Division 3.3 General provisions

Export Duties. Any export duties applied in trade between the parties shall be eliminated on an agreed timetable that will not exceed ten years.

Quantitative Restrictions and measures having equivalent effect applied to exports or imports in trade between the parties shall be abolished upon the application of EPAs.

National Treatment and Fiscal Measures. A standard national treatment provision, ensuring parties' products receive treatment no less favourable than that accorded to like products of national origin, will be included in the EPAs. Any discriminatory internal fiscal measures or practices already in existence will be eliminated from the application of EPAs.

Taxation. EPAs should include provisions on exception regarding taxation based on the relevant articles of WTO agreements.

Variable Speed. Where compatible with the integration objectives of the ACP regions concerned, EPAs shall provide for variable speed in trade liberalisation, taking into account the level of development of the ACP countries concerned, as well as of the different intensities of integration that may exist within the region, in line with the region's internal integration process.

Food Security Clause. EPAs shall include provisions aimed at fostering food security in accordance with WTO rules.

Safeguards. Safeguard provisions shall apply, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the WTO.

Anti-dumping. If one of the parties finds that injurious dumping or subsidisation is taking place in trade by the other party within the meaning of the provisions of GATT, it may take appropriate measures against this practice, in accordance with the GATT/WTO rules and practices. In this context, the European Union shall have special regard to the particular economic and social situation of the ACP countries concerned.

Stand-still. The parties will agree that no new duties will be introduced nor existing duties be increased and that no new quantitative restrictions nor measures having equivalent effect will be introduced by either party after the application of the EPAs between the regional grouping and the European Union. The parties should take into account this principle from the beginning of the negotiations.

Transparency. Both sides will be required to communicate to each other their customs tariff schedule and any subsequent amendments made to it.

Classification of Goods. The Harmonised System shall be applied to the classification of goods in trade between the parties.