MARKEI ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Brussels, 13 December 2012 SUMMARY REPORT

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1 Ref. Ares(2013) /06/2013 MARKEI ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Brussels, 13 December 2012 SUMMARY REPORT L APPROVAL OF TME DRAFT AGENDA Participants requested to add following points to the agenda under AOB: 2O Morocco's safeguard investigation on steel as well as on problems related to certification of wood and wood products; I Jkraine's renegotiation of their WTO commitments on tariff lines; Morocco's intention to increase VAT for some imported products; Sierra Leone's new shipping act introducing a cargo reservation of 40%; debriefing on a Market Access Seminar held in Russia. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR COM introduced a new registered business association: Confederation of European Community Cigarette Manufacturers (CECCM), which represents Europeanbased cigarette manufacturers and several National Manufacturers Associations. COM notified to the Committee on the WT O Trade Policy Review for Japan. 3. MARKEI ACCESS CASES 3ol Indonesia: export resirktìons om raw minerals and stones COM informed the Committee that the Ministry of Einergy issued a Regulation on Minerals Value Added by Mineral Processing and Purifying stipulating that all raw metal and nonmetal minerals and stones incl. tin, gold, copper, nickel, diamond, etc. have to be processed in Indonesia. Consequently, it bans the export of raw minerals and stones and in the meantime introduced high export taxes. 3,2 China: excessive data requirements Chinese authorities have repeatedly requested the disclosure of commercially sensitive information before customs clearance, which could lead to a possible systemic behaviour. COM communicated that the EU DEL in Beijing has been asked to verifiy the legal basis for the disclosure requests to find out whether this is a horizontal or rather a productspecific issue. COM indicated that this issue will be on the agenda of one oí'the next MAAC meetings when the list of key barriers for China will be reviewed. 4 REPORT ON THE TBT COMMITTEE, GENEVA, 2729 NOVEMBER 2012 COM debriefed the Committee about the main results of the latest TBT discussions in Geneva where 36 specific trade concerns were discussed. The EU raised or supported 18 cases, of which 12 common with the US and 6 with Japan. The EU put two new issues on the agenda (Brazil AM VISA resolution on refurbished medical devices and China testing and certification requirements for medical devices) and supported 2 new US concerns (Indonesia import regulations for horticultural products and Israel alcoholic beverages warning labels). COM also debriefed the MAAC on the completion of the 6th Triennial review, which aims at reviewing the implementation of the TBT Agreement and was adopted following two days of discussions where many of the EU comments were taken on board in particular in relation to future improvements of the TBT IMS in part on Transparency where the EU had submitted a position paper Some MS expressed concerns about NewZealand's intention to follow Australia's example in introducing the plainpackaging of tobacco products, other MS and BU raised concerns with regard to Russia's technical regulations on alcoholic beverages. Commission européenne B1049 Bruxelles / Europese Commissie. B1049 Brussel Belgium Telephone: (322)

2 5. RESULTS OF TUF. 'MAPPING EXERCISE' OF EXISTING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SMES COM presented the draft "Study on Support Services for SMEs in International Business". The objectives of tiiis report are to get an overview of existing support services for SME internationalisation in the EU and abroad ("mapping exercise") and to identify overlaps and gaps. The report will be the basis for an online portal where all services will be presented. During the discussion certain participants pointed out that, in their view, there seems to be no gaps in the general support services provided by the MS. However, SMEs seem not to be aware of available services. 1 he COM was invited to coordinate and promote best practices, supported by Lhe online portal with the mapping results. 6. PRESENTATION OF THE MARKET ACCESS DATABASE (MADB) COM presented the new improved version of the MADB website. The overall website function remains the same with some additional features such as some EU import information on the homepage and easily accessible country specific information allowing the use of the MADB as a basic export market study tool. 7. UPDATE ON WORKING GROUPS The following Working Oroup meetings are planned: tyres (18 December 2012); cars and car parts (19 December 2012); alcoholic beverages (22 January 2013). 8. ANY OI HER BUSINESS Ukraine's renegoílatíoii «f WTO tariff lines: A MS expressed its concern regarding the several trade restrictive measures adopted in the last months by UA. I hese measures as a whole create an unstable and unpredictable situation for European exporters, which are currently facing several difficulties for their business in Ukraine. COM confirmed that the EUUkraine bilateral trade relations are very poor at the moment, because of several trade irritants which are seriously deteriorating the business climate in Ukraine. Morocco's imcrease of VAT om ceramic products: COM stated that the information on Morocco's possible increase of 30% of VA T on ceramic products from January 2013 came from unofficial sources (Moroccan newspaper). The press article mentioned that an amendment was introduced to the budget for COM added that this possible amendment concerns certain luxury products and other products such as ceramics and that the budget is currently under discussion in the Moroccan Parliament. Morocco's certification of wood and wood products: The required certification by the Moroccan authorities for imported wood products constitutes a real impediment for EU imports, because EU certification is not recognised and the Moroccan authorities did not designate a competent entity for issuing this certification. As a consequence EU wood products are not accepted in Morocco. The reforestation tax (12%) which seems to be applicable only to imported wood products. Sierra Leone's new shipping act introducing a cargo reservation: BU raised concerns about Sierra Leone's shipping act introducing a cargo reservation of 40%. COM outlined that at the moment it seems to relate concern only to 'bulk' cargos and not containers. According to COM's analysis since all shippers shall register with SLNC by 13 December and each shipper is provided upon registration with the terms and conditions which will be applied, the situation should become clearer. Market Access Seminar In Russia: A MS debriefed the Committee on the outcome of a Market Access Seminar in Russia on 28 November 2012 bringing together business representatives for the three Baltic Member States and noted that a follow up meeting will be organised with EU DEL in January. DG TRADE, Unit G.3. 2

3 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS 13 December 2012 MARKET ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER STATES + Croatia Coimtrv Austria Belgium Belgium Bulgaria Craotia Czech Republic Denmark Finland France France Germany Hungary Hungary Ireland Italv Latvia Lithuania Lithuania Netherlands Poland Portugal Romania Organisation Energy and Tourism Trade Office Ministry" of Industry and Trade Ministère du Commerce Exterieur Fed. and Technology Min. Foreign Affairs MF A Ministry of Economic Affairs Ministry of the Economy & 096 1

4 Slovakia Slovenia Spain Spain Sweden Trade National Board of Trade 096 o

5 FEDERATION Business Europe The Brewers of Europe LĪST OF PARTICIPANTS 13 December 2012 MARKET ACCESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE BUSINESS CECCM CECED CEEV EBCA ECSA EDA EEA EFPIA EGA EUDA EUROCOMMERCE spiritseurope FESI IETF UEAPME