harmonized System  
  Joint Declaration concerning temporal use of additional non-originating materials for products of Chapters 61 and 62 of the Harmonized System  
  Declaration of the EU Party on Data Protection of Certain Regulated Products  
  Joint Declaration Names that have been applied for registration as geographical indications in a Republic of a CA Party  
  Joint Declaration on Turkey  
  El Salvador´s Unilateral Declaration on article 290 “Trade in Fish Products” of Title VIII (Trade and Sustainable Development) of Part IV of this Agreement  
     
Protocol on Cultural Cooperation PDF  
     
Full Text of the Agreement PDF  
Source: European Commission Offsite link!  
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About the Agreement
  Signature
  29 June 2012
  Entry into Force
  Costa Rica
  Provisional application:
01 October 2013
  El Salvador
  Provisional application:
01 October 2013
  Guatemala
  Provisional application:
01 December 2013
  Honduras
  Provisional application:
01 August 2013
  Nicaragua
  Provisional application:
01 August 2013
  Panama
  Provisional application:
01 August 2013
Trade Policy Developments
   Related information Related information

Topics Covered in the Agreement