Protocol on rules for determining the country of origin of goods to the Agreement on Establishment of Free Trade Area between the GUUAM Participating States

Member States of the Agreement on Establishment of Free Trade Area between the GUUAM Participating States from July 20, 2002, hereinafter referred to as Contracting Parties, striving to develop trade and economic cooperation, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, creating conditions for the free movement of goods and services, have agreed as follows:

Article 1

In accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 16 of the Agreement on the Establishment of  Free Trade Area between the GUUAM Participating States from July 20, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as the Agreement), the Contracting Parties shall adopt the Rules of Determining the Country of Origin of Goods, being an integral part of this Protocol.

Article 2

By mutual consent of the Contracting Parties, amendments, and additions to the present protocol may be done by the relevant protocols, which enter into force in accordance with Article 4 of this Protocol.

Article 3

Disputes, which may arise in connection with application and interpretation of this Protocol shall be settled through negotiations and consultations between Contracting Parties.

Article 4

This Protocol is an integral part of the Agreement and shall enter into force from the date of deposit of the second notification to the depositary on completion of all necessary domestic procedures, by the Contracting Parties, for its entry into force.

For Contracting Parties that deposit their notifications after this date, the Protocol will enter into force on the date on which the Depositary receives such notification.

Depositary of this Protocol is the Executive Power of Georgia.

Article 5

This Protocol does not affect the rights and obligations of the Parties arising from other bilateral and multilateral treaties / agreements to which they are parties.

This Protocol cannot become a reason for refusal to apply between the relevant Parties, other bilateral and multilateral treaties /agreements, defining the free trade regime and preferential rules for determining the origin of goods for the provision of this regime, to which any two or all are Parties, including parts, establishing the rules, that differ from or contradict the provisions of this Protocol, and granting benefits, arising from these treaties / agreements.

Article 6

This Protocol is concluded for an indefinite period and terminates in the event of termination of the Agreement.

Any Contracting Party may withdraw from the Protocol, sending formal written notification to the Depositary through diplomatic channels of its intention to terminate its participation in this Protocol, at least six months before such withdrawal.

Done in New York on 20 September 2022 in one original copy in the English and Russian languages, both texts are equally authentic.

The original copy is kept by the Depositary, which will send certified copies of it to the Contracting Parties.