Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters between the European Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan amending the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan on Trade in Textile Products initialled on 8 June 1993, as last amended by an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on 4 December 1995 - Agreed Minute - Exchange of notes
L 343/30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 1999 AGREEMENT IN THE FORM OF AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS between the European Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan amending the Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan on Trade in Textile Products initialled on 8 June 1993, as last amended by an Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on 4 December 1995 A. Letter from the Council of the European Union Sir, 1. I have the honour to refer to the negotiations held on 14 and 15 September 1999 between our respective Delegations with a view to renew the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan on trade in textile products initialled on 8 June 1993, as last amended by the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on 4 December 1995. 2. As a result of these negotiations, both Parties agreed to amend the following provisions of the Agreement: 2. 1. The second and third sentence of Article 20(1), are replaced by the following text: It shall be applicable until 31 December 2004. í 2. 2. Annex I which sets out the products referred to in Article 1 of the Agreement is replaced by Appendix 1 to this letter. 2. 3. Annex II which sets out the quantitative restrictions for exports from the Republic of Uzbekistan to the European Community is replaced by Appendix 2 to this letter. 2. 4. Annex III which sets out the products without quantitative limits subject to the double-checking system referred to in Article 2(3) of the Agreement is replaced by Appendix 3 to this letter. 2. 5. Article 5(2) is replaced by the following text: 2. Where the Community finds, under the system of administrative control set-up, that the level of imports of products in a given category not listed in Annex II originating in Uzbekistan exceeds, in relation to the preceding year’s total imports into the Community from all sources of products in that category, the following rates: - 0,35 % for categories of products in Group I, except category 1, - for category 1 the levels referred to in paragraph 5. 2 bis, - 1,2 % for categories of products in Group II, - 4 % for categories of products in Groups III, IV and V, it may request the opening of consultations in accordance with the procedure described in Article 15 of this Agreement, with a view to reaching agreement on an appropriate restraint level for the products in such category. í 2. 6. A new Article 5. 2 bis is inserted after Article 5(2): 2 bis (a) Uzbekistan will monitor the levels, as well as average prices, of exports into the EC of products of category 1, with a view to keeping them within the following targets as a share of total EC imports in such category: In the year 2000: 6 %, in 2001: 7,2 %, in 2002: 8,4 %, in 2003: 9,6 % and in 2004: 10,8 %. 31. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 343/31 (b) The EC and Uzbekistan will consult whenever it appears that the targets are exceeded or are likely to be exceeded, as well as when average prices of exports from Uzbekistan are significantly below average prices of total imports of category 1 into the EC. (c) The provisions on price monitoring as under Paragraph 2 bis (a) will be applicable to imports of category 2 from Uzbekistan as from 1 January 2004. í 2. 7. For the purpose of facilitating the exchange of information on licenses for textile products under quota or under surveillance, an electronic link between the competent authorities of Uzbekistan and the SIGL system (systŁme integrØ de gestion de licenses) will be established. 3. Should the Republic of Uzbekistan become a member of the World Trade Organisation before the date of expiry of the Agreement, this Agreement and its annexes will be applied and notified to the World Trade Organisation as an Administrative Arrangement, and its provisions will be applied within the framework of the Agreements and rules of the World Trade Organisation. 4. The Agreed Minutes set out in Appendix 4 to this letter shall form an integral part of the Agreement. 5. I should be obliged if you could kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government of the foregoing. Should this be the case, this Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the day on which the Parties have notified each other that the legal procedures necessary to this end have been completed. In the meantime, it shall be applied provisionally from 1 January 2000 on the condition of reciprocity to be specified in an Exchange of Notes (Appendix 5). Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration. For the Council of the European Union L 343/32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 1999 Appendix 1 Annex I to the Agreement between the European Community and Uzbekistan on trade in textile products initialled on 8 June 1993 is replaced by Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 (1). It is understood that without prejudice to the rules for the interpretation of the combined nomenclature, the wording of the description of goods is considered to be of indicative value only, since the products covered by each category are determined, within that Annex by CN codes. Where there is an áexí symbol in front of a CN code, the products covered in each category are determined by the scope of the CN code and by that of the corresponding description. (1) In 1999 this Annex was amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1072/1999 (OJ L 134, 28. 5. 1999, p. 1). Appendix 2 ANNEX II (The full product descriptions of the categories listed in this Annex are to be found in Annex I to the Agreement) COMMUNITY QUANTITATIVE LIMITS Categories Unit 2 tonnes of which 2a tonnes 2000 8,9 0,89 2001 11,5 1,15 2002 13,5 1,35 2003 16,5 1,65 (1 000 tonnes) 2004 free free Appendix 3 ANNEX III (Products without quantitative limits subject to the double-checking system referred to in Article 2(3) of the Agreement) 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 26. 31. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 343/33 Appendix 4 Agreed Minutes In the context of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan on initialled in Brussels on 15 September 1999, the Republic of trade in textile and clothing products, Uzbekistan confirmed that the tariff rates presently applied for textile and clothing products originating from the European Community are the rates contained in Annex 1 to this Agreed Minutes. Both Parties agreed that these tariff rates shall not be exceeded for the duration of the Agreement. Concerning customs duties applicable to imports into the Republic of Uzbekistan of products covered by the Harmonised System codes 57, 58 and 63, the Community’s proposal for their progressive alignment within the period of duration of the Agreement towards the customs duties applicable to imports of the same products into the Community was accepted by the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Republic of Uzbe- kistan agreed to reduce the rates according to the schedule contained in Annex 2 to this Agreed Minutes. In the case of disagreement on the application of the provisions of the two foregoing paragraphs, the Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan will immediately start consultations in accordance with Article 15 of the Agreement with the aim to ensure the fulfilment of commitments undertaken by the parties. Should the disagreement persist after these consultations, the Community will have the right to rein- troduce for the period of the agreement remaining unexpired on a pro rata basis the levels for quantitative restrictions for categories 2 and 2a applicable in 1999 as specified in the Exchange of Letters initialled on 4 December 1995. For category 1 the Community may reintroduce the basket exit limit of 0,35 %. Both parties also agreed that the Republic of Uzbekistan will ensure that the supply to the Community industry of cotton and other raw textile materials, as well as of other textile products shall be made at conditions not less favourable than to users of other developed countries under normal market conditions. Brussels,. 1999. For the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan For the Council of the European Union L 343/34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 1999 ANNEX 1 to Agreed Minutes Maximum rates of customs duties applicable to textile products imported into the Republic of Uzbekistan from the European Community Chapter HS codes Rates Chapter HS codes 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 5001 5002 5003 5004 5005 5006 5007 5101 5102 5103 5104 5105 5106 5107 5108 5109 5110 5111 5112 5113 5201 5202 5203 5204 5205 5206 5207 5208 5209 5210 5211 5212 5301 5302 5303 5204 5205 5206 5207 5208 5209 5210 5211 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 57 57 57 57 57 58 58 58 58 58 5401 5402 5403 5404 5405 5406 5407 5408 5501 5502 5503 5504 5505 5506 5507 5508 5509 5510 5511 5512 5513 5514 5515 5516 5601 5602 5603 5604 5605 5606 5607 5608 5609 5701 5702 5703 5704 5705 5801 5802 5803 5804 5805 Rates 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 10 % 10 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 10 % 10 % 10 % 10 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) 15 % (2) 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 31. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 343/35 Chapter HS codes Rates Chapter HS codes Rates 58 58 58 58 58 58 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 60 60 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 5806 5807 5808 5809 5810 5811 5901 5902 5903 5904 5905 5906 5907 5908 5909 5910 5911 6001 6002 6101 6102 6103 6104 6105 6106 6107 6108 6109 6110 6111 6112 6113 6114 6115 6116 6117 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 0 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 0 % 5 % 5 % 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 6201 6202 6203 6204 6205 6206 6207 6208 6209 6210 6211 6212 6213 6214 6215 6216 6217 6301 6301 20 6302 6303 6304 6305 6306 6307 6308 6309 6310 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 10 % 20 % (3) 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 5 % 0 % (1) Rates in 1999: for carpets - 50 %, for other textile floor coverings - 10 %. Rates for carpets will be reduced starting in the year 2000 in accordance with the schedule specified in Annex 2 to the Agreed Minutes. (2) Rates for products of HS 5801 will be reduced starting in the year 2000 in accordance with the schedule specified in Annex 2 to the Agreed Minutes. (3) Rates for products of HS 6302 will be reduced starting in the year 2000 in accordance with the schedule specified in Annex 2 to the Agreed Minutes. L 343/36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 1999 ANNEX 2 to Agreed Minutes Schedule for alignment of Uzbekistan’s tariff rates for products of chapters 57, 58 and 63 of the HS code Reduction of tariffs of products of chapter HS 57 Year percentage 1999 50 % 2000 30 % Reduction of tariffs of products of HS 5801 Year percentage 1999 15 % 2000 12 % Reduction of tariffs of products of HS 6302 Year percentage 1999 20 % 2000 20 % 2001 30 % 2001 10 % 2001 18 % 2002 30 % 2002 8 % 2002 17 % 2003 30 % 2003 8 % 2003 15 % 2004 30 % 2004 8 % 2004 15 % 31. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 343/37 Appendix 5 Exchange of Notes The Trade Directorate-General of the European Commission presents its compliments to the Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the European Union and has the honour to refer to the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan on Trade in Textile Products initialled on 8 June 1993, as last amended by the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on. The Directorate-General for Trade wishes to inform the Mission of Uzbekistan that whilst awaiting the completion of the necessary procedures for the conclusion an coming into force of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters, the European Community is prepared to allow the provision of the Agreement to apply de facto from 1 January 2000. This is on the understanding that either Party may at any time terminate this de facto application of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters provided that four months notice is given. The Directorate-General would be grateful if the Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan would confirm its authorities’ agreement with the foregoing. The Directorate-General for Trade of the European Commission avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan the assurance of its highest consideration. L 343/38 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 1999 B. Letter from the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today’s date which reads as follows: Sir, 1. I have the honour to refer to the negotiations held on 14 and 15 September 1999 between our respective Delegations with a view to renew the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan on trade in textile products initialled on 8 June 1993, as last amended by the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on 4 December 1995. 2. As a result of these negotiations, both Parties agreed to amend the following provisions of the Agreement: 2. 1. The second and third sentence of Article 20(1), are replaced by the following text: It shall be applicable until 31 December 2004. ö 2. 2. Annex I which sets out the products referred to in Article 1 of the Agreement is replaced by Appendix 1 to this letter. 2. 3. Annex II which sets out the quantitative restrictions for exports from the Republic of Uzbekistan to the European Community is replaced by Appendix 2 to this letter. 2. 4. Annex III which sets out the products without quantitative limits subject to the double-checking system referred to in Article 2(3) of the Agreement is replaced by Appendix 3 to this letter. 2. 5. Article 5(2) is replaced by the following text: 2. Where the Community finds, under the system of administrative control set-up, that the level of imports of products in a given category not listed in Annex II originating in Uzbekistan exceeds, in relation to the preceding year’s total imports into the Community from all sources of products in that category, the following rates: - 0,35 % for categories of products in Group I, except category 1, - for category 1 the levels referred to in paragraph 5. 2 bis, - 1,2 % for categories of products in Group II, - 4 % for categories of products in Groups III, IV and V, it may request the opening of consultations in accordance with the procedure described in Article 15 of this Agreement, with a view to reaching agreement on an appropriate restraint level for the products in such category. ö 2. 6. A new Article 5. 2 bis is inserted after Article 5(2): 2 bis (d) Uzbekistan will monitor the levels, as well as average prices, of exports into the EC of products of category 1, with a view to keeping them within the following targets as a share of total EC imports in such category: In the year 2000: 6 %, in 2001: 7,2 %, in 2002: 8,4 %, in 2003: 9,6 % and in 2004: 10,8 %. 31. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 343/39 (e) The EC and Uzbekistan will consult whenever it appears that the targets are exceeded or are likely to be exceeded, as well as when average prices of exports from Uzbekistan are significantly below average prices of total imports of category 1 into the EC. (f) The provisions on price monitoring as under Paragraph 2 bis (a) will be applicable to imports of category 2 from Uzbekistan as from 1 January 2004. ö 2. 7. For the purpose of facilitating the exchange of information on licenses for textile products under quota or under surveillance, an electronic link between the competent authorities of Uzbekistan and the SIGL system (systŁme integrØ de gestion de licenses) will be established. 3. 4. 5. Should the Republic of Uzbekistan become a member of the World Trade Organisation before the date of expiry of the Agreement, this Agreement and its annexes will be applied and notified to the World Trade Organisation as an Administrative Arrangement, and its provisions will be applied within the framework of the Agreements and rules of the World Trade Organisation. The Agreed Minutes set out in Appendix 4 to this letter shall form an integral part of the Agreement. I should be obliged if you could kindly confirm the acceptance of your Government of the foregoing. Should this be the case, this Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the day on which the Parties have notified each other that the legal procedures necessary to this end have been completed. In the meantime, it shall be applied provisionally from 1 January 2000 on the condition of reciprocity to be specified in an Exchange of Notes (Appendix 5). Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration. í I have the honour to confirm that my Government is in agreement with the content of your letter. Please accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration. For the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan L 343/40 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 1999 Appendix 1 Annex I to the Agreement between the European Community and Uzbekistan on trade in textile products initialled on 8 June 1993 is replaced by Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 3030/93 (1). It is understood that without prejudice to the rules for the interpretation of the combined nomenclature, the wording of the description of goods is considered to be of indicative value only, since the products covered by each category are determined, within that Annex by CN codes. Where there is an áexí symbol in front of a CN code, the products covered in each category are determined by the scope of the CN code and by that of the corresponding description. (1) In 1999 this Annex was amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1072/1999 (OJ L 134, 28. 5. 1999, p. 1). Appendix 2 ANNEX II (The full product descriptions of the categories listed in this Annex are to be found in Annex I to the Agreement) COMMUNITY QUANTITATIVE LIMITS Categories Unit 2 tonnes of which 2a tonnes 2000 8,9 0,89 2001 11,5 1,15 2002 13,5 1,35 2003 16,5 1,65 (1 000 tonnes) 2004 free free Appendix 3 ANNEX III (Products without quantitative limits subject to the double-checking system referred to in Article 2(3) of the Agreement) 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 26. 31. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 343/41 Appendix 4 Agreed Minutes In the context of the Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan on initialled in Brussels on 15 September 1999, the Republic of trade in textile and clothing products, Uzbekistan confirmed that the tariff rates presently applied for textile and clothing products originating from the European Community are the rates contained in Annex 1 to this Agreed Minutes. Both Parties agreed that these tariff rates shall not be exceeded for the duration of the Agreement. Concerning customs duties applicable to imports into the Republic of Uzbekistan of products covered by the Harmonised System codes 57, 58 and 63, the Community’s proposal for their progressive alignment within the period of duration of the Agreement towards the customs duties applicable to imports of the same products into the Community was accepted by the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Republic of Uzbe- kistan agreed to reduce the rates according to the schedule contained in Annex 2 to this Agreed Minutes. In the case of disagreement on the application of the provisions of the two foregoing paragraphs, the Community and the Republic of Uzbekistan will immediately start consultations in accordance with Article 15 of the Agreement with the aim to ensure the fulfilment of commitments undertaken by the parties. Should the disagreement persist after these consultations, the Community will have the right to rein- troduce for the period of the agreement remaining unexpired on a pro rata basis the levels for quantitative restrictions for categories 2 and 2a applicable in 1999 as specified in the Exchange of Letters initialled on 4 December 1995. For category 1 the Community may reintroduce the basket exit limit of 0,35 %. Both parties also agreed that the Republic of Uzbekistan will ensure that the supply to the Community industry of cotton and other raw textile materials, as well as of other textile products shall be made at conditions not less favourable than to users of other developed countries under normal market conditions. Brussels,. 1999. For the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan For the Council of the European Union L 343/42 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 1999 ANNEX 1 to Agreed Minutes Maximum rates of customs duties applicable to textile products imported into the Republic of Uzbekistan from the European Community Chapter HS codes Rates Chapter HS codes 50 50 50 50 50 50 50 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 52 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 5001 5002 5003 5004 5005 5006 5007 5101 5102 5103 5104 5105 5106 5107 5108 5109 5110 5111 5112 5113 5201 5202 5203 5204 5205 5206 5207 5208 5209 5210 5211 5212 5301 5302 5303 5204 5205 5206 5207 5208 5209 5210 5211 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 54 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 55 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 56 57 57 57 57 57 58 58 58 58 58 5401 5402 5403 5404 5405 5406 5407 5408 5501 5502 5503 5504 5505 5506 5507 5508 5509 5510 5511 5512 5513 5514 5515 5516 5601 5602 5603 5604 5605 5606 5607 5608 5609 5701 5702 5703 5704 5705 5801 5802 5803 5804 5805 Rates 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 10 % 10 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 10 % 10 % 10 % 10 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) 15 % (2) 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 31. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 343/43 Chapter HS codes Rates Chapter HS codes Rates 58 58 58 58 58 58 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 59 60 60 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 61 5806 5807 5808 5809 5810 5811 5901 5902 5903 5904 5905 5906 5907 5908 5909 5910 5911 6001 6002 6101 6102 6103 6104 6105 6106 6107 6108 6109 6110 6111 6112 6113 6114 6115 6116 6117 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 0 % 5 % 5 % 5 % 0 % 5 % 5 % 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 62 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 63 6201 6202 6203 6204 6205 6206 6207 6208 6209 6210 6211 6212 6213 6214 6215 6216 6217 6301 6301 20 6302 6303 6304 6305 6306 6307 6308 6309 6310 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 10 % 20 % (3) 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 0 % 5 % 0 % (1) Rates in 1999: for carpets - 50 %, for other textile floor coverings - 10 %. Rates for carpets will be reduced starting in the year 2000 in accordance with the schedule specified in Annex 2 to the Agreed Minutes. (2) Rates for products of HS 5801 will be reduced starting in the year 2000 in accordance with the schedule specified in Annex 2 to the Agreed Minutes. (3) Rates for products of HS 6302 will be reduced starting in the year 2000 in accordance with the schedule specified in Annex 2 to the Agreed Minutes. L 343/44 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 31. 12. 1999 ANNEX 2 to Agreed Minutes Schedule for alignment of Uzbekistan’s tariff rates for products of chapters 57, 58 and 63 of the HS code Reduction of tariffs of products of chapter HS 57 Year percentage 1999 50 % 2000 30 % Reduction of tariffs of products of HS 5801 Year percentage 1999 15 % 2000 12 % Reduction of tariffs of products of HS 6302 Year percentage 1999 20 % 2000 20 % 2001 30 % 2001 10 % 2001 18 % 2002 30 % 2002 8 % 2002 17 % 2003 30 % 2003 8 % 2003 15 % 2004 30 % 2004 8 % 2004 15 % 31. 12. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities L 343/45 Appendix 5 Exchange of Notes The Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the European Union presents its compliments to the Directorate-General for Trade of the European Commission and has the honour to refer to the Note of the Directorate-General (date of Note Verbale) regarding the Agreement on trade in textile products initialled on 8 June 1993, as last amended by the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters initialled on. The Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan wishes to confirm to the Directorate-General that whilst awaiting the completion of the necessary procedures for the conclusion and coming into force of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters, the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan is prepared to allow the provisions of the Agreement to be applied de facto from 1 January 2000. This is on the understanding that either Party may at any time terminate this de facto application of the Agreement in the form of an Exchange of Letters provided that four months notice is given. The Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the European Union avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Directorate-General for Trade of the European Commission the assurance of its highest consider- ation