OAS

 

AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND
THE GOVERNMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
FREE TRADE AREA

Index > Chapters 1-9 > 10-21 ]

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain (the “Parties”),

Recognizing the strong bonds of friendship between them and wishing to strengthen their economic relations;

Recognizing that open and competitive markets are key drivers of economic efficiency, innovation, and growth;

Desiring to create new employment opportunities and raise the standard of living for their citizens by liberalizing and expanding trade between them;

Desiring to enhance the competitiveness of their enterprises in global markets;

Desiring to establish clear and mutually advantageous rules governing their trade, complementing the high standards for protection of investment established by the Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Bahrain Concerning the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment;

Building on their rights and obligations under the WTO Agreement and other agreements to which they are both parties;

Affirming their commitment to transparency and their desire to eliminate bribery and corruption in international trade and investment;

Desiring to foster creativity and innovation, improve technology, and enhance the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights;

Desiring to protect, enhance, and enforce basic workers’ rights and to strengthen the development and enforcement of labor laws and policies;

Desiring to strengthen the development and enforcement of environmental laws and policies, promote sustainable development, and implement this Agreement in a manner consistent with the objectives of environmental protection and conservation;

Affirming their desire to establish an expanded free trade area in the Middle East and thereby contribute to economic liberalization and development in the region;

Have agreed as follows:

CHAPTER ONE
INITIAL PROVISIONS AND DEFINITIONS

Section A: Initial Provisions

ARTICLE 1.1: ESTABLISHMENT OF A FREE TRADE AREA

Consistent with Article XXIV of GATT 1994 and Article V of GATS, the Parties hereby establish a free trade area in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 1.2: RELATION TO OTHER AGREEMENTS

1. Each Party affirms its existing rights and obligations with respect to each other under existing bilateral and multilateral agreements to which both Parties are party, including the WTO Agreement.

2. This Agreement shall not be construed to derogate from any legal obligation between the Parties that entitles goods or services, or suppliers of goods or services, to treatment more favorable than that accorded by this Agreement.

Section B: General Definitions

ARTICLE 1.3: DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified:

Agreement on Textiles and Clothing means the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement;

Bahrain means the Kingdom of Bahrain;

BIT investment means “covered investment” as defined in Article 1(e) of the Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Bahrain Concerning the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, signed at Washington on September 29, 1999;

central level of government means:

(a) for Bahrain, the government of Bahrain; and

(b) for the United States, the federal level of government;

customs duties includes any customs or import duty and a charge of any kind imposed in connection with the importation of a good, including any form of surtax or surcharge in connection with such importation, but does not include any:

(a) charge equivalent to an internal tax imposed consistently with Article III:2 of the GATT 1994, in respect of like, directly competitive or substitutable goods of the Party, or in respect of goods from which the imported good has been manufactured or produced in whole or in part;

(b) antidumping or countervailing duty that is applied pursuant to a Party’s domestic law; and

(c) fee or other charge in connection with importation commensurate with the cost of services rendered;

Customs Valuation Agreement means the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 199 4, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement;

days means calendar days as reckoned according to the Gregorian calendar;

enterprise means any entity constituted or organized under applicable law, whether or not for profit, and whether privately owned or governmentally owned, including any corporation, trust, partnership, sole proprietorship, joint venture, or other association;

enterprise of a Party means an enterprise constituted or organized under the law of a Party;

existing means, with respect to a measure, in effect on the date of entry into force of this Agreement;

GATS means the General Agreement on Trade in Service s, contained in Annex 1B to the WTO Agreement;

GATT 1994 means the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 199 4, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement;

goods of a Party means domestic products as these are understood in GATT 1994 or such goods as the Parties may agree, and includes originating goods of that Party;

Harmonized System (HS) means the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, including its General Rules of Interpretation, Section Notes, and Chapter Notes, as adopted and implemented by the Parties in their respective tariff laws;

measure includes any law, regulation, procedure, order, requirement, or practice;

national means:

(a) with respect to Bahrain, any individual possessing Bahraini citizenship in accordance with the laws in force in Bahrain; and

(b) with respect to the United States, “national of the United States” as defined in Title III of the Immigration and Nationality Act;

originating good means a good qualifying under the rules of origin set out in Chapter Four (Rules of Origin) or Chapter Three (Textiles and Apparel);

person means a natural person or enterprise;

person of a Party means a national or an enterprise of a Party;

preferential tariff treatment means the duty rate applicable under this Agreement to an originating good;

procurement means the process by which a government obtains the use of or acquires goods or services, or any combination thereof, for governmental purposes and not with a view to commercial sale or resale, or use in the production or supply of goods or services for commercial sale or resale;

regional level of government means:

(a) for Bahrain, “regional level of government” is not applicable; and

(b) for the United States, a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico;

Safeguards Agreement means the Agreement on Safeguard s, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement;

SPS Agreement means the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measure s, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement;

state enterprise means an enterprise owned, or controlled through ownership interests, by a Party;

TBT Agreement means the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement;

territory means:

(a) with respect to Bahrain, the territory of Bahrain as well as the maritime areas, seabed, and subsoil over which Bahrain exercises, in accordance with international law, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction;

(b) with respect to the United States,

(i) the customs territory of the United States which includes the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico;

(ii) the foreign trade zones located in the United States and Puerto Rico; and

(iii) any areas beyond the territorial seas of the United States within which, in accordance with international law and its domestic law, the United States may exercise rights with respect to the seabed and subsoil and their natural resources;

TRIPS Agreement means the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Right s, contained in Annex 1C to the WTO Agreement;

WTO means the World Trade Organization; and

WTO Agreement means the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, done on April 15, 1994.

CHAPTER TWO
NATIONAL TREATMENT AND MARKET ACCESS FOR GOODS

ARTICLE 2.1: SCOPE AND COVERAGE

Except as otherwise provided, this Chapter applies to trade in goods of a Party.

Section A: National Treatment

ARTICLE 2.2: NATIONAL TREATMENT

1. Each Party shall accord national treatment to the goods of the other Party in accordance with Article III of GATT 1994, including its interpretive notes, and to this end Article III of GATT 1994 and its interpretative notes are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.

2. The treatment to be accorded by a Party under paragraph 1 means, with respect to a regional level of government, treatment no less favorable than the most favorable treatment that regional level government accords to any like, directly competitive, or substitutable goods, as the case may be, of the Party of which it forms a part.

3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the measures set out in Annex 2-A.

Section B: Tariff Elimination

ARTICLE 2.3: TARIFF ELIMINATION

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither Party may increase any existing customs duty, or adopt any new customs duty, on an originating good.

2. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, each Party shall progressively eliminate its customs duties on originating goods, in accordance with its Schedule to Annex 2-B.

3. On the request of either Party, the Parties shall consult to consider accelerating the elimination of customs duties set out in their Schedules to Annex 2-B. An agreement by the Parties to accelerate the elimination of a customs duty on a good shall supercede any duty rate or staging category determined pursuant to their Schedules to Annex 2-B for that good when approved by each Party in accordance with its applicable legal procedures.

4. For greater certainty, a Party may:

(a) raise a customs duty back to the level established in its Schedule to Annex 2-B following a unilateral reduction; or

(b) maintain or increase a customs duty as authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO.

Section C: Special Regimes

ARTICLE 2.4: WAIVER OF CUSTOMS DUTIES

1. Neither Party may adopt any new waiver of customs duties, or expand with respect to existing recipients or extend to any new recipient the application of an existing waiver of customs duties, where the waiver is conditioned, explicitly or implicitly, on the fulfillment of a performance requirement.

2. Neither Party may, explicitly or implicitly, condition on the fulfillment of a performance requirement the continuation of any existing waiver of customs duties.

ARTICLE 2.5: TEMPORARY ADMISSION OF GOODS

1. Each Party shall grant duty-free temporary admission for:

(a) professional equipment, including equipment for the press or television, software, and broadcasting and cinematographic equipment, necessary for carrying out the business activity, trade, or  profession of a business person who qualifies for temporary entry pursuant to the laws of the importing Party;

(b) goods intended for display or demonstration;

(c) commercial samples and advertising films and recordings; and

(d) goods imported for sports purposes,

regardless of their origin.

2. Each Party shall, at the request of the person concerned and for reasons its customs authority considers valid, extend the time limit for temporary admission beyond the period initially fixed.

3. Neither Party may condition the duty-free temporary admission of a good referred to in paragraph 1, other than to require that the good:

(a) be used solely by or under the personal supervision of a national or resident of the other Party in the exercise of the business activity, trade, profession, or sport of that person;

(b) not be sold or leased while in its territory;

(c) be accompanied by a security in an amount no greater than the charges that would otherwise be owed on entry or final importation, releasable on exportation of the good;

(d) be capable of identification when exported;

(e) be exported on the departure of the person referenced in subparagraph (a), or within such other period related to the purpose of the temporary admission as the Party may establish;

(f) be imported in no greater quantity than is reasonable for its intended use; and

(g) be otherwise admissible into the Party’s territory under its laws.

4. If any condition that a Party imposes under paragraph 3 has not been fulfilled, the Party may apply the customs duty and any other charge that would normally be owed on the good.

5. Each Party, through its customs authority, shall adopt procedures providing for the expeditious release of goods admitted under this Article. To the extent possible, these procedures shall provide that when such goods accompany a national or resident of the other Party who is seeking temporary entry, the good shall be  released simultaneously with the entry of that national or resident.

6. Each Party shall permit a good temporarily admitted under this Article to be exported through a customs port other than that through which it was admitted.

7. Each Party, through its customs authority, shall relieve the importer or other person responsible for a good admitted under this Article from any liability for failure to export the good on destruction of the good in the presence of the Party’s customs authority or presentation of satisfactory proof to its customs authority, in accordance with its law, that the good has been destroyed within the original period fixed for temporary admission or any lawful extension.

8. Subject to Chapter Ten (Cross-Border Trade in Services):

(a) each Party shall allow a container used in international traffic that enters its territory from the territory of the other Party to exit its territory on any route that is reasonably related to the economic and prompt departure of such container;

(b) neither Party may require any bond or impose any penalty or charge solely because of any difference between the port of entry and the port of departure of a container;

(c) neither Party may condition the release of any obligation, including any bond, that it imposes in respect of the entry of a container into its territory on its exit through any particular port of departure; and

(d) neither Party may require that the carrier bringing a container from the territory of the other Party into its territory be the same carrier that takes such container to the territory of the other Party.

ARTICLE 2.6: GOODS RE-ENTERED AFTER REPAIR OR ALTERATION

1. Neither Party may apply a customs duty to a good, regardless of its origin, that re-enters its territory after that good has been exported from its territory to the territory of the other Party for repair or alteration, regardless of whether such repair or alteration could be performed in its territory.

2. Neither Party may apply a customs duty to a good, regardless of its origin, imported temporarily from the territory of the other Party for repair or alteration.

3. For purposes of this Article, repair or alteration means restoration, renovation, cleaning, resterilizing, or other operation or process that does not:

(a) destroy a good’s essential characteristics or create a new or commercially different good; or

(b) transform an unfinished good into a finished good.

ARTICLE 2.7: DUTY-FREE ENTRY OF COMMERCIAL SAMPLES OF NEGLIGIBLE VALUE AND PRINTED ADVERTISING MATERIALS

Each Party shall grant duty-free entry to commercial samples of negligible value, and to printed advertising materials, imported from the territory of the other Party, regardless of their origin, but may require that:

(a) such samples be imported solely for the solicitation of orders for goods, or services provided from the territory, of the other Party or a non-Party; or

(b) such advertising materials be imported in packets that each contain no more than one copy of each such material and that neither such materials nor packets form part of a larger consignment.

Section D: Non-Tariff Measures

ARTICLE 2.8: IMPORT AND EXPORT RESTRICTIONS

1. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, neither Party may adopt or maintain any prohibition or restriction on the importation of any good of the other Party or on the exportation or sale for export of any good destined for the territory of the other Party, except in accordance with Article XI of GATT 1994 and its interpretive notes, and to this end Article XI of GATT 1994 and its interpretive notes are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.1

2. The Parties understand that GATT 1994 rights and obligations incorporated by paragraph 1 prohibit, in any circumstances in which any other form of restriction is prohibited, a Party from adopting or maintaining:

(a) export and import price requirements, except as permitted in enforcement of countervailing and antidumping duty orders and undertakings;

(b) measures conditioning the grant of an import license on the fulfillment of a performance requirement; or

(c) voluntary export restraints inconsistent with Article VI of GATT 1994, as implemented under Article 18 of the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures and Article 8.1 of the WTO  Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of GATT 1994.

3. In the event that a Party adopts or maintains a prohibition or restriction on the importation from or exportation to a non-Party of a good, no provision of this Agreement shall be construed to prevent the Party from:

(a) limiting or prohibiting the importation of the good of the non-Party from the territory of the other Party;

(b) requiring as a condition for exporting the good of the Party to the territory of the other Party, that the good not be re-exported to the non-Party, directly or indirectly, without being consumed in the territory of the other Party.

4. In the event that a Party adopts or maintains a prohibition or restriction on the importation of a good from a non-Party, the Parties, on the request of either Party, shall consult with a view to avoiding undue interference with or distortion of pricing, marketing, and distribution arrangements in the other Party.

5. Paragraphs 1 through 4 shall not apply to the measures set out in Annex 2-A.

ARTICLE 2.9: ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND FORMALITIES

1. Each Party shall ensure, in accordance with Article VIII:1 of GATT 1994 and its interpretive notes, that all fees and charges of whatever character (other than import and export duties, charges equivalent to an internal tax or other internal charges applied consistently with Article III:2 of GATT 1994, and antidumping and countervailing duties applied pursuant to a Party’s law) imposed on, or in connection with, importation or exportation are limited in amount to the approximate cost of services rendered and do not represent an indirect protection to domestic goods or a taxation of imports or exports for fiscal purposes.

2. Neither Party may require consular transactions, including related fees and charges, in connection with the importation of any good of the other Party.

3. Each Party shall make available on the Internet a current list of the fees and  charges it imposes in connection with importation or exportation.

4. The United States shall eliminate its merchandise processing fee on originating goods.

ARTICLE 2.10: EXPORT TAXES

Neither Party may adopt or maintain any tax, duty, or other charge on the export of any good to the territory of other Party, unless the tax, duty, or charge is also adopted or maintained on the good when destined for domestic consumption.

Section E: Agriculture

ARTICLE 2.11: AGRICULTURAL EXPORT SUBSIDIES

1. The Parties share the objective of the multilateral elimination of export subsidies for agricultural goods and shall work together toward an agreement in the WTO to eliminate those subsidies and prevent their reintroduction in any form.

2. Except as provided in paragraph 3, neither Party may introduce or maintain any export subsidy on any agricultural good destined for the territory of the other Party.

3. Where an exporting Party considers that a non-Party is exporting an agricultural good to the territory of the other Party with the benefit of export subsidies, the importing Party shall, on written request of the exporting Party, consult with the exporting Party with a view to agreeing on specific measures that the importing Party may adopt to counter the effect of such subsidized imports. If the importing Party adopts the agreed-on measures, the exporting Party shall refrain from applying any export subsidy to exports of such good to the territory of the importing Party.2

Section F: Definitions

ARTICLE 2.12: DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Chapter:

advertising films and recordings means recorded visual media or audio materials, consisting essentially of images and/or sound, showing the nature or operation of goods or services offered for sale or lease by a person established or resident in the territory of a Party, provided that such materials are of a kind suitable for exhibition to prospective customers but not for broadcast to the general public;

agricultural goods means those goods referred to in Article 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement;

commercial samples of negligible value means commercial samples having a value, individually or in the aggregate as shipped, of not more than one U.S. dollar, or the equivalent amount in Bahrani currency, or so marked, torn, perforated, or otherwise treated that they are unsuitable for sale or use except as commercial samples;

consular transactions means requirements that goods of a Party intended for export to the territory of the other Party must first be submitted to the supervision of the consul of the importing Party in the territory of the exporting Party for the purpose of obtaining consular invoices or consular visas for commercial invoices, certificates of origin, manifests, shippers’ export declarations, or any other customs documentation required on, or in connection with, importation;

consumed means

(a) actually consumed; or

(b) further processed or manufactured so as to result in a substantial change in value, form, or use of the good or in the production of another good;

duty-free means free of customs duty;

export subsidies means “export subsidies” as defined in Article 1(e) of the Agreement on Agriculture, contained in Annex 1A to the WTO Agreement, including any amendment of that article;

goods imported for sports purposes means sports requisites for use in sports contests, demonstrations, or training in the territory of the importing Party;

goods intended for display or demonstration includes their component parts, ancillary apparatus, and accessories;

import license means a license issued by a Party pursuant to an administrative procedure requiring the submission of an application or other documentation (other than that generally required for customs clearance purposes) to the relevant administrative body as a prior condition for importation into the territory of the Party;

performance requirement means a requirement that:

(a) a given level or percentage of goods or services be exported;

(b) domestic goods or services of the Party granting a waiver of customs duties or an import license be substituted for imported goods or services;

(c) a person benefiting from a waiver of customs duties or an import license purchase other goods or services in the territory of the Party granting the waiver of customs duties or the import license, or accord a preference to domestically produced goods;

(d) a person benefiting from a waiver of customs duties or an import license produce goods or supply services in the territory of the Party granting the waiver of customs duties or the import license, with a given level or percentage of domestic content; or

(e) relates in any way the volume or value of imports to the volume or value of exports or to the amount of foreign exchange inflows;

but does not include a requirement that:

(f) an imported good be subsequently exported;

(g) an imported good be used as a material in the production of another good that is subsequently exported;

(h) an imported good be substituted by an identical or similar good used as a material in the production of another good that is subsequently exported; or

(i) an imported good be substituted by an identical or similar good that is subsequently exported; and

printed advertising materials means those goods classified in Chapter 49 of the Harmonized System, including brochures, pamphlets, leaflets, trade catalogues, yearbooks published by trade associations, tourist promotional materials, and posters, that are used to promote, publicize, or advertise a good or service, are essentially intended to advertise a good or service, and are supplied free of charge.

ANNEX 2-A
NATIONAL TREATMENT AND IMPORT AND EXPORT RESTRICTIONS

Section A: Measures of the United States

Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 2.2 and paragraphs 1 through 4 of Article 2.8 shall not apply to:

(a) controls on the export of logs of all species;

(b)

(i) measures under existing provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 192 0, 46 App. U.S.C. § 883; the Passenger Vessel Act, 46 App. U.S.C. §§ 289, 292, and 316; and 46 U.S.C. § 12108, to the extent that such measures were mandatory legislation at the time the United States acceded to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1947 (“GATT 1947”) and have not been amended so as to decrease their conformity with Part II of GATT 1947;

(ii) the continuation or prompt renewal of a non-conforming provision of any statute referred to in clause (i); and

(iii) the amendment to a non-conforming provision of any statute referred to in clause (i) to the extent that the amendment does not decrease the conformity of the provision with Articles 2.2 and 2.8;

(c) actions authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO; and

(d) actions authorized by the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.

Section B: Measures of Bahrain

Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Article 2.2 and paragraphs 1 through 4 of Article 2.8 shall not apply to:

(a) prohibitions on the importation of retreaded tires, for ten years from the effective date of this Agreement; and

(b) actions authorized by the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO.

CHAPTER THREE
TEXTILES AND APPAREL

ARTICLE 3.1: BILATERAL EMERGENCY ACTION

1. If, as a result of the reduction or elimination of a duty under this Agreement, a textile or apparel good benefiting from preferential tariff treatment is being imported into the territory of a Party in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to the domestic market for that good, and under such conditions as to cause serious damage, or actual threat thereof, to a domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive good, the Party may, to the extent and for such time as may be necessary to prevent or remedy such damage and to facilitate adjustment, take emergency action, consisting of an increase in the rate of duty on the good to a level not to exceed the lesser of:

(a) the most-favored-nation (“MFN”) applied rate of duty in effect at the time the action is taken; and

(b) the MFN applied rate of duty in effect on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

2. In determining serious damage, or actual threat thereof, the importing Party:

(a) shall examine the effect of increased imports of the good from the exporting Party on the particular industry, as reflected in changes in such relevant economic variables as output, productivity, utilization of capacity, inventories, market share, exports, wages, employment, domestic prices, profits, and investment, none of which shall necessarily be decisive; and

(b) shall not consider changes in technology or consumer preference as factors supporting a determination of serious damage or actual threat thereof.

3. The importing Party may take an emergency action under this Article only following an investigation by its competent authorities.

4. The importing Party shall deliver to the exporting Party, without delay, written notice of its intent to take emergency action and, on the request of the exporting Party, shall enter into consultations with that Party regarding the matter.

5. An importing Party:

(a) shall not maintain an emergency action for a period exceeding three years;

(b) shall not take or maintain an emergency action against a good beyond ten years after the Party must eliminate customs duties on that good pursuant to this Agreement;

(c) shall not take an emergency action more than once against the same good of the other Party; and

(d) shall, on termination of the emergency action, apply to the good that was subject to the emergency action the rate of duty that would have been in effect but for the action.

6. The importing Party shall provide to the exporting Party mutually agreed  trade liberalizing compensation in the form of concessions having substantially equivalent trade effects or equivalent to the value of the additional duties expected to result from the emergency action. Such concessions shall be limited to textile and apparel goods, unless the Parties agree otherwise. If the Parties are unable to agree on compensation, the exporting Party may suspend tariff concessions under this Agreement having trade effects substantially equivalent to the trade effects of the emergency action. Such tariff action may be taken against any goods of the importing Party. The exporting Party shall apply the tariff action only for the minimum period necessary to achieve the substantially equivalent trade effects. The importing Party’s obligation to provide trade compensation and the exporting Party’s right to take tariff action shall terminate when the emergency action terminates.

7. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit a Party’s right to restrain imports of textile and apparel goods in a manner consistent with the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing or the Safeguards Agreement. However, a Party may not take or maintain an emergency action under this Article against a textile or apparel good that is subject, or becomes subject, to a safeguard measure that a Party takes pursuant to either such agreement.

ARTICLE 3.2: RULES OF ORIGIN AND RELATED MATTERS

Application of Chapter Four

1. Except as provided in this Chapter, including its Annexes, Chapter Four (Rules of Origin) applies to textile and apparel goods.

2. For greater certainty, the rules of origin set forth in this Agreement shall not apply in determining the country of origin of a textile or apparel good for non-preferential purposes.

Consultations

3. On the request of either Party, the Parties shall consult to consider whether the rules of origin applicable to a particular textile or apparel good should be revised to address issues of availability of supply of fibers, yarns, or fabrics in the territories f the Parties. o

4. In the consultations referred to in paragraph 3, each Party shall consider all data presented by the other Party that demonstrate substantial production in its territory of a particular fiber, yarn, or fabric. The Parties shall consider that there is substantial production if a Party demonstrates that its domestic producers are capable of supplying commercial quantities of the fiber, yarn, or fabric in a timely manner.

5. The Parties shall endeavor to conclude consultations within 60 days after delivery of a request. If the Parties agree in the consultations to revise a rule of origin, the agreement shall supersede that rule of origin when approved by the Parties in accordance with Article 21.2 (Amendments).

De Minimis

6. A textile or apparel good that is not an originating good because certain fibers or yarns used in the production of the component of the good that determines the tariff classification of the good do not undergo an applicable change in tariff classification set out in Annex 3-A, shall nonetheless be considered to be an originating good if the total weight of all such fibers or yarns in that component is not more than seven percent of the total weight of that component. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a good containing elastomeric yarns in the component of the good that determines the tariff classification of the good shall be considered to be an originating good only if such yarns are wholly formed in the territory of a Party.

Treatment of Sets

7. Notwithstanding the specific rules of origin set out in Annex 3-A, textile or apparel goods classified under General Rule of Interpretation 3 of the Harmonized System as goods put up in sets for retail sale shall not be regarded as originating goods unless each of the goods in the set is an originating good or the total value of the non-originating goods in the set does not exceed 10 percent of the value of the set determined for purposes of assessing customs duties.

Preferential Tariff Treatment for Certain Non-Originating Textile and Apparel Goods

8. Subject to paragraph 9, each Party shall accord preferential tariff treatment to the following goods, if they meet the applicable conditions for preferential tariff treatment under this Agreement other than the condition that they be originating goods:

(a) cotton or man-made fiber fabric goods provided for in Chapters 52, 54, 55, 58, and 60 of the Harmonized System that are wholly formed in the territory of a Party from yarn produced or obtained outside the territory of a Party;

(b) cotton or man-made fiber fabric goods provided for in Annex 3-B that are wholly formed in the territory of a Party from yarn spun in the territory of a Party from fiber produced or obtained outside the territory of a Party;

(c) cotton or man-made fiber apparel goods provided for in Chapters 61 or 62 of the Harmonized System that are cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of a Party from fabric or yarn produced or obtained outside the territory of a Party; and

(d) cotton or man-made fiber made-up goods provided for in Chapter 63 that are cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of a Party from fabric wholly formed in a Party from yarn produced or obtained outside the territory of a Party.

9. The treatment described in paragraph 8 shall be limited to goods imported into the territory of a Party up to an annual total quantity of 65 million square meters equivalent in each of the first ten years after entry into force of this Agreement. Upon the request of an exporting Party, the importing Party shall allocate such quantity among the four categories of goods described in paragraph 8, in accordance with such request. To determine the quantity in square meters equivalent that is charged against the annual quantity, the importing Party shall apply the conversion factors listed in the Correlation: U.S. Textile and Apparel Category System with the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States of America (“The Textile Correlation”), 2003, U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Textiles and Apparel, or successor publication.

10. At the written request of an exporting Party, an importing Party shall require an importer claiming preferential tariff treatment under paragraph 8 to submit to the importing Party a certificate of eligibility. An importing Party shall not accept such a claim unless the certificate of eligibility is properly completed and signed by an authorized official of the exporting Party and is presented at the time the preferential tariff treatment is claimed.

11. Where an importing Party has reason to question the accuracy of a claim under paragraph 8, or where an importing Party seeks such information in the course of a verification under Article 3.3, it may require an importer claiming preferential tariff treatment for a textile or apparel good under paragraph 8 to prepare, sign, and submit to its competent authority a declaration supporting such a claim for preferential tariff treatment and to provide all pertinent information concerning the production of the good, including:

(a) a description of the good, quantity, invoice numbers, and bills of lading;

(b) a description of the operations performed in the production of the good in the territory of one or both of the Parties;

(c) a reference to the specific provision of paragraph 8 that forms the basis for the claim for preferential tariff treatment; and

(d) a statement as to any fiber, yarn, or fabric of a non-Party and the origin of such materials used in the production of the good.

The importing Party may require the importer to retain all documents relied upon to prepare the declaration for a period of five years.

ARTICLE 3.3: CUSTOMS COOPERATION

1. The Parties shall cooperate for purposes of:

(a) enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of their measures affecting trade in textile or apparel goods;

(b) verifying the accuracy of claims of origin;

(c) enforcing or assisting in the enforcement of measures implementing international agreements affecting trade in textile or apparel goods; and

(d) preventing circumvention of international agreements affecting trade in textile or apparel goods.

2. On the request of the importing Party, the exporting Party shall conduct a verification for purposes of enabling the importing Party to determine that a claim of origin for a textile or apparel good is accurate. The exporting Party shall conduct such a verification, regardless of whether an importer claims preferential tariff treatment for the good. The exporting Party also may conduct such a verification on its own initiative.

3. Where the importing Party has a reasonable suspicion that an exporter or producer of the exporting Party is engaging in unlawful activity relating to trade in textile or apparel goods, the exporting Party shall conduct, on the request of the importing Party, a verification for purposes of enabling the importing Party to determine that the exporter or producer is complying with applicable customs measures regarding trade in textile or apparel goods, including measures that the exporting Party adopts and maintains pursuant to this Agreement and measures of either Party implementing other international agreements affecting trade in textile or apparel goods, or to determine that a claim of origin regarding textile or apparel goods exported or produced by that enterprise is accurate. For purposes of this paragraph, a reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity means a suspicion based on relevant factual information of the type set forth in Article 5.5 (Cooperation) or information that indicates:

(a) circumvention by the exporter or producer of applicable customs measures regarding trade in textile or apparel goods, including measures adopted to implement this Agreement; or

(b) conduct that facilitates the violation of measures relating to any other international agreement regarding trade in textile or apparel goods.

4. The exporting Party, through its competent authorities, shall permit the importing Party, through its competent authorities, to assist in a verification conducted pursuant to paragraph 2 or 3, including by conducting, along with the competent authorities of the exporting Party, visits in the territory of the exporting Party to the premises of an exporter, producer, or any other enterprise involved in the movement of a textile or apparel good from the territory of the exporting Party to the territory of the importing Party. If an exporter, producer, or other enterprise refuses to consent to a visit by the competent authorities of the importing Party, the importing Party may consider that the verification cannot be completed and the determination described in paragraph 2 or 3 cannot be made and may take appropriate action as described in paragraph 8.

5. Each Party shall provide to the other Party, consistent with the Party’s law, production, trade, and transit documents and other information necessary for the exporting Party to conduct a verification under paragraph 2 or 3. Each Party shall treat any documents or information exchanged in the course of such a verification in accordance with Article 5.6 (Confidentiality).

6. While a verification is being conducted, the importing Party may, consistent with its law, take appropriate action, which may include suspending the application of preferential tariff treatment to:

(a) the textile or apparel good for which a claim of origin has been made, in the case of a verification under paragraph 2; or

(b) any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the person subject to a verification under paragraph 3, where the reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity relates to that good.

7. The Party conducting a verification under paragraph 2 or 3 shall provide the other Party with a written report on the results of the verification, which shall include all documents and facts supporting any conclusion that the Party reaches.

8.

(a) If the importing Party is unable to make the determination described in paragraph 2 within 12 months after its request for a verification, or makes a negative determination, it may, consistent with its law, take appropriate action, including denying preferential tariff treatment to the textile or apparel good subject to the verification, and to similar goods exported or produced by the person that exported or produced the good.

(b) If the importing Party is unable to make a determination described in paragraph 3 within 12 months after its request for a verification, or makes a negative determination, it may, consistent with its law, take appropriate action, including denying preferential tariff treatment to any textile or apparel good exported or produced by the person subject to the verification.

9.

(a) The importing Party may deny preferential tariff treatment or entry under paragraph 8 only after notifying the other Party of its intention to do so.

(b) If the importing Party takes action under paragraph 8 because it is unable to make a determination described in paragraph 2 or 3, it may continue to take appropriate action under paragraph 8 until it receives information sufficient to enable it to make the determination.

10. On the request of either Party, the Parties shall consult to resolve any technical or interpretive difficulties that may arise under this Article or to discuss ways to improve the effectiveness of their cooperative efforts. In addition, either Party may request technical or other assistance from the other Party in implementing this Article. The Party receiving such a request shall make every effort to respond favorably and promptly.

ARTICLE 3.4: DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Chapter:

claim of origin means a claim that a textile or apparel good is an originating good;

exporting Party means the Party from whose territory a textile or apparel good is exported;

importing Party means the Party into whose territory a textile or apparel good is imported; and

textile or apparel good means a good listed in the Annex to the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.

ANNEX 3-A
RULES OF ORIGIN FOR TEXTILE OR APPAREL GOODS
FOR CHAPTERS 42, 50 THROUGH 63, 70, AND 94

1. For goods covered in this Annex, a good is an originating good if:

(i) each of the non-originating materials used in the production of the good undergoes an applicable change in tariff classification specified in this Annex as a result of production occurring entirely in the territory of one or both of the Parties, or the good otherwise satisfies the applicable requirements of this Chapter where a change in tariff classification for each non-originating material is not required; and

(ii) the good satisfies any other applicable requirements of this Chapter and Chapter Four (Rules of Origin).

2. For purposes of interpreting the rules of origin set out in this Annex:

(a) the specific rule, or specific set of rules, that applies to a particular heading or subheading is set out immediately adjacent to the heading or subheading;

(b) a rule applicable to a subheading shall take precedence over a rule applicable to the heading which is parent to that subheading;

(c) a requirement of a change in tariff classification applies only to non-originating materials;

(d) a good is considered to be “wholly” of a material if the good is made entirely of the material; and

(e) the following definitions apply:

chapter means a chapter of the Harmonized System;

heading means the first four digits in the tariff classification number under the Harmonized System;

subheading means the first six digits in the tariff classification number under the Harmonized System.

    Chapter 42 - Luggage
    4202.12 A change to subheading 4202.12 from any other chapter, except from headings 54.07, 54.08 or 55.12 through 55.16 or tariff items 5903.10.15, 5903.10.18, 5903.10.20, 5903.10.25, 5903.20.15, 5903.20.18, 5903.20.20, 5903.20.25, 5903.90.15, 5903.90.18, 5903.90.20, 5903.90.25, 5906.99.20, 5906.99.25, 5907.00.05, 5907.00.15 or 5907.00.60.
    4202.22 A change to subheading 4202.22 from any other chapter, except from headings 54.07, 54.08 or 55.12 through 55.16 or tariff items 5903.10.15, 5903.10.18, 5903.10.20, 5903.10.25, 5903.20.15, 5903.20.18, 5903.20.20, 5903.20.25, 5903.90.15, 5903.90.18, 5903.90.20, 5903.90.25, 5906.99.20, 5906.99.25, 5907.00.05, 5907.00.15 or 5907.00.60.
    4202.32 A change to subheading 4202.32 from any other chapter, except from headings 54.07, 54.08 or 55.12 through 55.16 or tariff items 5903.10.15, 5903.10.18, 5903.10.20, 5903.10.25, 5903.20.15, 5903.20.18, 5903.20.20, 5903.20.25, 5903.90.15, 5903.90.18, 5903.90.20,
    5903.90.25, 5906.99.20, 5906.99.25, 5907.00.05, 5907.00.15 or 5907.00.60.
    4202.92 A change to subheading 4202.92 from any other chapter, except from headings 54.07, 54.08 or 55.12 through 55.16 or tariff items 5903.10.15, 5903.10.18, 5903.10.20, 5903.10.25, 5903.20.15, 5903.20.18, 5903.20.20, 5903.20.25, 5903.90.15, 5903.90.18, 5903.90.20, 5903.90.25, 5906.99.20, 5906.99.25, 5907.00.05, 5907.00.15 or 5907.00.60.
    Chapter 50 - Silk
    5001-5003 A change to heading 50.01 through 50.03 from any other chapter.
    5004-5006 A change to heading 50.04 through 50.06 from any heading outside that group.
    5007 A change to heading 50.07 from any other heading.
    Chapter 51 - Wool, Fine or Coarse Animal Hair; Horsehair Yarn and Woven Fabric
    5101-5105 A change to heading 51.01 through 51.05 from any other chapter.
    5106-5110 A change to heading 51.06 through 51.10 from any heading outside that group.
    5111-5113 A change to heading 51.11 through 51.13 from any heading outside that group, except from heading 51.06 through 51.10, 52.05 through 52.06, 54.01 through 54.04 or 55.09 through
    55.10.
    Chapter 52 - Cotton
    5201-5207 A change to heading 52.01 through 52.07 from any other chapter, except from heading 54.01 through 54.05 or 55.01 through 55.07.
    5208-5212 A change to heading 52.08 through 52.12 from any heading outside that group, except from heading 51.06 through 51.10, 52.05 through 52.06, 54.01 through 54.04 or 55.09 through 55.10.
    Chapter 53 - Other Vegetable Textile Fibers; Paper Yarn and Woven Fabrics of Paper Yarn
    5301-5305 A change to heading 53.01 through 53.05 from any other chapter.
    5306-5308 A change to heading 53.06 through 53.08 from any heading outside that group.
    5309 A change to heading 53.09 from any other heading, except from heading 53.07 through 53.08.
    5310-5311 A change to heading 53.10 through 53.11 from any heading outside that group, except from heading 53.07 through 53.08.
    Chapter 54 – Man-Made Filaments
    5401-5406 A change to heading 54.01 through 54.06 from any other chapter, except from heading 52.01 through 52.03 or 55.01 through 55.07.
    5407 A change to tariff items 5407.61.11, 5407.61.21 or 5407.61.91  from tariff items 5402.43.10 or 5402.52.10, or from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.10, 52.05 through 52.06 or 55.09 through 55.10.

    A change to heading 54.07 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.06 through 51.10, 52.05 through 52.06 or 55.09 through 55.10.

    5408 A change to heading 54.08 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.06 through 51.10, 52.05  through 52.06 or 55.09 through 55.10.
    Chapter 55 – Man-Made Staple Fibers
    5501-5511 A change to heading 55.01 through 55.11 from any other chapter, except from heading 52.01 through 52.03 or 54.01 through 54.05.
    5512-5516 A change to heading 55.12 through 55.16 from any heading outside that group, except from heading 51.06 through 51.10, 52.05 through 52.06, 54.01 through 54.04 or 55.09 through 55.10.
    Chapter 56 - Wadding, Felt and Nonwovens; Special Yarns; Twine, Cordage, Ropes and Cables and Articles Thereof
    5601-5609 A change to heading 56.01 through 56.09 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, or Chapter 54 through 55.
    Chapter 57 - Carpets and Other Textile Floor Coverings
    5701-5705 A change to heading 57.01 through 57.05 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.08 or 53.11, Chapter 54, or heading 55.08 through 55.16.
    Chapter 58 - Special Woven Fabrics; Tufted Textile Fabrics; Lace; Tapestries; Trimmings; Embroidery
    5801-5811 A change to heading 58.01 through 58.11 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, or Chapter 54 through 55.
    Chapter 59 - Impregnated, Coated, Covered or Laminated Textile Fabrics; Textile Articles of a Kind Suitable For Industrial Use
    5901 A change to heading 59.01 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.11 through 51.13, 52.08 through 52.12, 53.10 through 53.11, 54.07 through 54.08 or 55.12 through 55.16.
    5902 A change to heading 59.02 from any other heading, except from heading 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12 or 53.06 through 53.11, or Chapter 54 through 55.
    5903-5908 A change to heading 59.03 through 59.08 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.11 through 51.13, 52.08 through 52.12, 53.10 through 53.11, 54.07 through 54.08 or 55.12 through 55.16.
    5909 A change to heading 59.09 from any other chapter, except from  heading 51.11 through 51.13, 52.08 through 52.12 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or heading 55.12 through 55.16.
    5910 A change to heading 59.10 from any other heading, except from heading 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07  through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, or Chapter 54 through 55.
    5911 A change to heading 59.11 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.11 through 51.13, 52.08 through 52.12, 53.10 through 53.11, 54.07 through 54.08 or 55.12 through 55.16.
    Chapter 60 - Knitted or Crocheted Fabrics
    6001-6006 A change to heading 60.01 through 60.06 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.06 through 51.13, Chapter 52, heading 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, or Chapter 54
    through 55.
    Chapter 61 - Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories, Knitted or Crocheted

    Chapter Rule 1:

    Except for fabrics classified in 5408.22.10, 5408.23.11, 5408.23.21, and 5408.24.10, the fabrics identified in the following sub-headings and headings, when used as visible lining material in certain men's and women's suits, suit-type jackets, skirts, overcoats, carcoats, anoraks, windbreakers, and similar articles, must be both formed from yarn and finished in the territory of a Party:

    5111 through 5112, 5208.31 through 5208.59, 15209.31 through 5209.59, 5210.31 through 5210.59, 5211.31 through 5211.59, 5212.13 through 5212.15, 5212.23 through 5212.25, 5407.42 through 5407.44, 5407.52 through 5407.54, 5407.61, 5407.72 through 5407.74, 5407.82 through 5407.84, 5407.92 through 5407.94, 5408.22 through 5408.24, 5408.32 through 5408.34, 5512.19, 5512.29, 5512.99, 5513.21 through 5513.49, 5514.21 through 5515.99, 5516.12 through 5516.14, 5516.22 through 5516.24, 5516.32 through 5516.34, 5516.42 through 5516.44, 5516.92 through 5516.94, 6001.10, 6001.92, 6005.31
    through 6005.44 or 6006.10 through 6006.44.

    Chapter Rule 2:

    For purposes of determining the origin of a good of this Chapter, the rule applicable to that good shall only apply to the component that determines the tariff classification of the good and such component must satisfy the tariff change requirements set out in the rule for that good. If the rule requires that the
    good must also satisfy the tariff change requirements for visible lining fabrics listed in chapter rule 1 to this Chapter, such requirement shall only apply to the visible lining fabric in the main body of the garment, excluding sleeves, which covers the largest surface area, and shall not apply to removable linings
    .

    6101.10-6101.30

    A change to subheadings 6101.10 through 6101.30 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08, or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08  through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise
    assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6101.90 A change to subheading 6101.90 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6102.10-6102.30 A change to subheadings 6102.10 through 6102.30 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08, or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6102.90 A change to subheading 6102.90 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08, or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6103.11-6103.12 A change to subheadings 6103.11 through 6103.12 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or
    otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6103.19 A change to tariff items 6103.19.60 or 6103.19.90 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    A change to subheading 6103.19 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61

    6103.21-6103.29 A change to subheadings 6103.21 through 6103.29 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings  55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) with respect to a garment described in heading 61.01 or a jacket or a blazer described in heading 61.03, of wool, fine animal hair, cotton or man-made fibers, imported as part of an ensemble of these subheadings, any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6103.31-6103.33 A change to subheadings 6103.31 through 6103.33 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise  assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies  the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6103.39 A change to tariff items 6103.39.40 or 6103.39.80 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07  through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    A change to subheading 6103.39 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through  53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through  55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the  Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61

    6103.41-6103.49 A change to subheadings 6103.41 through 6103.49 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise  assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6104.11-6104.13 A change to subheadings 6104.11 through 6104.13 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6104.19 A change in tariff items 6104.19.40 or 6104.19.80 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    A change to subheading 6104.19 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01  through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6104.21-6104.29 A change to subheadings 6104.21 through 6104.29 | from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings  55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) with respect to a garment described in heading 61.02, a jacket or a blazer described in heading 61.04, or a skirt described in heading 61.04, of wool, fine
    animal hair, cotton or man-made fibers, imported as part of an ensemble of these subheadings, any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6104.31-6104.33 A change to subheadings 6104.31 through 6104.33 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6104.39 A change to tariff items 6104.39.20 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    A change to subheading 6104.39 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6104.41-6104.49 A change to subheadings 6104.41 through 6104.49 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6104.51-6104.53 A change to subheadings 6104.51 through 6104.53 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6104.59 A change to tariff items 6104.59.40 or 6104.59.80 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11,
    Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    A change to subheading 6104.59 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6104.61-6104.69 A change to subheadings 6104.61 through 6104.69 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory
    of one or both of the Parties.
    6105-6106 A change to headings 61.05 through 61.06 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6107.11-6107.19 A change to subheadings 6107.11 through 6107.19 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6107.21 A change to subheading 6107.21 from:

    (a) tariff items 6006.21.10, 6006.22.10, 6006.23.10, or 6006.24.10 provided that the good, exclusive of collar, cuffs, waistband or elastic, is wholly of such fabric and the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, or

    (b) any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    6107.22-6107.99 A change to subheadings 6107.22 through 6107.99 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of
    one or both of the Parties.
    6108.11-6108.19 A change to subheadings 6108.11 through 6108.19 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of
    one or both of the Parties.
    6108.21 A change to subheading 6108.21 from:

    (a) tariff items 6006.21.10, 6006.22.10, 6006.23.10, or 6006.24.10 provided that the good, exclusive of waistband, elastic or lace, is wholly of such fabric and the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, or

    (b) any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    6108.22-6108.29 A change to subheadings 6108.22 through 6108.29 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6108.31 A change to subheading 6108.31 from:

    (a) tariff items 6006.21.10, 6006.22.10, 6006.23.10, or 6006.24.10 provided that the good, exclusive of collar, cuffs, waistband, elastic or lace, is wholly of such fabric and the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, or

    (b) any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    6108.32-6108.39 A change to subheadings 6108.32 through 6108.39 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6108.91-6108.99 A change to subheadings 6108.91 through 6108.99 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory
    of one or both of the Parties.
    6109-6111 A change to headings 61.09 through 61.11 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6112.11-6112.19 A change to subheadings 6112.11 through 6112.19 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6112.20 A change to subheading 6112.20 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) with respect to a garment described in heading 61.01, 61.02, 62.01 or 62.02, of wool, fine animal hair, cotton or man-made fibers, imported as part of a ski-suit of this subheading, any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 61.

    6112.31-6112.49 A change to subheadings 6112.31 through 6112.49 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory
    of one or both of the Parties.
    6113-6117 A change to headings 61.13 through 61.17 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    Chapter 62 Articles of Apparel and Clothing Accessories, Not Knitted or Crocheted

    Chapter Rule 1:

    Except for fabrics classified in 5408.22.10, 5408.23.11, 5408.23.21, and 5408.24.10, the
    fabrics identified in the following sub-headings and headings, when used as visible lining material in certain men's and women's suits, suit-type jackets, skirts, overcoats, carcoats, anoraks, windbreakers, and similar articles, must be both formed from yarn and finished in the territory of a Party:

    5111 through 5112, 5208.31 through 5208.59, 5209.31 through 5209.59, 5210.31 through 5210.59, 5211.31 through 5211.59, 5212.13 through 5212.15, 5212.23 through 5212.25, 5407.42 through 5407.44, 5407.52 through 20 5407.54, 5407.61, 5407.72 through 5407.74, 5407.82 through 5407.84, 5407.92 through 5407.94, 5408.22 through 5408.24, 5408.32 through 5408.34, 5512.19, 5512.29, 5512.99, 5513.21 through 5513.49, 5514.21 through 5515.99, 5516.12 through 5516.14, 5516.22 through 5516.24, 5516.32 through 5516.34, 5516.42 through 5516.44, 5516.92 through 5516.94, 6001.10,
    6001.92, 6005.31 through 6005.44 or 6006.10 through 6006.44.

    Chapter Rule 2:

    Apparel goods of this Chapter shall be considered to originate if they are both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties and if the fabric of the outer shell, exclusive of collars or cuffs, is wholly of one or more of the following:

    (a) Velveteen fabrics of subheading 5801.23, containing 85 per cent or more by weight of cotton;

    (b) Corduroy fabrics of subheading 5801.22, containing 85 per cent or more by weight of cotton and containing more than 7.5 wales per centimeter;

    (c) Fabrics of subheading 5111.11 or 5111.19, if hand-woven, with a loom width of less than 76 cm, woven in the United Kingdom in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Harris Tweed Association, Ltd., and so certified by the Association;

    (d) Fabrics of subheading 5112.30, weighing not more than 340 grams per square meter, containing wool, not less than 20 per cent by weight of fine animal hair and not less than 15 per cent by weight of man-made staple fibers; or

    (e) Batiste fabrics of subheading 5513.11 or 5513.21, of square construction, of single yarns exceeding 76 metric count, containing between 60 and 70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of a weight not exceeding 110 grams per square meter.

    Chapter Rule 3:

    For purposes of determining the origin of a good of this Chapter, the rule applicable to that good shall only apply to the component that determines the tariff classification of the good and such component must satisfy the tariff change requirements set out in the rule for that good. If the rule requires that the good must also satisfy the tariff change requirements for visible lining
    fabrics listed in chapter rule 1 to this Chapter, such requirement shall only apply to the visible lining fabric in the main body of the garment, excluding sleeves, which covers the largest surface area, and shall not apply to removable linings.
    6201.11-6201.13 A change to subheadings 6201.11 through 6201.13 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6201.19 A change to subheading 6201.19 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both
    of the Parties.
    6201.91-6201.93 A change to subheadings 6201.91 through 6201.93 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6201.99 A change to subheading 6201.99 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the
    good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6202.11-6202.13 A change to subheadings 6202.11 through 6202.13 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6202.19 A change to subheading 6202.19 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6202.91-6202.93 A change to subheadings 6202.91 through 6202.93 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through
    60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6202.99 A change to subheading 6202.99 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6203.11-6203.12 A change to subheadings 6203.11 through 6203.12 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6203.19 A change to tariff items 6203.19.50 or 6203.19.90 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    A change to subheading 6203.19 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62

    6203.21-6203.29 A change to subheadings 6203.21 through 6203.29 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) with respect to a garment described in heading 62.01 or a jacket or a blazer described in heading 62.03, of wool, fine animal hair, cotton or man-made fibers, imported as part of an ensemble of these subheadings, any visible lining material contained in the apparel article as imported into the U.S.
    satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6203.31-6203.33 A change to subheadings 6203.31 through 6203.33 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01
    through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6203.39 A change to tariff items 6203.39.50 or 6203.39.90 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    A change to subheading 6203.39 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6203.41-6203.49 A change to subheadings 6203.41 through 6203.49 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through
    53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6204.11-6204.13 A change to subheadings 6204.11 through 6204.13 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through
    60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6204.19 A change to tariff items 6204.19.40 or 6204.19.80 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or
    both of the Parties.

    A change to subheading 6204.19 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6204.21-6204.29 A change to subheadings 6204.21 through 6204.29 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through
    53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) with respect to a garment described in heading 62.02, a jacket or a blazer described in heading 62.04, or a skirt described in heading 62.04, of wool, fine
    animal hair, cotton or man-made fibers, imported as part of an ensemble of these subheadings, any visible lining material contained in the apparel article
    "|satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6204.31-6204.33 A change to subheadings 6204.31 through 6204.33 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through
    53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6204.39 A change to tariff items 6204.39.60 or 6204.39.80 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or
    both of the Parties.

    A change to subheading 6204.39 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6204.41-6204.49 A change to subheadings 6204.41 through 6204.49 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6204.51-6204.53 A change to subheadings 6204.51 through 6204.53 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or
    53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6204.59 A change to tariff item 6204.59.40 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the
    good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    A change to subheading 6204.59 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6204.61-6204.69 A change to subheadings 6204.61 through 6204.69 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6205.10 A change to subheading 6205.10 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6205.20-6205.30    

    Subheading Rule:

    Men's or boys' shirts of cotton or man-made fibers shall be considered to originate if they are both cut and assembled in the territory of one or more of the Parties and if the fabric of the outer shell, exclusive of collars or cuffs, is wholly of one or
    more of the following:

    (a) Fabrics of subheading 5208.21, 5208.22, 5208.29, 5208.31, 5208.32, 5208.39, 5208.41, 5208.42, 5208.49, 5208.51, 5208.52 or 5208.59, of average yarn number exceeding 135 metric;

    (b) Fabrics of subheading 5513.11 or 5513.21, not of square construction, containing more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 70 metric;

    (c) Fabrics of subheading 5210.21 or 5210.31, not of square construction, containing more than 70 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 70 metric;

    (d) Fabrics of subheading 5208.22 or 5208.32, not of square construction, containing more than 75 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter,
    of average yarn number exceeding 65 metric;

    (e) Fabrics of subheading 5407.81, 5407.82 or 5407.83, weighing less than 170 grams per square meter, having a dobby weave created by a dobby attachment;

    (f) Fabrics of subheading 5208.42 or 5208.49, not of square construction, containing more than 85 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, of average yarn number exceeding 85 metric;

    (g) Fabrics of subheading 5208.51, of square construction, containing morethan 75 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter,
    made with single yarns, of average yarn number 95 or greater metric;

    (h) Fabrics of subheading 5208.41, of square construction, with a gingham pattern, containing more than 85 warp ends and filling picks per square centimeter, made with single yarns, of average yarn number 95 or greater metric, and characterized by a check effect produced by the variation in color of the yarns in the warp and filling; or

    (i) Fabrics of subheading 5208.41, with the warp colored with vegetable dyes, and the filling yarns white or colored with vegetable dyes, of average yarn number greater than 65 metric.

    6205.20-6205.30

    A change to subheadings 6205.20 through 6205.30 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.

    6205.90 A change to subheading 6205.90 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6206-6210 A change to headings 62.06 through 62.10 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6211.11-6211.12 A change to subheadings 6211.11 through 6211.12 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6211.20 A change to subheading 6211.20 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that:

    (a) the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and

    (b) with respect to a garment described in heading 61.01, 61.02, 62.01 or 62.02, of wool, fine animal hair, cotton or man-made fibers, imported as part of a ski-suit of this subheading, any visible lining material contained in the apparel article satisfies the requirements of Chapter Rule 1 for Chapter 62.

    6211.31-6211.49 A change to subheadings 6211.31 through 6211.49 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13,52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6212.10 A change to subheading 6212.10 from any other chapter, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties, and provided that, during each annual period, such goods of a producer or an entity controlling production shall be eligible for preferential treatment under this Agreement only if the aggregate cost of fabric(s) (exclusive of findings and trimmings) formed in the territory of one or both of the Parties that is used in the production of all such articles of that producer or entity during the preceding annual
    period is at least 75 percent of the aggregate declared customs value of the fabric (exclusive of findings and trimmings) contained in all such goods of that producer or entity that are entered during the preceding one year period.
    6212.20-6212.90 A change to subheadings 6212.20 through 6212.90 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of
    one or both of the Parties.
    6213-6217 A change to headings 62.13 through 62.17 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06
    through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or headings 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    Chapter 63 - Other Made Up Textile Articles; Sets; Worn Clothing and Worn Textile Articles; Rags

    Chapter Rule 1:

    For purposes of determining the origin of a good of this Chapter, the rule applicable to that good shall only apply to the component that determines the tariff classification of the good and such component must satisfy the tariff change requirements set out in the rule for that good.

    6301-6302 A change to heading 63.01 through 63.02 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or heading 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of
    one or both of the Parties. 
    6303 A change to tariff item 6303.92.10 from tariff items 5402.43.10 or 5402.52.10 or any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 5204 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, chapter 54, or heading 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is both cut and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
      A change to heading 63.03 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or heading 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut
    or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the Parties.
    6304-6308 A change to headings 63.04 through 63.08 from any other chapter, except from headings 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54,
    or heading 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory
    of one or both of the Parties.
    6309 A change to 63.09 from any other heading.
    6310 A change to heading 63.10 from any other chapter, except from heading 51.06 through 51.13, 52.04 through 52.12, 53.07 through 53.08 or 53.10 through 53.11, Chapter 54, or heading 55.08 through 55.16, 58.01 through 58.02 or 60.01 through 60.06, provided that the good is cut or knit to shape, or both, and sewn or otherwise assembled in the territory of one or both of the
    Parties.
    Chapter 70 - Glass Fiber Rovings and Yarns
    7019 A change to heading 70.19 from any other heading, except from headings 70.07 through 70.20.
    Chapter 94 - Comforters
    9404.90 A change to subheading 9404.90 from any other chapter, except from headings 50.07, 51.11 through 51.13, 52.08 through 52.12, 53.09 through 53.11, 54.07 through 54.08,
    55.12 through 55.16 or subheading 6307.90.

Annex 3-B


The goods referred to in Article 3.2.8(b) are goods classified in the following Harmonized Schedule subheadings:

5801.21
5801.22
5801.23
5801.24
5801.25
5801.26
5801.31
5801.32
5801.33
5801.34
5801.35
5801.36
5802.11
5802.19
5802.20.0020
5802.30.0030
5803.10
5803.90.30
5804.10.10
5804.21
5804.29.10
5804.30.0020
5805.00.30
5805.00.4010
5806.10.10
5806.10.24
5806.10.28
5806.20
5806.31
5806.32
5807.10.05
5807.10.2010
5807.10.2020
5807.90.05
5807.90.2010
5807.90.2020
5808.10.40
5808.10.70
5808.90.0010
5809.00
5810.10
5810.91
5810.92
5811.00.20
5811.00.30
6001.10
6001.21
6001.22
6001.91
6001.92
6002.40
6002.90
6003.20
6003.30
6003.40
6004.10
6004.90
6005.21
6005.22
6005.23
6005.24
6005.31
6005.32
6005.33
6005.34
6005.41
6005.42
6005.43
6005.44
6006.21
6006.22
6006.23
6006.24
6006.31
6006.32
6006.33
6006.34
6006.41
6006.42
6006.43
6006.44

CHAPTER FOUR
RULES OF ORIGIN

ARTICLE 4.1: ORIGINATING GOODS

Except as otherwise provided in this Chapter or Chapter Three (Textiles and Apparel), each Party shall provide that a good is an originating good where it is imported directly from the territory of one Party into the territory of other Party, and,

(a) it is a good wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of one or both of the Parties; or

(b) for goods other than those covered by the rules in Annex 3-A or Annex 4-A, the good is a new or different article of commerce that has been grown, produced, or manufactured in the territory of one or both of the Parties; and the sum of (i) the value of materials produced in the territory of one or both of the Parties, plus (ii) the direct costs of processing operations performed in the territory of one or both of the Parties is not less than 35 percent of the appraised value of the good at the time it is imported into the territory of a Party; or

(c) for goods covered by the rules in Annex 3-A or Annex 4-A, the good has satisfied the requirements specified in that Annex.

ARTICLE 4.2: NEW OR DIFFERENT ARTICLE OF COMMERCE

For purposes of this Chapter, new or different article of commerce means a good that has been substantially transformed from a good or material that is not wholly the  growth, product, or manufacture of one of both of the Parties and that has a new name, character, or use distinct from the good or material from which it was transformed.

ARTICLE 4.3: NON-QUALIFYING OPERATIONS

Each Party shall provide that, for purposes of Article 4.1, no good shall be considered a new or different article of commerce by virtue of having merely undergone (a) simple combining or packaging operations or (b) mere dilution with water or with another substance that does not materially alter the characteristics of the good.

ARTICLE 4.4: CUMULATION

1 Each Party shall provide that direct costs of processing operations performed in the territory of one or both of the Parties as well as the value of materials produced in the territory of one or both of the Parties may be counted without limitation toward satisfying the 35 percent value-content requirement specified in Article 4.1(b).

2. Each Party shall provide that an originating good or a material produced in the territory of one or both of the Parties, incorporated into a good in the territory of the other Party, shall be considered to originate in the territory of the other Party.

3. Each Party shall provide that a good shall originate where the good is grown, produced, or manufactured in the territory of one or both of the Parties by one or more producers, provided that the good satisfies the requirements of Article 4.1 and all other applicable requirements in this Chapter or Chapter Three (Textiles and Apparel).

ARTICLE 4.5: VALUE OF MATERIALS

1. For purposes of this Chapter, each Party shall provide that the value of a material produced in the territory of one or both of the Parties includes:

(a) the price actually paid or payable by the producer of the good for the material;

(b) when not included in the price actually paid or payable by the producer of the good for the material, the freight, insurance, packing, and all other costs incurred in transporting the material to the producer’s plant;

(c) the cost of waste or spoilage, less the value of recoverable scrap; and

(d) taxes or customs duties imposed on the material by one or both of the Parties, provided the taxes or customs duties are not remitted upon exportation.

2. Each Party shall provide that where the relationship between the producer of the good and the seller of the material influenced the price actually paid or payable for the material, or where paragraph 1 is otherwise not applicable, the value of the material produced in the territory of one or both of the Parties includes:

(a) all expenses incurred in the growth, production, or manufacture of the material, including general expenses;

(b) a reasonable amount for profit; and

(c) freight, insurance, packing, and all other costs incurred in transporting the material to the producer’s plant.

ARTICLE 4.6: DIRECT COSTS OF PROCESSING OPERATIONS

1. For purposes of this Chapter, direct costs of processing operations means those costs either directly incurred in, or that can be reasonably allocated to, the growth, production, or manufacture of the good. Such costs include the following, to the extent that they are includable in the appraised value of goods imported into the territory of a Party:

(a) all actual labor costs involved in the growth, production, or manufacture of the specific good, including fringe benefits, on-the-job training, and the cost of engineering, supervisory, quality control, and similar personnel;

(b) tools, dies, molds, and other indirect materials, and depreciation on machinery and equipment that are allocable to the specific good;

(c) research, development, design, engineering, and blueprint costs to the extent that they are allocable to the specific good;

(d) costs of inspecting and testing the specific good; and

(e) costs of packaging the specific good for export to the territory of the other Party.

2. For greater certainty, those items that are not included as direct costs of processing operations are those that are not directly attributable to the good or are not costs of growth, production, or manufacture of the good. These include:

(a) profit; and

(b) general expenses of doing business that are either not allocable to the specific good or are not related to the growth, production, or manufacture of the good, such as administrative salaries, casualty and liability insurance, advertising, and salesmen’s salaries, commissions, or expenses.

ARTICLE 4.7: PACKAGING AND PACKING MATERIALS AND CONTAINERS FOR RETAIL SALE AND FOR SHIPMENT

Each Party shall provide that packaging and packing materials and containers in which a good is packaged for retail sale and for shipment, if classified with the good, shall be disregarded in determining whether the good qualifies as an originating good, except that the value of originating packaging and packing materials and containers may be counted toward satisfying, where applicable, the 35 percent value-content requirement specified in Article 4.1(b).

ARTICLE 4.8: INDIRECT MATERIALS

Each Party shall provide that indirect materials shall be disregarded in determining whether the good qualifies as an originating good, except that the cost of such indirect materials may be counted toward satisfying the 35 percent value-content requirement where applicable.

ARTICLE 4.9: TRANSIT AND TRANSSHIPMENT

For purposes of this Chapter, a good shall not be considered to be imported directly from the territory of the other Party if the good undergoes subsequent production, manufacturing, or any other operation outside the territories of the Parties, other than unloading, reloading, or any other operation necessary to preserve it in good condition or to transport the good to the territory of the other Party.

ARTICLE 4.10: IMPORTER REQUIREMENTS

Each Party shall provide that whenever an importer makes a claim for preferential tariff treatment, the importer:

(a) shall be deemed to have certified that such good qualifies for preferential tariff treatment; and

(b) shall submit to the customs authorities of the importing Party, upon request, a declaration setting forth all pertinent information concerning the growth, production, or manufacture of the good. Each Party may require that the information on the declaration should contain at least the following pertinent details:

(i) a description of the good, quantity, invoice numbers, and bills of lading;

(ii) a description of the operations performed in the growth, production, or manufacture of the good in the territory of one or both of the Parties and, where applicable, identification of the direct costs of processing operations;

(iii) a description of any materials used in the growth, production, or manufacture of the good that are wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of one or both of the Parties, and a statement as to the value of such materials;

(iv) a description of the operations performed on, and a statement as to the origin and value of, any foreign materials used in the good that are claimed to have been sufficiently processed in the territory of one or both of the Parties so as to be materials produced in the territory of one or both of the Parties, or are claimed to have undergone an applicable change in tariff classification specified in Annex 3-A or Annex 4-A; and

(v) a description of the origin and value of any foreign materials used in the good that are not claimed to have been substantially transformed in the territory of one or both of the Parties, or are not claimed to have undergone an applicable change in tariff classification specified in Annex 3-A or Annex 4-A.

The importing Party should request a declaration only when that Party has reason to question the accuracy of a deemed certification referred to in subparagraph (a), when that Party’s risk assessment procedures indicate that verification of a claim is appropriate, or when the Party conducts a random verification. The importer shall retain the information necessary for the preparation of the declaration for five years from the date of importation of the good.

ARTICLE 4.11: OBLIGATIONS RELATING TO IMPORTATION

1. Each Party shall grant any claim for preferential tariff treatment made in accordance with this Chapter, unless the Party possesses information indicating that the importer’s claim fails to comply with any requirement under this Chapter or Chapter Three (Textiles and Apparel).

2. To determine whether a good imported into its territory qualifies for preferential tariff treatment, the importing Party may, through its customs authority, verify the origin.

3. Where a Party denies a claim for preferential tariff treatment, it shall issue a written determination containing findings of fact and the legal basis for its determination. The Party shall issue the determination within a period established under its law.

4. Nothing in this Article shall prevent a Party from taking action under Article 3.3 (Customs Cooperation).

ARTICLE 4.12: CONSULTATIONS AND MODIFICATIONS

1. The Parties shall consult and cooperate to ensure that this Chapter is applied in an effective and uniform manner, in accordance with the objectives of this Agreement.

2. The Parties may establish ad hoc working groups, or a subcommittee of the Joint Committee established pursuant to Article 18.2 (Joint Committee), to consider any matter related to this Chapter (including Annex 4-A). On request of a Party, the Parties may direct a working group or subcommittee to review operation of this Chapter (including Annex 4-A) and develop recommendations for amendments in the light of any pertinent developments, including changes in technology and production processes, and other relevant factors.

ARTICLE 4.13: REGIONAL CUMULATION

At a time to be determined by the Parties, and in the light of their desire to promote regional integration, the Parties shall enter into discussions with a view to deciding the extent to which materials that are products of countries in the region may be counted for purposes of satisfying the origin requirement under this Agreement as a step toward achieving regional integration.

ARTICLE 4.14: DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Chapter:

foreign material means a material other than a material produced in the territory of one or both of the Parties;

good means any merchandise, product, article, or material;

goods wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of one or both of the Parties means goods consisting entirely of one or more of the following:

(a) mineral goods extracted in the territory of one or both of the Parties;

(b) vegetable goods, as such goods are defined in the Harmonized System, harvested in the territory of one or both of the Parties;

(c) live animals born and raised in the territory of one or both of the Parties;

(d) goods obtained from live animals raised in the territory of one or both of the Parties;

(e) goods obtained from hunting, trapping, or fishing in the territory of one or both of the Parties;

(f) goods (fish, shellfish, and other marine life) taken from the sea by vessels registered or recorded with a Party and flying its flag;

(g) goods produced on board factory ships from the goods referred to in subparagraph (f) provided such factory ships are registered or recorded with that Party and fly its flag;

(h) goods taken by a Party or a person of a Party from the seabed or beneath the seabed outside territorial waters, provided that a Party has rights to exploit such seabed;

(i) goods taken from outer space, provided they are obtained by a Party or a person of a Party and not processed in the territory of a non-Party;

(j) waste and scrap derived from:

(i) production or manufacture in the territory of one or both of the Parties, or

(ii) used goods collected in the territory of one or both of the Parties, provided such goods are fit only for the recovery of raw materials;

(k) recovered goods derived in the territory of a Party from used goods, and utilized in the Party’s territory in the production of remanufactured goods; and

(l) goods produced in the territory of one or both of the Parties exclusively from goods referred to in subparagraphs (a) through (j), or from their derivatives, at any stage of production;

indirect material means a good used in the growth, production, manufacture, testing, or inspection of a good but not physically incorporated into the good, or a good used in the maintenance of buildings or the operation of equipment associated with the growth, production, or manufacture of a good, including:

(a) fuel and energy;

(b) tools, dies, and molds;

(c) spare parts and materials used in the maintenance of equipment and buildings;

(d) lubricants, greases, compounding materials, and other materials used in the growth, production, or manufacture of a good or used to operate equipment and buildings;

(e) gloves, glasses, footwear, clothing, safety equipment, and supplies;

(f) equipment, devices, and supplies used for testing or inspecting the goods;

(g) catalysts and solvents; and

(h) any other goods that are not incorporated into the good but whose use in the growth, production, or manufacture of the good can reasonably be demonstrated to be a part of that growth, production, or manufacture;

material means a good, including a part or ingredient, that is used in the growth, production, or manufacture of another good that is a new or different article of commerce that has been grown, produced, or manufactured in the territory of one or both of the Parties;

material produced in the territory of one or both of the Parties means a good that is either wholly the growth, product, or manufacture of one or both of the Parties or a new or different article of commerce that has been grown, produced, or manufactured in the territory of one or both of the Parties;

recovered goods means materials in the form of individual parts that are the result of: (1) the complete disassembly of used goods into individual parts; and (2) the cleaning, inspecting, testing, or other processing of those parts as necessary for improvement to sound working condition;

remanufactured goods means industrial goods assembled in the territory of a Party that: (1) are entirely or partially comprised of recovered goods; (2) have similar life expectancies and meet similar performance standards as new goods; and (3) enjoy similar factory warranties as such new goods;

simple combining or packaging operations means operations such as adding batteries to devices, fitting together a small number of components by bolting, gluing, or soldering, and repacking or packaging components together; and

substantially transformed means, with respect to a good or material, changed as the result of a manufacturing or processing operation where: (1) the good or material has multiple uses and is converted into a good or material with limited uses; (2) the physical properties of the good or material are changed to a significant extent; or (3) the operation undergone by the good or material is complex in terms of the number of different processes and materials involved, as well as the time and level of skill required to perform these processes; and the good or material loses its separate identity in the resulting, new good or material.

ANNEX 4-A
CERTAIN PRODUCT-SPECIFIC RULES OF ORIGIN

Section A: Interpretative Notes

1. For goods covered in this Annex, a good is an originating good if:

(a) each of the non-originating materials used in the production of the good undergoes an applicable change in tariff classification specified in this Annex as a result of production occurring entirely in the territory of one or both of the Parties, or the good otherwise satisfies the applicable requirements of this Annex where a change in tariff classification for each non-originating material is not specified; and

(b) the good satisfies any other applicable requirements of this Chapter.

2. For purposes of interpreting the rules of origin set out in this Annex:

(a) the specific rule, or specific set of rules, that applies to a particular heading or subheading is set out immediately adjacent to the heading or subheading;

(b) a rule applicable to a subheading shall take precedence over a rule applicable to the heading which is parent to that subheading;

(c) a requirement of a change in tariff classification applies only to non-originating materials; and

(d) the following definitions apply:

chapter means a chapter of the Harmonized System;

heading means the first four digits in the tariff classification number under the Harmonized System; and

subheading means the first six digits in the tariff classification number under the Harmonized System.

Section B: Specific Rules

Annex Note:

A good containing over 10 percent by weight of milk solids classified under chapter 4 or heading 1901, 2105, 2106 or 2202 must be made from originating milk.
 
Section IV Prepared Foodstuffs; Beverages, Spirits and Vinegar; Tobacco and Manufactured Tobacco Substitutes.
 
Chapter 17 - Sugars and Sugar Confectionary
   
17.01-17.03 A change to heading 17.01 through 17.03 from any other chapter.
   
Chapter 18 - Cocoa and Cocoa Preparations
   
1806.10  A change to sweetened cocoa powder of subheading 1806.10 from any other heading, provided that such sweetened cocoa powder does not contain non-originating sugar of chapter 17.
   
Chapter 20 - Preparations of Vegetables, Fruit, Nuts, or Other Parts of Plants
   
2009.11-2009.39  A change to subheading 2009.11 through 2009.39 from any other chapter, except from heading 0805.
   
Chapter 21 - Miscellaneous Edible Preparations
   
2106.90  A change to concentrated juice of any single fruit or vegetable fortified with vitamins or minerals of subheading 2106.90 from any other chapter, except from heading 0805, from subheading 2009.11 through 2009.39, or from subheading 2202.90.

CHAPTER FIVE
CUSTOMS ADMINISTRATION

ARTICLE 5.1: PUBLICATION

1. Each Party shall publish its customs laws, regulations, and administrative procedures on the Internet.

2. Each Party shall designate one or more inquiry points to address inquiries from interested persons concerning customs matters and shall make available on the Internet information concerning procedures for making such inquiries.

3. Further to Article 17.1.2 (Publication), each Party shall, to the extent possible, publish in advance any regulations of general application governing customs matters that it proposes to adopt and shall provide interested persons the opportunity to comment on such proposed regulations prior to their adoption.

ARTICLE 5.2: RELEASE OF GOODS

Each Party shall:

(a) adopt or maintain procedures providing for the release of goods within a period no greater than that required to ensure compliance with its customs laws and, to the extent possible, within 48 hours of arrival, provided that necessary data submission requirements are fulfilled;

(b) adopt or maintain procedures allowing, to the extent possible, goods to be released at the point of arrival, without interim transfer to warehouses or other locations;

(c) adopt or maintain procedures allowing the release of goods prior to, and without prejudice to, the final determination by its customs authority of the applicable customs duties, taxes, and fees, and as part of such procedures may require an importer to provide sufficient guarantee in the form of a surety or other appropriate instrument to ensure payment of any customs duties, taxes, and fees that may ultimately be assessed; and

(d) otherwise endeavor to adopt or maintain simplified procedures for the release of goods.

ARTICLE 5.3: AUTOMATION

Each Party’s customs authority shall:

(a) endeavor to use information technology that expedites procedures for the importation of goods; and

(b) in deciding on the information technology to be used for this purpose, take into account international standards.

ARTICLE 5.4: RISK ASSESSMENT

Each Party shall endeavor to adopt or maintain risk management systems that enable its customs authority to concentrate inspection activities on high-risk goods and that simplify the clearance and movement of low-risk goods.

ARTICLE 5.5: COOPERATION

1. Each Party shall endeavor to provide the other Party with advance notice of any significant modification of administrative policy regarding the implementation of its customs laws that is likely to substantially affect the operation of this Agreement.

2. The Parties shall cooperate in achieving compliance with their laws and regulations pertaining to:

(a) the implementation and operation of the provisions of this Agreement relating to the importation of goods, including Chapter Four (Rules of Origin) and this Chapter;

(b) the implementation and operation of the Customs Valuation Agreement;

(c) restrictions or prohibitions on imports or exports; or

(d) such other matters relating to the importation or exportation of goods as the Parties may agree.

3. Where a Party has a reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity related to its laws or regulations governing importation, the Party may request that the other Party provide specific confidential information that pertains to that activity and that is normally collected by the other Party in connection with the importation of goods. The Party shall make its request in writing, shall identify the requested information with specificity sufficient to enable the other Party to locate it, and shall specify the purposes for which the information is sought.

4. The other Party shall respond by providing any information that it has collected that is material to the request.

5. For purposes of paragraph 3, a reasonable suspicion of unlawful activity means a suspicion based on relevant factual information obtained from public or private sources, including:

(a) historical evidence that a specific importer, exporter, producer, or other enterprise involved in the movement of goods from the territory of one Party to the territory of the other Party has not complied with a Party’s laws or regulations governing importation;

(b) historical evidence that some or all of the enterprises involved in the movement from the territory of one Party to the territory of the other Party of goods within a specific product sector have not complied with a Party’s laws or regulations governing importation; or

(c) other information that the Parties agree is sufficient in the context of a particular request.

6. Each Party shall endeavor to provide the other Party with any other information that would assist in determining whether imports from or exports to  the territory of the other Party are in compliance with the other Party’s laws and regulations governing importation, in particular those related to the prevention of unlawful shipments.

7. The United States shall endeavor to provide Bahrain with technical advice and assistance for the purpose of improving risk assessment techniques, simplifying and expediting customs procedures, advancing technical skills, and enhancing the use of technologies that can lead to improved compliance with laws and regulations governing importation.

8. Building on the procedures established in this Article, the Parties shall use  best efforts to explore additional means of cooperation to enhance each Party's ability to enforce its laws and regulations governing importation, including by:

(a) endeavoring to conclude a mutual assistance agreement between their  respective customs authorities within six months after the date of  entry into force of this Agreement; and

(b) considering whether to establish additional channels of communication to facilitate the secure and rapid exchange of  information and to improve coordination on customs issues.

ARTICLE 5.6: CONFIDENTIALITY

1. Where a Party providing information to the other Party in accordance with this Chapter designates the information as confidential, the other Party shall maintain the confidentiality of the information. The Party providing the information may  require written assurances from the other Party that the information will be held in confidence, will be used only for the purposes specified in the other Party’s request  for information, and will not be disclosed without the Party’s specific permission.  The Parties may agree that the information may be used or disclosed for law enforcement purposes or in the context of judicial proceedings.

2. A Party may decline to provide confidential information requested by the other Party where the other Party has failed to act in conformity with assurances provided under paragraph 1.

3. Each Party shall adopt or maintain procedures that protect confidential information submitted in connection with the administration of its customs laws and regulations from unauthorized disclosure, including information the disclosure of which could prejudice the competitive position of the person providing the information.

ARTICLE 5.7: EXPRESS SHIPMENTS

Each Party shall adopt or maintain separate, expedited customs procedures for  express shipments, including procedures:

(a) that, to the extent possible, allow the information necessary for the release of express shipments to be submitted electronically;

(b) in which the information necessary for the release of an express shipment may be submitted, and processed by the Party’s customs authority, before the shipment arrives;

(c) allowing a shipper to submit a single manifest covering all goods contained in an express shipment;

(d) that, to the extent possible, minimize the documentation required for the release of express shipments; and

(e) that, under normal circumstances, allow for an express shipment that has arrived at a point of importation to be released no later than six hours after the submission of the information necessary for release.

ARTICLE 5.8: REVIEW AND APPEAL

Each Party shall ensure that with respect to a determination of the Party on customs matters, the importer in its territory has access to:

(a) administrative review independent of the official or office that issued the determination; and

(b) judicial review of the determination.

ARTICLE 5.9: PENALTIES

Each Party shall adopt or maintain measures that provide for the imposition of civil, administrative, and, where appropriate, criminal sanctions for violations of its customs laws, including its laws governing tariff classification, customs valuation, country of origin, and the entitlement to preferential tariff treatment.

ARTICLE 5.10: ADVANCE RULINGS

1. Each Party, through its customs authority, shall issue written advance rulings prior to the importation of a good into its territory at the written request of an importer in its territory, or an exporter or producer in the territory of the other Party, on the basis of the facts and circumstances set forth by the requester, concerning:

(a) tariff classification;

(b) the application of customs valuation criteria, including the criteria in the Customs Valuation Agreement;

(c) duty drawback;

(d) whether a good qualifies as an originating good; and

(e) whether a good qualifies for duty-free treatment in accordance with Article 2.6 (Goods Re-entered After Repair or Alteration).

2. Each Party shall provide that its customs authority shall issue advance rulings within 150 days of a request, provided that the requester has submitted all necessary information.

3. Each Party shall provide that advance rulings shall be valid from their date of issuance, or such other date specified by the ruling, for at least three years, provided that the facts and circumstances (including laws and regulations) on which the ruling is based remain unchanged.

4. The issuing Party may modify or revoke an advance ruling when facts or circumstances warrant, such as where the information on which the ruling is based is false or inaccurate.

5. Where an importer claims that the treatment accorded to an imported good should be governed by an advance ruling, the customs authority may evaluate whether the facts and circumstances of the importation are consistent with the facts and circumstances upon which the advance ruling was based.

6. Each Party shall make its advance rulings publicly available, subject to confidentiality requirements in its law.

7. If a requester provides false information or omits relevant circumstances or facts in its request for an advance ruling, or does not act in accordance with the ruling’s terms and conditions, the importing Party may apply appropriate measures, including civil, criminal, and administrative penalties or other sanctions.

8. For purposes of this Article, advance ruling means a written response by a Party to a request made in accordance with this Article, setting forth the official position of the Party on the interpretation of its relevant laws and regulations pertaining to a matter referenced in paragraph 1(a) through (e), as applied to a specific, prospective customs transaction.

9. This Article shall apply to Bahrain beginning two years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 5.11: TECHNICAL COOPERATION AND IMPLEMENTATION

1. Within 120 days after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall consult and establish a work program on procedures that Bahrain may adopt to implement Article 5.10 and shall consult on technical assistance that the United States may provide to assist Bahrain in that endeavor.

2. Not later than 18 months after the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall consult on Bahrain’s progress in implementing Article 5.10 and on whether to undertake further cooperative activities.

CHAPTER SIX
SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY MEASURES

ARTICLE 6.1: OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this Chapter are to protect human, animal, and plant health conditions in the Parties’ territories, enhance the Parties implementation of the SPS Agreement, and provide a forum for addressing sanitary and phytosanitary matters.

ARTICLE 6.2: SCOPE AND COVERAGE

This Chapter applies to all sanitary and phytosanitary measures of a Party that may, directly or indirectly, affect trade between the Parties.

ARTICLE 6.3: GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The Parties affirm their existing rights and obligations with respect to each other under the SPS Agreement.

2. The Parties affirm their desire to provide a forum for addressing sanitary and phytosanitary matters affecting trade between the Parties, through the Joint Committee established pursuant to Article 18.2 (Joint Committee) or a subcommittee established thereunder.

3. Neither Party may have recourse to dispute settlement under this Agreement for any matter arising under this Chapter.

ARTICLE 6.4: DEFINITION

For purposes of this Chapter:

sanitary or phytosanitary measure means any measure referred to in Annex A, paragraph 1, of the SPS Agreement.

CHAPTER SEVEN
TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE

ARTICLE 7.1: SCOPE AND COVERAGE

1. This Chapter applies to all standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures of the central level of government that may, directly or indirectly, affect trade in goods between the Parties.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, this Chapter does not apply to:

(a) technical specifications prepared by governmental bodies for production or consumption requirements of such bodies; or

(b) sanitary and phytosanitary measures as defined in Annex A of the SPS Agreement.

ARTICLE 7.2: AFFIRMATION OF THE WTO AGREEMENT ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE

Further to Article 1.2 (Relation to Other Agreements), the Parties affirm their existing rights and obligations with respect to each other under the TBT Agreement.

ARTICLE 7.3: INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

In determining whether an international standard, guide, or recommendation within the meaning of Articles 2 and 5 and Annex 3 of the TBT Agreement exists, each Party shall apply the principles set out in Decisions and Recommendations adopted by the Committee since 1 January 199 5, G/TBT/1/Rev.8, 23 May 2002, Section IX  (Decision of the Committee on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations with relation to Articles 2, 5 and Annex 3 of the Agreement ), issued by the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade.

ARTICLE 7.4: TRADE FACILITATION

The Parties shall intensify their joint work in the field of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures with a view to facilitating access to each other’s markets. In particular, the Parties shall seek to identify trade facilitating bilateral initiatives regarding standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures that are appropriate for particular issues or  sectors. Such initiatives may include cooperation on regulatory issues, such as alignment with international standards and use of accreditation to qualify conformity assessment bodies.

ARTICLE 7.5: CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES

1. The Parties recognize that a broad range of mechanisms exists to facilitate the acceptance of conformity assessment procedures conducted in the other Party’s territory. For example:

(a) the importing Party may recognize the results of conformity assessment procedures conducted in the territory of the other Party;

(b) conformity assessment bodies located in each Party’s territory may enter into voluntary arrangements to accept the results of the other’s assessment procedures;

(c) a Party may adopt accreditation procedures for qualifying conformity assessment bodies located in the territory of the other Party;

(d) a Party may designate conformity assessment bodies located in the territory of the other Party; and

(e) the importing Party may rely on a supplier's declaration of  conformity.

The Parties shall intensify their exchange of information on these and similar mechanisms.

2. Where a Party does not accept the results of a conformity assessment procedure conducted in the territory of the other Party, it shall, on request of the other Party, explain the reasons for its decision.

3. Each Party shall accredit, approve, license, or otherwise recognize conformity assessment bodies in the territory of the other Party on terms no less favorable than those it accords to conformity assessment bodies in its territory. Where a Party accredits, approves, licenses, or otherwise recognizes a body  assessing conformity with a specific technical regulation or standard in its territory and it refuses to accredit, approve, license, or otherwise recognize a body assessing conformity with that technical regulation or standard in the territory of the other Party, it shall, on request of the other Party, explain the reasons for its decision.

4. Where a Party declines a request from the other Party to engage in  negotiations or conclude an agreement on facilitating recognition in its territory of the results of conformity assessment procedures conducted by bodies in the other Party’s territory, it shall, on request of the other Party, explain the reasons for its decision.

ARTICLE 7.6: TRANSPARENCY

1. Each Party shall allow its own persons and persons of the other Party to participate in the development of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures. Each Party shall permit persons of the other Party to participate in the development of such measures on terms no less favorable than those accorded to its own persons.

2. Each Party shall recommend that non-governmental standardizing bodies in its territory observe paragraph 1.

3. In order to enhance the meaningful opportunity for persons to provide comments on proposed technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, a Party publishing a notice in accordance with Article 2.9 or 5.6 of the TBT Agreement shall:

(a) include in the notice a statement describing the objective of the proposed technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure and the rationale for the approach the Party is proposing;

(b) transmit the proposal electronically to the other Party through the inquiry point the Party has established in accordance with Article 10 of the TBT Agreement at the same time as it notifies WTO Members of the proposal in accordance with the TBT Agreement; and

(c) publish, preferably by electronic means, or otherwise make available to the public its responses to significant comments it receives from the public or the other Party on the proposed technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure no later than the date it publishes the final technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure. 

Each Party should allow at least 60 days after it transmits a proposal under subparagraph (b) for the public and the other Party to provide comments in writing on the proposal.

4. Where a Party makes a notification under Article 2.10 or 5.7 of the TBT Agreement, it shall at the same time transmit the notification electronically to the other Party through the inquiry point referenced in subparagraph 3(b).

5. On request, each Party shall provide the other Party information regarding the objective of, and rationale for, a standard, technical regulation, or conformity assessment procedure that the Party has adopted or is proposing to adopt.

6. Each Party shall implement this Article as soon as is practicable and in no event later than five years after the date of entry into force of this Agreement. 

ARTICLE 7.7: TBT CHAPTER COORDINATORS

1. The TBT Chapter Coordinators designated in Annex 7-A shall work jointly to facilitate implementation of this Chapter and cooperation between the Parties on matters pertaining to this Chapter. The Coordinators shall:

(a) monitor the implementation and administration of this Chapter;

(b) promptly address any issue that a Party raises related to the development, adoption, application, or enforcement of standards, technical regulations, or conformity assessment procedures; 

(c) enhance cooperation in the development and improvement of standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures;

(d) where appropriate, facilitate sectoral cooperation between governmental and non-governmental conformity assessment bodies in the Parties' territories;

(e) facilitate consideration of any sector-specific proposal a Party makes for further cooperation under this Chapter;

(f) exchange information on developments in non-governmental, regional and multilateral fora related to standards, technical regulations, and conformity assessment procedures;

(g) on request of a Party, consult on any matter arising under this Chapter;

(h) review this Chapter in light of any developments under the TBT Agreement and develop recommendations for amendments to this Chapter in light of those developments; and

(i) take any other steps the Parties consider will assist them in implementing this Chapter and the TBT Agreement and in facilitating trade between them.

In carrying out its functions, each Party's TBT Chapter Coordinator shall coordinate with interested parties in its territory.

2. The Parties' TBT Chapter Coordinators shall communicate with each other by any method they agree is appropriate and shall meet as they agree is necessary.

ARTICLE 7.8: INFORMATION EXCHANGE

Where a Party requests the other Party to provide information pursuant to this Chapter, the requested Party shall provide it within a reasonable period of time and, if possible, by electronic mean s.

ARTICLE 7.9: DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Chapter, technical regulation, standard, conformity assessment procedures, non-governmental body and central government body have the meanings assigned to those terms in Annex 1 of the TBT Agreement.

ANNEX 7-A: TBT CHAPTER COORDINATORS

The TBT Chapter Coordinator shall be:

(a) in the case of Bahrain, the Ministry of Commerce, or its successor;

(b) in the case of the United States, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, or its successor.

CHAPTER EIGHT
SAFEGUARDS

ARTICLE 8.1: APPLICATION OF A SAFEGUARD MEASURE

If as a result of the reduction or elimination of a customs duty under this Agreement, an originating good of the other Party is being imported into the territory of a Party in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to domestic production, and under such conditions that the imports of such originating good from the other Party  constitute a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat thereof, to a domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive good, the Party may:

(a) suspend the further reduction of any rate of customs duty on the good provided for under this Agreement; or

(b) increase the rate of customs duty on the good to a level not to exceed the lesser of

(i) the most-favored-nation (MFN) applied rate of duty on the good in effect at the time the action is taken, and

(ii) the MFN applied rate of duty on the good in effect on the day immediately preceding the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

ARTICLE 8.2: CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS

1. A Party shall notify the other Party in writing on initiation of an investigation described in paragraph 2 and shall consult with the other Party as far in advance of applying a safeguard measure as practicable, with a view to reviewing the information arising from the investigation and exchanging views on the measure.

2. A Party shall apply a safeguard measure only following an investigation by the Party’s competent authorities in accordance with Articles 3 and 4.2(c) of the Safeguards Agreement, and to this end, Articles 3 and 4.2(c) of the Safeguards Agreement are incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.

3. In the investigation described in paragraph 2, the Party shall comply with the requirements of Article 4.2(a) of the Safeguards Agreement, and to this end, Article 4.2(a) is incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement, mutatis mutandis.

4. Neither Party may apply a safeguard measure against a good:

(a) except to the extent and for such time as may be necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury and to facilitate adjustment;

(b) for a period exceeding three years; or

(c) beyond the expiration of the transition period, except with the consent of the other Party.

5. Neither Party may apply a safeguard measure more than once against the same good.

6. Where the expected duration of the safeguard measure is over one year, the importing Party shall progressively liberalize it at regular intervals.

7. On the termination of the safeguard measure, the rate of customs duty shall be the rate that, according to the Party’s Schedule to Annex 2-B (Tariff Elimination), would have been in effect but for the measure.

ARTICLE 8.3: COMPENSATION

A Party applying a safeguard measure shall provide to the other Party mutually agreed trade liberalizing compensation in the form of concessions having substantially equivalent trade effects or equivalent to the value of the additional duties expected to result from the measure. If the Parties are unable to agree on compensation within 30 days from the date the Party announces a decision to apply the measure, the other Party may take tariff action having trade effects substantially equivalent to the safeguard measure. The Party shall apply the action only for the minimum period necessary to achieve the substantially equivalent effects and, in any event, only while the safeguard measure is being applied.

ARTICLE 8.4: GLOBAL SAFEGUARD ACTIONS

Each Party retains its rights and obligations under Article XIX of GATT 1994 and the Safeguards Agreement. This Agreement does not confer any additional rights or obligations on the Parties with regard to actions taken under Article XIX of GATT 1994 and the Safeguards Agreement.

ARTICLE 8.5: DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Chapter:

domestic industry means, with respect to an imported good, the producers as a whole of the like or directly competitive good operating in the territory of a Party, or those whose collective output of the like or directly competitive good constitutes a major proportion of the total domestic production of that good;

safeguard measure means a measure described in Article 8.1;

serious injury means a significant overall impairment in the position of a domestic industry;

substantial cause means a cause that is important and not less than any other cause;

threat of serious injury means serious injury that, on the basis of facts and not merely on allegation, conjecture, or remote possibility, is clearly imminent; and

transition period means the ten-year period following entry into force of this Agreement.

CHAPTER NINE
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT

ARTICLE 9.1: SCOPE AND COVERAGE

Application of Chapter

1. This Chapter applies to any measure regarding covered procurement.

2. For purposes of this Chapter, covered procurement means a procurement of goods, services, or both:

(a) by any contractual means, including purchase, rental, or lease, with or without an option to buy; build-operate-transfer contracts; and public works concession contracts;

(b) for which the value, as estimated in accordance with paragraphs 5 and 6, as appropriate, equals or exceeds the relevant threshold specified in Annex 9-F;

(c) that is conducted by a procuring entity; and

(d) that is not excluded from coverage by this Agreement.

3. This Chapter does not apply to:

(a) non-contractual agreements or any form of assistance that a Party or a government enterprise provides, including grants, loans, equity infusions, fiscal incentives, subsidies, guarantees, cooperative agreements, and government provision of goods or services to persons or to state, regional, or local governments;

(b) purchases funded by international grants, loans, or other international assistance, where the provision of such assistance is subject to conditions inconsistent with this Chapter;

(c) acquisition of fiscal agency or depository services, liquidation and management services for regulated financial institutions, and sale and distribution services for government debt;

(d) any good or service component of a contract to be awarded by an entity that is not listed in Annex 9-A-1 or 9-A-2; and

(e) the procurement of transportation services that form a part of, or are incidental to, a procurement covered by this Chapter.

Compliance

4. Each Party shall ensure that its procuring entities comply with this Chapter in conducting covered procurement.

Valuation

5. In estimating the value of a procurement for the purpose of ascertaining whether it is a covered procurement, a procuring entity shall:

(a) neither divide a procurement into separate procurements nor use a particular method for estimating the value of the procurement for the purpose of avoiding the application of this Chapter;

(b) take into account all forms of remuneration, including any premiums, fees, commissions, interest, other revenue streams that may be provided for under the contract, and, where the procurement provides for the possibility of option clauses, the total maximum value of the procurement, inclusive of optional purchases; and

(c) without prejudice to paragraph 6, where the procurement is to be conducted in multiple parts, with contracts to be awarded at the same time or over a given period to one or more suppliers, base its calculation of the total maximum value of the procurement over its entire duration.

6. In the case of procurement by lease or rental or procurement that does not specify a total price, the basis for estimating the value of the procurement shall be, with respect to:

(a) a fixed-term contract,

(i) where the term is 12 months or less, the total estimated contract value for the contract’s duration, or

(ii) where the term exceeds 12 months, the total estimated contract value, including the estimated residual value; or

(b) a contract for an indefinite period, the estimated monthly installment multiplied by 48. Where there is doubt as to whether the contract is to be a fixed-term contract, a procuring entity shall use the basis for estimating the value of the procurement described in this subparagraph.

ARTICLE 9.2: GENERAL PRINCIPLES

National Treatment and Non-Discrimination

1. With respect to any measure covered by this Chapter, each Party, including its procuring entities, shall accord unconditionally to the goods and services of the other Party and to the suppliers of the other Party offering the goods or services of a Party, treatment no less favorable than the most favorable treatment the Party or the procuring entity accords to its own goods, services, and suppliers.

2. A procuring entity of a Party may not:

(a) treat a locally established supplier less favorably than another locally established supplier on the basis of degree of foreign affiliation or ownership; nor

(b) discriminate against a locally established supplier on the basis that the goods or services offered by that supplier for a particular procurement are goods or services of the other Party.

Rules of Origin

3. For purposes of procurement covered by this Chapter, neither Party may apply rules of origin to goods imported from the other Party that are different from the rules of origin the Party applies in the normal course of trade to imports of the same goods from the other Party.

Offsets

4. A procuring entity may not seek, take account of, impose, or enforce offsets in the qualification and selection of suppliers, goods, or services, in the evaluation of tenders, or in the award of contracts, before or in the course of a covered procurement.

Measures Not Specific to Procurement

5. Paragraphs 1 and 2 do not apply to customs duties or charges of any kind imposed on or in connection with importation, the method of levying such duties and charges, other import regulations or formalities, and measures affecting trade in services other than measures governing covered procurements.

ARTICLE 9.3: PUBLICATION OF PROCUREMENT MEASURES

1. Each Party shall promptly publish laws, regulations, judicial decisions, administrative rulings of general application, and procedures regarding covered procurements, and any changes to such measures, in officially designated electronic or paper media that are widely disseminated and remain readily accessible to the public.

2. Each Party shall, on request by the other Party, promptly provide an explanation relating to any such measure to the requesting Party.

ARTICLE 9.4: PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF INTENDED PROCUREMENT AND NOTICE OF PLANNED PROCUREMENT

Notice of Intended Procurement

1. For each covered procurement, a procuring entity shall publish a notice inviting interested suppliers to submit tenders (“notice of intended procurement”) or, where appropriate, applications for participation in the procurement. The notice shall be published in an electronic or paper medium that is widely disseminated and readily accessible to the public for the entire period established for tendering.

2. A procuring entity shall include the following information in each notice of intended procurement:

(a) the name and address of the procuring entity and other information necessary to contact the procuring entity and obtain all relevant documents relating to the procurement;

(b) a description of the procurement and any conditions for participation;

(c) the time frame for the delivery of goods or services;

(d) the procurement method that will be used; and

(e) the address and the time limit for the submission of tenders, and, where appropriate, any time limit for the submission of an application for participation in a procurement.

Notice of Planned Procurement

3. Each Party shall encourage its procuring entities to publish as early as possible in each fiscal year a notice regarding the procuring entity’s procurement plans. The notice should include the subject matter of any planned procurement and the estimated date of the publication of the notice of intended procurement. Where the notice is published in accordance with Article 9.5.2(a), a procuring entity may apply Article 9.5.2 for the purpose of establishing shorter time limits for tendering for covered procurements.

ARTICLE 9.5: TIME LIMITS FOR TENDERING PROCESS

1. A procuring entity shall prescribe time limits for tendering that allow suppliers sufficient time to prepare and submit responsive tenders, taking into account the nature and complexity of the procurement. Except as provided for in paragraphs 2 and 3, a procuring entity shall provide no less than 40 days from the date of publication of a notice of intended procurement to the deadline for submission of tenders.

2. Under the following circumstances, a procuring entity may establish a time limit for tendering that is less than 40 days, provided that such time limit is sufficiently long to enable suppliers to prepare and submit responsive tenders and is in no case less than ten days:

(a) where the entity has published a separate notice, including a notice of planned procurement under Article 9.4.3, at least 40 days and not more than 12 months in advance, and such separate notice contains a description of the procurement; the time limits for the submission of tenders or, where appropriate, applications for participation in a procurement; and the address from which documents relating to the procurement may be obtained;

(b) where the entity procures commercial goods or services, except that the procuring entity may not rely on this provision if it requires suppliers to satisfy conditions for participation; or

(c) in duly substantiated cases of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the procuring entity, such that a 40-day deadline would result in serious adverse consequences to the entity or the relevant Party.

3. When a procuring entity publishes a notice of intended procurement in accordance with Article 9.4 in an electronic medium, the procuring entity may reduce the time limit for submission of a tender or an application for participation in a procurement by up to five days. In no case shall the procuring entity reduce either time limit to less than ten days from the date on which the notice of intended procurement is published.

4. A procuring entity shall require all participating suppliers to submit tenders by a common deadline. For greater certainty, this requirement also applies where:

(a) as a result of a need to amend information provided to suppliers during the procurement process, the procuring entity extends the time limit for qualification or tendering procedures; or

(b) negotiations are terminated and suppliers are permitted to submit new tenders.

ARTICLE 9.6: INFORMATION ON INTENDED PROCUREMENTS

Tender Documentation

1. A procuring entity shall provide to any interested supplier tender documentation that includes all information necessary to permit suppliers to prepare and submit responsive tenders. Unless already provided in the notice of intended procurement, such documentation shall include a complete description of:

(a) the procurement, including the nature, scope, and, where quantifiable, the quantity of the goods or services to be procured and any requirements to be fulfilled, including any technical specifications, conformity certifications, plans, drawings, or instructional materials;

(b) any conditions for participation, including any financial guarantees, information, and documents that suppliers are required to submit;

(c) all criteria, including all cost factors, to be considered in awarding the contract, and the relative importance of such criteria;

(d) the date, time, and place for the opening of tenders; and

(e) any other terms or conditions, including terms of payment, relating to the procurement.

2. A procuring entity shall promptly:

(a) provide, on request, the tender documentation to any supplier participating in the procurement; and

(b) reply to any reasonable request for relevant information by a supplier participating in the procurement, provided that such information does not give that supplier an advantage over its competitors in the procurement.

Technical Specifications

3. A procuring entity may not prepare, adopt, or apply any technical specification or prescribe any conformity assessment procedure with the purpose or the effect of creating unnecessary obstacles to trade between the Parties.

4. In prescribing the technical specifications for the good or service being procured, a procuring entity shall:

(a) specify the technical specification, wherever appropriate, in terms of performance and functional requirements, rather than design or descriptive characteristics; and

(b) base the technical specification on international standards, where such exist and are applicable to the procuring entity, except where the use of an international standard would fail to meet the procuring entity’s program requirements or would impose more burdens than the use of a government-unique standard. 

5. A procuring entity may not prescribe technical specifications that require or refer to a particular trademark or trade name, patent, copyright, design or type, specific origin, producer, or supplier, unless there is no other sufficiently precise or intelligible way of describing the procurement requirements and provided that, in such cases, words such as “or equivalent” are included in the tender documentation.

6. A procuring entity may not seek or accept, in a manner that would have the effect of precluding competition, advice that may be used in the preparation or adoption of any technical specification for a specific procurement from a person that may have a commercial interest in that procurement.

7. For greater certainty, this Article is not intended to preclude a procuring entity from preparing, adopting, or applying technical specifications to promote the conservation of natural resources or to protect the environment.

Modifications

8. If, during the course of a procurement, a procuring entity modifies the criteria or technical requirements set out in a notice or tender documentation provided to participating suppliers, or amends or reissues a notice or tender documentation, it shall transmit all such modifications or amended or re-issued notice or tender documentation:

(a) to all the suppliers that are participating at the time the information is amended, if known, and, in all other cases, in the same manner as the original information; and

(b) in adequate time to allow such suppliers to modify and re-submit their tenders, as appropriate.

ARTICLE 9.7: CONDITIONS FOR PARTICIPATION

General Requirements

1. Where a procuring entity requires suppliers to satisfy conditions for participation, the entity shall, subject to the other provisions of this Chapter:

(a) limit any conditions for participation to those that are essential to ensure that the supplier has the legal, commercial, technical, and financial abilities to fulfill the requirements and technical specifications of the procurement;

(b) evaluate the financial, commercial, and technical abilities of a supplier on the basis of its global business activities, including both its activities in the territory of the Party of the supplier, as well as its activities, if any, in the territory of the Party of the procuring entity, and may not impose the condition that, in order for a supplier to participate in a procurement, the supplier has previously been awarded one or more contracts by a procuring entity of that Party or that the supplier has prior work experience in the territory of that Party;

(c) base its determination of whether a supplier has satisfied the conditions for participation solely on the conditions that the procuring entity has specified in advance in notices or tender documentation;  and

(d) allow all suppliers that satisfy the conditions for participation to participate in the procurement.

2. Nothing in this Article shall preclude a procuring entity from excluding a supplier from a procurement on grounds such as bankruptcy or false declarations. 

3. Where a procuring entity requires suppliers to satisfy conditions for participation, the entity shall publish a notice inviting suppliers to apply for participation. The entity shall publish the notice sufficiently in advance to provide interested suppliers adequate time to prepare and submit responsive applications and for the entity to evaluate and make its determination based on such applications.

Multi-Use Lists

4. A procuring entity may establish a multi-use list provided that the entity annually publishes in a paper or electronic medium, or otherwise makes available continuously in electronic form, a notice inviting interested suppliers to apply for inclusion on the list. The notice shall include:

(a) a description of the goods or services that may be procured using the list;

(b) the conditions for participation to be satisfied by suppliers and the methods that the procuring entity will use to verify a supplier’s satisfaction of the conditions;

(c) the name and address of the procuring entity and other information necessary to contact the entity and obtain all relevant documents relating to the list;

(d) the date on which use of the list will terminate, or where a date is not provided, an indication of the method by which advance notice will be given of the termination of use of the list;

(e) any deadlines for submission of applications for inclusion on the list; and

(f) an indication that the list may be used for procurement covered by this Chapter.

5. A procuring entity that maintains a multi-use list shall allow suppliers to apply at any time for inclusion on the list and shall include on the list all suppliers that apply and satisfy the conditions for participation within a reasonably short time after a supplier applies.

Information on Procuring Entity Decisions

6. Where a supplier applies for participation in a covered procurement, or for inclusion on a multi-use list, a procuring entity shall promptly advise such supplier of its decision with respect to its application.

7. Where a procuring entity rejects an application for participation in a covered procurement or for inclusion on a multi-use list, or ceases to recognize a supplier as having satisfied the conditions for participation, the entity shall promptly inform the supplier and, on request of such supplier, promptly provide the supplier a written explanation of the reasons for its decision.

ARTICLE 9.8: TENDERING PROCEDURES

1. A procuring entity shall conduct procurement covered by this Agreement in a manner that is consistent with this Chapter, and, except where specifically provided otherwise in this Chapter, in a transparent and impartial manner and shall permit any interested supplier to submit a tender.

2. Provided that the tendering procedure is not used to avoid competition, to protect domestic suppliers, or in a manner that discriminates against suppliers of the other Party, a procuring entity may contact a supplier or suppliers of its choice and may choose not to apply Articles 9.4 through 9.7 and 9.9.1 through 9.9.6 in any of the following circumstances:

(a) where, in response to a prior notice of intended procurement or invitation to tender,

(i) no tenders were submitted;

(ii) no tenders were submitted that conform to the essential requirements in the tender documentation; or

(iii) no suppliers satisfied the conditions for participation;

and the entity does not substantially modify the essential requirements of the procurement or the conditions for participation;

(b) where the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute goods or services exist because:

(i) the requirement is for a work of art;

(ii) the procuring entity is obligated to protect patents, copyrights, or other exclusive rights, or proprietary information; or

(iii) there is an absence of competition for technical reasons;

(c) for additional deliveries of goods or services by the original supplier that are intended either as replacement parts, extensions, or continuing services for existing equipment, software, services, or installations, where a change of supplier would compel the procuring entity to procure goods or services that do not meet requirements of interchangeability with existing equipment, software, services, or installations;

(d) for goods purchased on a commodity market;

(e) where a procuring entity procures a prototype or a first good or service that is developed at its request in the course of, and for, a particular contract for research, experiment, study, or original development. When such a contract has been fulfilled, subsequent procurements of goods or services shall be subject to this Chapter; or

(f) in so far as is strictly necessary where, for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the procuring entity, the goods or services could not be obtained in time under procedures consistent with Articles 9.4 through 9.7, and the use of such procedures would result in serious injury to the procuring entity or the relevant Party.

3. For each contract awarded under paragraph 2, a procuring entity shall prepare a written report that includes the name of the procuring entity, the value and kind of goods or services procured, and a statement indicating the circumstances and conditions described in paragraph 2 that justify the use of a limited tendering procedure.

ARTICLE 9.9: TREATMENT OF TENDERS AND AWARDING OF CONTRACTS

Receipt and Opening of Tenders

1. A procuring entity or relevant authority shall receive and open all tenders under procedures that guarantee the fairness and impartiality of the procurement process.

2. A procuring entity or relevant authority shall not penalize any supplier whose tender is received after the time specified for receiving tenders if the delay is due solely to mishandling on the part of the procuring entity or relevant authority.

3. Where a procuring entity or relevant authority provides suppliers with opportunities to correct, or concur in the correction of, unintentional errors of form between the opening of tenders and the awarding of the contract, the procuring entity or relevant authority shall provide the same opportunities to all participating suppliers.

Awarding of Contracts

4. A procuring entity or relevant authority shall require that, in order to be considered for award, a tender:

(a) be submitted in writing by a supplier that has satisfied any conditions for participation; and

(b) at the time of opening, conform to the essential requirements and evaluation criteria specified in the notices and tender documentation.

5. Unless a procuring entity or relevant authority determines that it is not in the public interest to award a contract, it shall award the contract to the supplier that the entity or authority has determined to be fully capable of undertaking the contract and whose tender is either the lowest tender or the tender determined to be the most advantageous solely on the basis of the requirements and evaluation criteria set out in the notices and tender documentation.

6. A procuring entity or relevant authority may not cancel a procurement, or terminate or modify a contract it has awarded, so as to circumvent the obligations of this Chapter.

Information Provided to Suppliers

7. A procuring entity shall promptly inform suppliers that have submitted tenders of its contract award decision. Subject to Article 9.13, a procuring entity, on request of a supplier whose tender was not selected for award, shall provide the supplier the reasons for not selecting its tender and the relative advantages of the tender selected.

Publication of Award Information

8. Not later than 60 days after the award of a contract for a covered procurement, a procuring entity or relevant authority shall publish a notice in an officially designated publication, which may be in an electronic or paper medium. The notice shall include at least the following information about the contract:

(a) the name and address of the procuring entity;

(b) a description of the goods or services procured;

(c) the date of award;

(d) the name and address of the successful supplier;

(e) the contract value; and

(f) the procurement method used and, in cases where a procedure has been used pursuant to Article 9.8.2, a description of the circumstances justifying the procedure used.

Provision of Information to the Other Party

9. On request of the other Party, a Party shall provide information on the tender and evaluation procedures used in the conduct of a covered procurement sufficient to demonstrate that the particular procurement was conducted fairly, impartially, and in accordance with this Chapter. Such information shall include information on the characteristics and relative advantages of the successful tender and on the contract price.

Maintenance of Records

10. A procuring entity or relevant authority shall maintain records and reports of tendering procedures relating to covered procurements, including the reports required by Article 9.8.3, for at least three years after the date a contract is awarded.

ARTICLE 9.10: ENSURING INTEGRITY IN PROCUREMENT PRACTICES

Further to Article 17.5 (Anti-Corruption), each Party shall adopt or maintain procedures to declare ineligible for participation in the Party's procurements, either indefinitely or for a specified time, suppliers that the Party has determined to have engaged in fraudulent or illegal actions in relation to procurement. On request of the other Party, a Party shall identify the suppliers determined to be ineligible under these procedures, and, where appropriate, exchange information regarding those suppliers or the fraudulent or illegal action.

ARTICLE 9.11: DOMESTIC REVIEW OF SUPPLIER CHALLENGES

1. Each Party shall provide timely, effective, transparent, and predictable means for a supplier to challenge the conduct of a covered procurement, without prejudice to that supplier’s participation in ongoing or future procurement activities. Each Party shall ensure that its review procedures are made publicly available in writing, and are timely, transparent, effective, and consistent with the principle of due process.

2. Each Party shall establish or designate at least one impartial authority that is independent of the procuring entity that is the subject of the challenge to receive and review challenges that suppliers submit in connection with any covered procurement.

3. Where a body other than an authority referred to in paragraph 2 initially reviews a challenge, the Party shall ensure that the supplier may appeal the initial decision to an impartial administrative or judicial authority that is independent of the procuring entity that is the subject of the challenge.

4. Each Party shall authorize the authority that it establishes or designates under paragraph 2 to take prompt interim measures, pending the resolution of a challenge, to preserve the opportunity to correct potential breaches of this Chapter, including the suspension of the award of a contract or the performance of a contract already awarded. However, in deciding whether to apply an interim measure, each Party may take into account any overriding adverse consequences to the public interest if an interim measure were taken. If a Party decides not to apply an interim measure, it shall provide a written explanation of the grounds for its decision.

5. Each Party shall ensure that the authority that it establishes or designates under paragraph 2 conducts its review in accordance with the following:

(a) a supplier shall be allowed sufficient time to prepare and submit a written challenge, which in no case shall be less than ten days from the time when the basis of the challenge became known or reasonably should have become known to the supplier;

(b) the procuring entity shall be required to respond in writing to the supplier’s challenge and provide all relevant documents to the authority;

(c) the supplier that initiates the challenge shall be provided an opportunity to reply to the procuring entity’s response before the authority makes a decision on the challenge; and

(d) the authority shall promptly provide decisions relating to a supplier’s challenge in writing, with an explanation of the grounds for each decision.

ARTICLE 9.12: MODIFICATIONS AND RECTIFICATIONS TO COVERAGE

1. Either Party may modify its coverage under this Chapter provided that it:

(a) notifies the other Party in writing and the other Party does not object in writing within 30 days after the notification; and

(b) within 30 days after notifying the other Party, offers acceptable compensatory adjustments to the other Party to maintain a level of coverage comparable to that existing before the modification, except as provided in paragraphs 2 and 3.

2. Either Party may make rectifications of a purely formal nature to its coverage under this Chapter, or minor amendments to its Schedule to Annex 9-A-1 or 9-A-2, provided that it notifies the other Party in writing and that the other Party does not object in writing within 30 days after the notification. A Party that makes such a rectification or minor amendment need not offer compensatory adjustments to the other Party.

3. A Party need not offer compensatory adjustments where the Parties agree that the proposed modification covers a procuring entity over which the Party has effectively eliminated its control or influence. Where the Parties do not agree that government control or influence has been effectively eliminated, the objecting Party may request further information or consultations with a view to clarifying the nature of any government control or influence and reaching agreement on the procuring entity’s continued coverage under this Chapter.

4. The Joint Committee established under Chapter Eighteen (Administration of the Agreement) shall adopt any agreed modification, technical rectification, or minor amendment made in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2.

ARTICLE 9.13: NON-DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

1. A Party, including its procuring entities, shall not disclose information that is designated as confidential or that is by nature confidential, without the authorization of the persons providing the information. This includes information the disclosure of which would prejudice legitimate commercial interests of a particular person or might prejudice fair competition between suppliers.

2. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to require a Party, including its procuring entities, to provide confidential information the disclosure of which would:

(a) impede law enforcement;

(b) prejudice fair competition between suppliers;

(c) prejudice the legitimate commercial interests of particular suppliers or persons, including the protection of intellectual property; or

(e) otherwise be contrary to the public interest.

ARTICLE 9.14: EXCEPTIONS

1. Provided that such measures are not applied in a manner that would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between the Parties where the same conditions prevail or a disguised restriction on trade between the Parties, nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent a Party from adopting or maintaining measures:

(a) necessary to protect public morals, order, or safety;

(b) necessary to protect human, animal, or plant life or health;

(c) necessary to protect intellectual property; or

(d) relating to goods or services of handicapped persons, of philanthropic institutions, or of prison labor.

2. The Parties understand that paragraph 1(b) includes environmental measures necessary to protect human, animal, or plant life or health.

ARTICLE 9.15: DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Chapter:

build-operate-transfer contract and public works concession contract mean any contractual arrangement, the primary purpose of which is to provide for the construction or rehabilitation of physical infrastructure, plant, buildings, facilities, or other government-owned works, and under which, as consideration for a supplier's execution of a contractual arrangement, a procuring entity grants to the supplier, for a specified period, temporary ownership of or a right to control and operate, and demand payment for the use of, such works for the duration of the contract;

commercial goods and services means goods and services of a type of goods and services that are sold or offered for sale to, and customarily purchased by, non-governmental buyers for non-governmental purposes; it includes goods and services with modifications customary in the commercial marketplace, as well as minor modifications not customarily available in the commercial marketplace;

conditions for participation means registration, qualification and other pre-requisites for participation in a procurement;

in writing or written means any worded or numbered expression that can be read, reproduced, and later communicated; it may include electronically transmitted and stored information;

multi-use list means a list of suppliers that a procuring entity has determined satisfy the conditions for participation in that list, and that the procuring entity intends to use more than once;

offsets means any conditions or undertakings that require use of domestic content, domestic suppliers, the licensing of technology, technology transfer, investment, counter-trade, or similar actions to encourage local development or to improve a Party's balance-of-payments accounts;

procurement official means any person who performs procurement functions;

procuring entity means an entity listed in Annex 9-A-1 or 9-A-2;

relevant authority means any authority authorized by a Party to conduct any aspect of a procurement;

services includes construction services, unless otherwise specified;

supplier means a person that provides or could provide goods or services to a procuring entity; and

technical specification means a tendering requirement that:

(a) sets out the characteristics of:

(i) goods to be procured, including quality, performance, safety, and dimensions, or the processes and methods for their production; or

(ii) services to be procured, or the processes or methods for their provision, including any applicable administrative provisions; or

(b) addresses terminology, symbols, packaging, marking, or labeling requirements, as they apply to a good or service.

[ Index > Chapters 1-9 > 10-21 ]



CHAPTER TWO

1 For greater certainty, paragraph 1 applies to prohibitions or restrictions on the importation of remanufactured products.

2 For greater certainty, each Party confirms that any measure that it adopts pursuant to this paragraph shall be consistent with the WTO Agreement.