The following text is intended for general reference only. It is currently under review for accuracy and completeness, as well as formatting.
Geneva, 24 March 1994
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING RESULTS OF URUGUAY ROUND MARKET ACCESS NEGOTIATIONS ON AGRICULTURE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ARGENTINA
1. The Republic of Argentina and the United States of America have concluded their bilateral negotiations with respect to agriculture products within the framework of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations. Below are the results of that negotiation.
Beef
2. The United States Government, through the Department of Agriculture (USDA), commits to engage in consultations with Argentine authorities and to make its best efforts to achieve a mutually satisfactory resolution of outstanding issues related to U.S. health and sanitary restrictions on Argentine beef.
3. Sanitary agencies of both governments will establish a working group and a specific agenda as soon as possible after the Marrakach Ministerial Meeting.
4. Once Argentina is approved by the appropriate USDA authorities to ship fresh, chilled or frozen beef to the United States, the United States will increase the amount of the tariff-rate quota for beef granted by the United States in its Uruguay Round Schedule of Concessions by at least 20,000 MT (boneless basis) and allocate the amount of the increase to Argentina.
Peanuts and peanut products
5. In implementing its minimum access tariff-rate quota for peanuts the United States will allocate to Argentina 78% of the amount of such tariff-quota in a manner consistent with the requirements of Article XIII of the GATT. Access under such quota may require an appropriate certificate of origin. The new allocations to Argentina will be as follows:
Year Volume
1995 26.341
1996 29.853
1997 33.365
1998 36.877
1999 40.388
2000 43.901
6. Argentina accepts that the United States will establish a tariff-rate quota for peanut butter and peanut paste as part of its Uruguay Round market access offer on peanuts and that such tariff-rate quota will include the following elements:
1) An in-quota amount for peanut butter and peanut paste (tariff line 20.08.11.11) of 3.650 metric tons will be allocated to Argentina in the first year of implementation of the Uruguay Round;
2) An additional in-quota amount of 1.600 metric tons will be allocated for developing countries which are included in the existing list of eligible countries under the General System of Preferences applied by the United States on the date of this Memorandum of Understanding (this allocation is in accordance with Paragraph 1 of Article 15 of the Agreement on Agriculture); of that amount 750 metric tons will be allocated during the first year of implementation of the Uruguay Round and, subsequently, 850 metric tons will be distributed on equal installments during the rest of the implementation period of the Round (1996-2000);
3) An additional in-quota amount of 250 metric tons will be allocated to other countries;
4) The in-quota tariff rate will be fixed initially at the same duty level and reduced on the same schedule as applicable to Canada under the bilateral Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States;
5) The over-quota tariff rate will be 155% and applied to all peanut products in 20.08.11 as well as for shelled peanuts in chapter 13.
7. Argentina runner-type or Argentine ground nut kernel-type peanuts, and peanut butter and peanut paste manufactured from these peanuts will be eligible for entry into the United States under these provisions, assuming that the products meet the relevant U.S. standards. In every case, an appropriate certificate of origin will be required.
Cheese
8. The government of the United States will grant to Argentina an additional quota of 2.000 metric tons of cheese (specified in annex 1) to be fully implemented from the beginning of the Uruguay Round implementation period. These quantities will not be subject to reallocation without the consent of the government of Argentina. The government of Argentina may designate a U.S. importer for these quantities if it so chooses.
9. Argentina will fully implement the tariff concessions listed in annex 2 on almonds, in-shell (080211); almonds, shelled (080212); walnuts, in-shell (080231); and walnut, shelled (080232) from the beginning of the implementation period.
Tariffs and tariff-rate quotas
10. The attached annexes contain additional concessions exchanged between Argentina and the United States of America.
H.E. Mr. Juan Carlos Sanchez Arnau Mr. Andrew L. Stoler for the Republic of Argentina for the United States of America
ANNEX 1
Tariff
concessions Granted by
the United States of
America
HS Number Product Description Base Rate Final Bound Rate 0813300000 apples dried 1.65c/kg 0.74c/kg 1005902000 yellow dent corn 0.2c/kg 0.05c/kg 1005904000 corn, other 0.98c/kg 0.25c/kg 1007000000 grain sorghum 0.88c/kg 0.22c/kg 1104220000 oats, otherwise worked 2.0% 0.5% 1601004000 products of beef meat, offal or blood airtight containers 7.5% 3.4% 1602500900 prep/pres bovine meat 10.0% 4.5% 1602502000 prep/pres beef 3.0% 1.4% 1602506000 prep/pres meat of bovine animals, no cereal/veg 4.0% 1.8% 20083037000 pulp of citrus fruit otherwise prep/prep grape juice (including grape must) 15.0% 6.8% 20096000 grape juice (including grape must) 6.6c/lt 4.4c/lt 3301130000 essential oils of lemon 8.5% 3.8% 3301191000 essential oils of grapefruit 6.0% 0.7% Additional Concessions
Classification
Product Description
concession
9904.10.37
Edam and gouda
cheese
tariff-rate quota of 110 metric tons
9904.10.43
Italian-type
cheese
tariff-rate quota of 1890 metric tons
ANNEX 2
Tariff
Concessions Granted by
Argentina to the
United States
HS Number
Product Description
Base Rate Final Bound Rate
071290
other beans &
vegetables
35%
20% mixed
080211
almonds, in shell
35%
10%
080212
almonds, shelled
35%
10%
080231
walnuts, in shell
35%
10%
080232
walnuts, shelled
35%
10%
100810
buckwheat
35%
20%
130120
gum arabic
35%
15%
130212
vegetable juice and
extracts, of licorice
35%
15%
130213
vegetable juice and
extracts, of hope
35%
15%
150200
tallow
35%
30%
151710
margarine, x liquid
35%
20%
170410
chewing gum
35%
25%
180631
chocolate &
preps w/cocoa, slabs & bars filled
35%
25%
180632
chocolate &
preps w/ cocoa, slabs & bars, not
filled 35%
25%
180690
other preps which
contain chocolate
35%
25%
200819
fruits of skin,
mixed, other
35%
25%
210390
other preps for
sauces condiments & seasoning
35%
22%
210410
preps for soups,
potages, broths soups, potages
& broths
35%
22%
210690
other food preps NES
35%
22%
230910
dog/cat food
35%
20%
230990
other preps used in animal feed
35%
20%
350400
peptones and their derivatives
35%
22%
430180
other furs, complete including w/o the head,
the tail/paw
35%
20%
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