AGREEMENT

in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation in the context of negotiations under Article XXVIII of the GATT 1994 on the modification of Switzerland’s WTO concessions with regard to seasoned meat

A. Letter from the Swiss Confederation

Dear Sir/Madam,

Following negotiations under Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedule of the Swiss Confederation (Schedule LIX Switzerland-Liechtenstein), I have the honour to propose the following:

The Swiss Confederation shall incorporate in its schedule, for the customs territory of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the following amendments:

Amendment to the bound duties listed in Schedule LIX in force:

Meat not further prepared than seasoned, of swine:

Tariff line	Product description	Current bound duty	Proposed bound duty	Special safeguard
	- - - Other
1602.4991	- - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned	CHF 850/100 kg gross	CHF 2 304 /100 kg gross	SMS
1602.4999	- - - - Other	CHF 850/100 kg gross	CHF 850/100 kg gross	SMS

Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, of bovine animals:

Tariff line	Product description	Current bound duty	Proposed bound duty	Special safeguard
	- - - Other
1602.5093	- - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, except No 1602.5098	CHF 638/100 kg gross	CHF 2 212 /100 kg gross	SMS
1602.5098	- - - - Other, including trimmed, raw, boneless, salted and seasoned cuts of beef leg, for the production of dried meat	CHF 638/100 kg gross	CHF 638/100 kg gross	SMS

New and amended tariff quotas:

Quota number

Product description

Current quota

Proposed quota

Animals for slaughter; meat from animals raised primarily on a roughage-based diet

Tonnes

22 500

Tonnes

23 700 (1)

This Agreement shall be subject to the completion of the Parties’ internal approval procedures. The European Union and Switzerland shall notify each other in writing of the completion of any internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of this Agreement and Switzerland shall notify the European Union of the certification of the amendments to the Schedule LIX Switzerland-Liechtenstein. The Agreement shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last notification.

I should be grateful if you would confirm the agreement of the European Union with the above. I have the honour to propose that, if the above is acceptable to the European Union, this letter and your confirmation shall together constitute an Agreement in the form of an exchange of letters between the Swiss Confederation and the European Union, which shall enter into force on the date of receipt of the last notification.

Please accept, Sir/Madam, the assurance of my highest consideration.

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B. Letter from the European Union

Dear Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date, which reads as follows:

‘Following negotiations under Article XXVIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994 relating to the modification of concessions in the schedule of the Swiss Confederation (Schedule LIX Switzerland-Liechtenstein), I have the honour to propose the following:

The Swiss Confederation shall incorporate in its schedule, for the customs territory of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the following amendments:

Amendment to the bound duties listed in Schedule LIX in force:

Meat not further prepared than seasoned, of swine:

Tariff line	Product description	Current bound duty	Proposed bound duty	Special safeguard
	- - - Other
1602.4991	- - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned	CHF 850/100 kg gross	CHF 2 304 /100 kg gross	SMS
1602.4999	- - - - Other	CHF 850/100 kg gross	CHF 850/100 kg gross	SMS

Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, of bovine animals:

Tariff line	Product description	Current bound duty	Proposed bound duty	Special safeguard
	- - - Other
1602.5093	- - - - Raw meat not further prepared than seasoned, except No 1602.5098	CHF 638/100 kg gross	CHF 2 212 /100 kg gross	SMS
1602.5098	- - - - Other, including trimmed, raw, boneless, salted and seasoned cuts of beef leg, for the production of dried meat	CHF 638/100 kg gross	CHF 638/100 kg gross	SMS

New and amended tariff quotas:

Quota number

Product description

Current quota

Proposed quota

Animals for slaughter; meat from animals raised primarily on a roughage-based diet

Tonnes

22 500

Tonnes

23 700 (2)

I can confirm the agreement of the European Union with the content of your letter.

Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

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(1) In addition to the current subquotas, a quantity of at least 600 tonnes shall be allocated for trimmed, boneless, salted and seasoned cuts of beef under tariff item 1602.5091.

(2) In addition to the current subquotas, a quantity of at least 600 tonnes shall be allocated for trimmed, boneless, salted and seasoned cuts of beef under tariff item 1602.5091.