Disputes and complaints

CHAPTER XV — FINAL PROVISIONS

40.

Signature and ratification, acceptance or approval

41.

Provisional application

42.

Entry into force

43.

Accession

44.

Reservations

45.

Voluntary withdrawal

46.

Exclusion

47.

Settlement of accounts with withdrawing or excluded Members

48.

Duration, extension and termination

49.

Amendment

50.

Supplementary and transitional provision

51.

Authentic texts of the Agreement

ANNEX

Conversion factors for roasted, decaffeinated, liquid and soluble coffee as defined in the International Coffee Agreement 2001

INTERNATIONAL COFFEE AGREEMENT 2007

PREAMBLE

THE GOVERNMENTS PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT,

Recognising the exceptional importance of coffee to the economies of many countries which are largely dependent upon this commodity for their export earnings and for the achievement of their social and economic development goals;

Recognising the importance of the coffee sector to the livelihoods of millions of people, particularly in developing countries, and bearing in mind that in many of these countries production is on small-scale family farms;

Recognising the contribution of a sustainable coffee sector to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular with respect to poverty eradication;

Recognising the need to foster the sustainable development of the coffee sector, leading to enhanced employment and income, and better living standards and working conditions in Member countries;

Considering that close international cooperation on coffee matters, including international trade, can foster an economically diversified global coffee sector, the economic and social development of producing countries, the development of coffee production and consumption, and improved relations between coffee exporting and importing countries;

Considering that collaboration between Members, international organisations, the private sector and all other stakeholders can contribute to the development of the coffee sector;

Recognising that increased access to coffee-related information and market-based risk management strategies can help avoid imbalances in the production and consumption of coffee that may give rise to pronounced market volatility which can be harmful to both producers and consumers; and

Noting the advantages derived from the international cooperation which resulted from the operation of the International Coffee Agreements 1962, 1968, 1976, 1983, 1994 and 2001,

HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

CHAPTER I

OBJECTIVES

Article 1

Objectives

The objective of this Agreement is to strengthen the global coffee sector and promote its sustainable expansion in a market-based environment for the betterment of all participants in the sector, by:

promoting international cooperation on coffee matters;

providing a forum for consultations on coffee matters among governments, and with the private sector;

encouraging Members to develop a sustainable coffee sector in economic, social and environmental terms;

providing a forum for consultations seeking understanding with regard to the structural conditions in international markets and long-term trends in production and consumption that balance supply and demand, and result in prices fair both to consumers and to producers;

facilitating the expansion and transparency of international trade in all types and forms of coffee, and promoting the elimination of trade barriers;