Ref. Ares(2017)1553728 - 22/03/2017
Ref. Ares(2020)7745074 - 18/12/2020
To:
[
(TRADE);
(TRADE);
(EEAS-GENEVA);
(EEAS-GENEVA);
(TRADE);
(TRADE)
Art. 4.1(b)
;
(TRADE);
(TRADE);
(TRADE)
;
(TRADE)
;
(TRADE);
(TRADE)
Cc:
] (TRADE)
Subject:
Belarus WTO accession - Meetings with representatives of British American
Tobacco and of Telekom Asutria on 21st and 22nd March 2017 - Report
Attachments:
Telecoms market in Belarus.TA note.PDF; Tobacco market in Belarus.BAT
note.PDF; Tobacco market in Belarus.BAT ppt 1.PDF; Tobacco market in
Belarus.BAT ppt 2.PDF
Together with [ Art. 4.1(b)
(TRADE ] ), we received the visits
• on 21st March of representatives of British American Tobacco
Art 4.1(b)
Art 4.1(b)
• on 22nd March of a representative of Telekom Asutrai Art 4.1(b)
who came to share their concerns with the functioning in Belarus of the tobacco [ Out of Scope
] and asked COM to raise those concerns in the WTO accession process and/or in the bilateral
trade dialogue EU-Belarus.
Those concerns are summarised in the attached documents handed by our visitors.
We took note and informed about ongoing developments in the WTO accession process [
Out of Scope
; differe
]
nce of views
between Belarus and WTO members as regards the applicability of GATT Art. XVII to Belarus' State
owned enterprises importing alcohol and tobacco products reflected in draft Working party Report and
in questions submitted by WTO members) and about the possibilities offered by this process (and the
bilateral dialogue) to lever Belarus in bringing its legislation, regulation and practice in conformity with
WTO rules and commitments before the date of accession
We look forward to receive the analysis of B1, F2 and G3 on the issues raised by the two companies. This
will be very helpful to prepare our comments and questions to Belarus on the next version of the draft
Working Party Report