Date: 2022-10-26Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision No 1/2022 of the EU-UK Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin of 17 October 2022 concerning the consultation procedure in case of denial of preferential tariff treatment under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part [2022/2064]
Executive Summary:
Decision No 1/2022 of the EU-UK Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin establishes a consultation procedure under Article 633 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, to be followed when preferential tariff treatment is denied. Consultations must be convened and concluded within three months of notification of intent to deny preferential treatment, unless extended by agreement. The decision entered into force on October 17, 2022.
Key Points / Main Content:
Consultation Request:
* A Party can request consultations after the importing Party notifies the exporting Party of its intent to deny preferential tariff treatment.
* The request is submitted by a member of the Secretariat of the Committee of the requesting Party to the member of the Secretariat of the other Party, via email or other recorded communication.
Consultation Process:
* Consultations must be convened and concluded within three months of the notification of intent, unless the Parties agree to an extension.
* Consultations can be held in person or via other agreed means of communication. In-person consultations take place in the territory of the Party to whom the request was addressed unless otherwise agreed.
* Each Party must inform the other, through the Secretariat, of their delegation composition 15 calendar days before each session.
* The consultation language is English. Written documents can be in any official EU language and are circulated through the Secretariat.
Minutes and Agreements:
* Draft minutes of each session must be drawn up within 8 calendar days by the Secretariat member of the respondent Party. The other Party has 8 calendar days to provide comments.
* Minutes should summarize the session, including submitted documents, requested statements, and conclusions, and include a list of participants.
* The Parties must approve the revised draft minutes within 28 calendar days of the session.
* Agreements reached during consultations take effect upon adoption at the session.
Resolution and Expiration:
* Parties should attempt to resolve the matter within the consultation period.
* An agreement reached is binding.
* The consultation period expires at its term unless extended, provided the consultation was not prevented by the importing Party.
Impact Analysis:
Importing Party Customs Authority:
* Impact: Must follow the consultation procedure if preferential tariff treatment denial is contested.
* Action Required: Participate in consultations if requested, provide relevant information, and consider agreements reached.
Exporting Party Customs Authority:
* Impact: Can request consultations if their confirmation of origin is disregarded.
* Action Required: Prepare for and participate in consultations, provide necessary documentation, and seek a resolution.
Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin Secretariat:
* Impact: Facilitates the consultation process.
* Action Required: Receive and transmit consultation requests, circulate documents, and draft/revise minutes.
Both Parties:
* Impact: Bound by the agreed consultation procedure and any resolutions reached.
* Action Required: Ensure delegations are prepared for consultations, adhere to timelines, and implement any agreements.
Key Entities Referenced
Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperation and Rules of Origin: The committee established under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement responsible for adopting decisions or recommendations on the consultation procedure.
Article 633: Article of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement that concerns the establishment of a consultation procedure in case of denial of preferential tariff treatment.
Brussels: Location where the decision was adopted.
Council Decision EU 2021/689: Council Decision on the conclusion of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part.
European Union: One of the parties to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
European Atomic Energy Community: One of the parties to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: One of the parties to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Trade and Cooperation Agreement: The agreement between the European Union, the European Atomic Energy Community, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which is the basis for the consultation procedure described in the document.
26.10.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 276/147
ACTS ADOPTED BY BODIES CREATED BY
INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
DECISION No 1/2022 OF THE EU-UK TRADE SPECIALISED COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS
COOPERATION AND RULES OF ORIGIN
of 17 October 2022
concerning the consultation procedure in case of denial of preferential tariff treatment under the
Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy
Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the
other part [2022/2064]
THE TRADE SPECIALISED COMMITTEE ON CUSTOMS COOPERATION AND RULES OF ORIGIN,
Having regard to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy
Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, and in
particular Article 63(3) thereof concerning the establishment of a consultation procedure in case of denial of preferential
tariff treatment,
Whereas:
(1) The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community,
of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part(1) (the
‘Agreement’), was concluded by Council Decision (EU) 2021/689(2)and entered into force on 1 May 2021.
(2) Article 121(2), point (d), of the Agreement provides that the Trade Specialised Committee on Customs Cooperation
and Rules of Origin (the ‘Committee’) may adopt decisions or recommendations on the procedure for the
consultation established in Article 63(3) of the Agreement.
(3) Article 63(3) of the Agreement provides that when the customs authority of the importing Party notifies the
customs authority of the exporting Party of its intention to deny the preferential tariff treatment after the receipt of
the opinion of the exporting Party confirming the origin of the product, consultations are to be held at the request
of either Party within three months after the date of that notification, and may take place in accordance with the
procedure set by the Committee.
(4) In accordance with Article 63(3) of the Agreement, a procedure for consultations is to be established to facilitate an
agreement between the Parties in the case of denial of preferential tariff treatment against the opinion of the
exporting Party confirming the origin of the product,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
The consultation referred to in Article 63(3) of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the
European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of
the other part, shall take place in accordance with the procedure for consultations set out in the Annex to this Decision.
(1) OJ L 149, 30.4.2021, p. 10.
(2) Council Decision (EU) 2021/689 of 29 April 2021 on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Trade and Cooperation
Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, of the other part, and of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning security procedures for exchanging and protecting classified information (OJ L 149,
30.4.2021, p. 2).L 276/148 EN Official Journal of the European Union 26.10.2022
Article 2
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
It shall apply from the same day.
Done at Brussels, 17 October 2022.
For the Trade Specialised Committee
The Co-chairs
Fernando PERREAU DE PINNINCK
Peter KOVACS
Oliver HAYDON26.10.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 276/149
ANNEX
PROCEDURE FOR CONSULTATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 63(3), SECOND
SUBPARAGRAPH, OF THE TRADE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
EUROPEAN UNION AND THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY, OF THE ONE PART,
AND THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, OF THE OTHER
PART
Rule 1
1. After the customs authority of the importing Party has notified the customs authority of the exporting Party of its
intention to deny the preferential tariff treatment, a Party may submit a request for consultations to the other Party
pursuant to Article 63(3), second subparagraph, of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union
and the European Atomic Energy Community, of the one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland, of the other part (the ‘Agreement’).
2. The request shall be made by the member of the Secretariat of the Trade Specialised Committee on Customs
Cooperation and Rules of Origin (the ‘Committee’) of the requesting Party to the member of the Secretariat of the other
Party by email or, where appropriate, by any other means of communication that provides a record of the sending thereof.
Unless proven otherwise, such request shall be deemed to be received on the date of its sending.
Rule 2
1. Consultations shall be convened and concluded within three months after the date of the notification of the intention
referred to in Rule 1, unless the Parties have agreed to extend the period for consultations. During that period, the Parties
may meet one or several times.
2. Consultations shall be held in person or by any other means of communication agreed by the Parties. If held in
person, consultations shall take place in the territory of the Party to which the consultations requested are addressed,
unless the Parties agree otherwise.
Rule 3
15 calendar days in advance of each session of consultation, each Party shall inform the other Party, through the Secretariat,
of the intended composition of its delegation and shall specify the name and function of each member thereof.
Rule 4
1. The consultations shall be held in English.
2. Written documents relevant for the consultations shall be circulated, through the Secretariat, to the other Party. They
may be in any of the official languages of the Union.
Rule 5
1. Draft minutes of each consultation session shall be drawn up by the official acting as member of the Secretariat of the
respondent Party hosting the meeting within 8 calendar days. The draft minutes shall be transmitted for comments to the
member of the Secretariat of the other Party, who may submit comments within 8 calendar days.
2. The minutes shall summarise the consultation sessions, specifying where applicable:
(a) the documents submitted;
(b) any statement that a Party requested be entered in the minutes; and
(c) the conclusions reached, which may include the extension of the duration of the consultations.L 276/150 EN Official Journal of the European Union 26.10.2022
3. The minutes shall include as an annex a list of participants setting out for each of the delegations the names and
functions of all individuals who attended the meeting.
4. The Secretariat shall adjust the draft minutes on the basis of the comments received. The draft minutes, as revised,
shall be approved by the Parties within 28 calendar days of the date of the session, or by any other date agreed by the
Parties. Upon approval of the minutes, any agreement reached shall take effect between the Parties at the session of
consultations when that conclusion was adopted.
5. If the consultations are held in writing, the result of the written consultations shall be recorded in the minutes of the
next meeting of the Committee. Any agreement reached during the written consultations shall take effect between the
Parties at the session of consultations when that conclusion was adopted.
Rule 6
1. The Parties shall make every attempt to arrive at a mutually satisfactory resolution of the matter within the period of
consultation referred to in Rule 2. If the Parties reach an agreement, it shall be binding upon the Parties.
2. For the purpose of Article 63(3), third subparagraph, of the Agreement, the period of consultation referred to in Rule
2 shall be considered expired when it arrives at its term and the Parties do not agree to extend it, unless the consultation was
not held for reasons attributable to the importing Party.