WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1584/98 by Daniel VARELA SUANZES- CARPEGNA to the Commission. Customs tariffs applicable to slate
22. 2. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 50/51 (1999/C 50/073) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1584/98 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission Subject: Customs tariffs applicable to slate (25 May 1998) Will the Commission say what criteria it uses to determine the different customs tariffs applicable to Community imports of slate from both countries enjoying preferential tariff arrangements and those not belonging to this group? Joint answer to Written Questions E-1579/98, E-1581/98, E-1582/98, E-1583/98 and E-1584/98 given by Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (25 June 1998) Imports of slate from Eastern European countries applying to join the European Union are very small. In 1997, only the following exported slate to the Community: Bulgaria (528 tonnes); the Czech Republic (263 tonnes), and Poland (32 tonnes). Altogether, these imports represented some 2,7 % of all worked slate imported into the Community in 1997. Under the Europe Agreements, Eastern European countries are already permitted to export slate to the Community at zero rate of duty. No changes to the existing tariff arrangements are planned. Most imports of worked slate from countries with preferential tariff arrangements are zero-rated. This applies not only to associated countries in Eastern Europe, but to African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States linked to the Community by the LomØ Convention and other developing countries benefiting from the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). The latter are covered because slate is considered a non-sensitive product. The customs duties applied to Community exports to major exporting countries which benefit from preferential arrangements are as follows: China: Brazil: India: Turkey: South Africa: Bulgaria: Norway: 20 % 9 % 40 % (+18 % countervailing duties) 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % Imports of worked slate from countries which do not benefit from preferential tariff arrangements are subject to customs duty at 2,1 % (as of 1998). However, in accordance with undertakings given by the Community in the course of the Uruguay Round, this is set to be reduced to 1,7 % in 1999, when the transition period for the Round ends. The following countries do not benefit from preferential arrangements but are significant exporters of slate to the Community at the following rates of duty: Canada: 0 % (roofing slate) and 6,5 % (other slate) United States: 4 % (roofing slate) and 0,7 % (other slate) These are the 1998 rates. In 1999, when the transition period agreed in the Uruguay Round expires, the rates will be as follows: Canada: 0 % and 6,5 % United States: 3,3 % and 0 %