The Saeima has adopted and the President promulgated the following laws: the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Lithuania free trade agreement article 1. 1993 September 13, Tallinn signed by the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Lithuania, the free trade agreement with this law adopted and approved.
2. article. The law shall enter into force on the date of notification. With the law put for the agreement referred to in article 1.
3. article. The agreement shall enter into force on the 31st at the time provided for in article and in order.
The law adopted in 1993 the Saeima on 25 November, the President g. Ulmanis in Riga in 1993. December 1, the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and Republic of LITHUANIA free trade agreement preamble the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as the «parties»), confirming its willingness to participate actively in the process of European economic integration and expressed willingness to cooperate in the search for the way and means to strengthen this process, referring to Tallinn 1992 26 March, signed the Protocol for the development of a free trade regime between the Republic of Estonia The Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania, taking into account the need for activating trade and economic cooperation among the three Baltic Republics, as well as the need to speed up the overall process of the Baltic market, taking into account security and cooperation Conference in Europe Final Act, the Paris Charter for a new Europe, and in particular the principles contained in the OSCE Bonn Conference on economic cooperation in Europe closing documents, confirming their desire to form a country that is based on law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, desirous of creating favourable conditions for the development of mutual trade and diversifikācīj and commercial, as well as to promote economic cooperation in areas of common interest to the equality and mutual benefit and on the basis of international law, decided to join the multilateral trading system and further strengthen their relations in the field of trade under the General Agreement on tariffs and trade, expressed the readiness of the favourable conditions to explore the opportunity to deepen and develop the mutual relations to apply it to the areas covered by this agreement, agreed: article 1 objectives of the conclusion of the agreement between the Contracting Parties 1 forms free trade area in accordance with this agreement.
2. this agreement is based on the market economy relations, and its objectives are: (a) to promote, by extension) multilateral trade, to the harmonious development of economic relations between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and thus contribute to the economic development of these countries, the improvement of living and employment conditions, and increased productivity, financial stability, and all three of the Contracting Parties to the boom;
(b)) in trade between the Contracting Parties to ensure fair competition;
c) eliminating trade barriers, to contribute to the harmonious development of trade and growth in the Baltic Sea area;
d) capabilities to develop and intensify cooperation in areas that are not covered by this agreement, in particular the promotion of capital investment, economic and scientific cooperation and economic assistance in the protection of the environment.
Article 2 the scope of the agreement this Agreement shall apply to Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania produced products, which includes the harmonized goods and services classification and coding system 25-97. group.
Article 3 trade with agricultural products 1. the Contracting Parties declare their readiness to promote a balanced trade in agricultural products, in so far as it permits the development of the Contracting Parties to the agricultural policy.
2. the Contracting Parties shall conclude an agreement on trade in agricultural products contained in goods and services, Harmonized classification and coding system in Group 1 to 24.
3. the Contracting Parties on a non-discriminatory basis will apply their rules in veterinary, health and plant health, as well as not take such measures that hinder trade.
Article 4 origin rules and customs administrative cooperation 1. Rules of origin and related methods of administrative cooperation laid down in A protocol.
2. (B) the Protocol lays down the principles for cooperation.
3. the Contracting Parties shall take the necessary measures, including regular joint Committee in the analysis and conclusion of the agreement on administrative cooperation to ensure that article 5 of this agreement (the import customs duties, as a charge having equivalent effect of restricting and abolition), article 6 (export customs duties, as well as a charge having equivalent effect to the prohibition and abolition), article 7 (import or export that also quantitative restrictions measures having equivalent effect-Prohibition and abolition) , article 11 (internal taxation) and article 20 (re-export and deficit) and A protocol for effective and balanced, as well as possible to reduce the formalities related to trade and achieve a multilaterally acceptable solutions, eliminating any difficulties that might arise in these sections the results of the action envisaged.
Article 5 the IMPORT customs duties, AS WELL AS a charge having equivalent effect to a ban and repeal 1. Trade between the Contracting Parties shall not introduce any new customs duties on imports and charges having equivalent effect.
2. With the entry into force of this agreement customs duties on imports, as well as charges having equivalent effect shall be abolished, saying in this article 3 shall also apply to customs duties of a fiscal nature. Contracting Party may replace a customs duty by an internal tax.
Article 6 the customs duties on exports and CHARGES having equivalent EFFECT and prohibition repeal 1. Trade between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will not be introduced in the new export customs duties, as well as the payment of equivalent effect.
 
2. With the entry into force of this agreement customs duties on exports and charges having equivalent effect shall be abolished, except for Annex 1 goods.
Article 7 the IMPORT or export of quantitative restrictions, as well as measures having equivalent EFFECT-prohibition and ABOLITION of 1. Trade between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania will not be introduced new import or export quantitative restrictions, measures will be taken with an equivalent effect.

2. With the entry into force of this agreement, import or export of quantitative restrictions and measures of equivalent effect are abolished, except for Annex 2 goods.
Article 8 General exceptions this agreement without impeding the import, export or transit prohibitions and restrictions established by the following considerations: public moral, political or safety considerations; human, animal or plant health; environmental protection; the national property, which is an artistic, historical or archaeological value; protection of intellectual property; laws and regulations concerning the operations with precious metals. However, such prohibitions or restrictions must not constitute a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade between the Contracting Parties.
Article 9 national monopolies 1. Contracting Parties shall ensure that any State monopolies of a commercial character will be moderated so that there is no discrimination between the Contracting Parties on the issue of the order and the terms of sale.
2. This article shall apply to the institutions through which the competent authorities of the Contracting Parties in accordance with the law or in fact, directly or indirectly, regulate or significantly affect imports or exports between Contracting Parties. These conditions as much also apply to monopolies delegated by the State to others.
Article 10 national treatment for goods produced in one of the Contracting Parties and is imported into the territory of another Contracting Party, shall not be applied less favourable rules than those that are applied to similar domestic products with regard to laws, regulations, and requirements that impact trade, offer, sale, transportation, distribution or use.
11. Article 1 of the internal tax policy. The Contracting Parties shall refrain from direct, indirect, with internal fiscal practices or measures that might lead to discrimination between one Contracting Party production and similar products, produced one of the rest of the territories of the Contracting Parties.
2. On one of the territories of the Contracting Parties in the exported products do not get any tax benefits that go beyond those specific direct or indirect taxation.
Article 12 1. Payments payments related to trade and the transfer of such payments to the territory of the Contracting Party in which the vendor will not be restricted.
2. the Contracting Parties shall refrain from administrative restrictions concerning subsidies and incentives, as well as the short and medium term loan repayment or acceptance, relating to commercial activities.
3. Payments are made on the basis of agreements between the Bank of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania Bank of Bank.
Article 13 public procurement market the Contracting Parties consider that all Contracting Parties of the public procurement market effective liberalisation is an integral part of this agreement.
Article 14 intellectual property protection 1. To enforce this agreement, the Contracting Parties shall provide adequate intellectual property rights, effective and non-discriminatory protection. Setting this protection, particularly against counterfeiting and piracy, the Contracting Parties shall accept and take appropriate, effective and non-discriminatory measures.
2. After the entry into force of this agreement, the Contracting Parties will use all means necessary to comply with the intellectual property protection in the field of International Convention requirements.
3. the Contracting Parties shall not apply the less favourable agreements in the field of intellectual property in relation to the Contracting Parties, as they are defined in relation to third-country citizens.
4. Through national legislation, Contracting Parties may apply the legal protection that exceeds the requirements of this agreement, if it does not conflict with the requirements of this agreement.
5. If a Contracting Party considers that the other Contracting Party has failed to fulfil the obligations laid down in this article may be applied in article 26, paragraph 2.
6. the Contracting Parties agree on acceptable to the relevant authorities for technical assistance and cooperation.
Article 15 of the rules on competition to undertakings in the 1. as may affect trade between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, with the proper functioning of this agreement: (a) are incompatible) these agreements between the companies, Association decisions and concerted practices which have as their object or effect is to delay, restrict or distort competition;
(b)) by one or more undertakings of a dominant position abuse throughout all or most of the territories of the Contracting Parties.
2. If a Contracting Party considers that the specific actions are incompatible with the conditions of the first paragraph, it is entitled to act after consulting the Joint Committee, or 30 days after a request for such consultations.
Article 16 the State subsidies 1. this agreement is inconsistent with any subsidies that Contracting Party granted through State resources in any form of mediation, which distort or threaten competition by favouring certain undertakings or the production of certain goods, and may affect trade between Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
2. The Contracting Parties shall ensure transparency as regards state aid measures, the exchange of information at the request of either Contracting Party.
3. the Joint Committee followed the situation in State subsidies and the development of further rules for granting subsidies for the rest of the country, except for the granting of export subsidies.
4. If either Contracting Party considers that the existing practice is incompatible with this article, the provisions of paragraph 1, it shall have the power to act as laid down in article 22.
Article 17 dumping if one Contracting Party finds that the commercial relations governed by this agreement, you are dumping being practised in the meaning in which it formulated the General Agreement on tariffs and trade, article 6, it shall have the power to take appropriate measures against this action in accordance with this article and in accordance with the procedure laid down in article 22 of this agreement.
Article 18 emergency measures on imports of certain products in the event if an individual in Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania manufactured products growth of imports are causing or are likely to cause:

a) serious injury to domestic production of like or competing producers in the territory of another Contracting Party, or (b)) serious disturbances in the economic sector concerned or difficulties which may seriously aggravate the economic situation in the region, the interested party is entitled to make under article 22.
Article 19 structural adjustment 1. Exceptional measures may be taken only in the industries or sectors where reorganization or those with difficulty, especially if they cause serious social problems.
2. in any of the Contracting Parties and produced in the territory of another Contracting Party imported products as a result of those measures liable to customs duty, which shall not exceed 25% ad valorem. These customs duties rates must contain an element of benefit to each of the Contracting Parties in the production, and may not exceed the customs duty rates for imported from other countries similar to the production. The total import volume of production are covered by these measures may not exceed 15% of the industries defined in article 2 of the total amount imported from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for which statistics are available.
3. these measures shall be valid to a date not exceeding five years, unless the Joint Committee established by the longer period and may not be suitable for more than five years from the entry into force of this agreement.
4. The Contracting Parties shall notify the Joint Committee on exceptional measures it decided to implement, and, at the request of the Contracting Parties before the Joint Committee for the implementation of the measures will hold consultations on the content of the measures and those they affect. With the implementation of those measures the Contracting Parties shall be submitted to the Joint Committee, in accordance with this article, imposed customs fee schedules. The schedule should provide for the commencement of the suspension no later than two years after the introduction of similar parts over the years. The Joint Committee may decide on a different schedule.
Article 20 the re-export and deficit If article 6 and article 7 of the said provisions is due to: a) re-export to a third country against which the exporting contracting party maintains production export restrictions, export duties or charges having equivalent effect, or (b)) the exporting contracting party an important form of production a serious shortage, or threat thereof, and, if the above situation creates or may create the exporting Party great difficulties , this party may take appropriate measures, as specified in article 22.
21. Article 1 of the balance of payments PROBLEM. If Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania in serious balance of payments difficulties or threat thereof, Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania case, in agreement with the rules laid down by the General Agreement on tariffs and trade and its related legal action can take trade-restrictive measures whose duration is limited and not exceeding the need to correct the balance of payments situation. The Contracting Parties shall give priority to measures which are based on the prices. These measures are constantly, if it continued not to justify myself anymore. The Contracting Parties shall promptly inform the Joint Committee of such measures, as well as of the time when they will be cancelled.
2. the Contracting Parties shall, however, try to avoid restrictive measures aimed at stabilization of the balance of payments.
Article 22 APPLICATION of the security measures procedure 1. Without prejudice to paragraph 5 of this article, the Contracting Party shall consider the possibility of applying safety measures shall immediately notify the other party and shall provide it with all necessary information. Consultations in the Joint Committee shall be held immediately, and the aim is to find a mutually acceptable solution.
2. a) with regard to article 16 (Government subsidies), the Contracting Parties shall provide the Joint Committee with the assistance necessary to examine the case and, if necessary, limited activity, against which the objection. If the Contracting Party concerned does not stop the action, against which the objection, within the Joint Committee or, if the Joint Committee fails to reach an agreement in the course of consultation or 30 days after such consultation, at the request of the Contracting Party concerned may take appropriate measures to resolve the difficulties encountered as a result of that activity.
(b)) in relation to article 17 (dumping), article 18 (emergency import measures) and article 20 (re-export and deficit), the Joint Committee examined specific cases or situations and may take any decision needed to eliminate the difficulties about which announced in the Contracting Party concerned. If, within 30 days after the referral of the case to the Joint Committee, such a decision is not adopted, the Contracting Party concerned may take the necessary measures to remedy the situation.
(c)) with respect to article 26 (obligations) the Contracting Parties shall provide the Joint Committee with all the information necessary for a detailed examination of the situation with a view to finding a mutually beneficial solution. If the Joint Committee fails to reach such a solution, or if it has been 3 months since the date of the submission of information, the Contracting Party concerned may take appropriate measures.
3. The other Contracting Party is informed immediately about the security measures to be taken. The amount and duration is strictly limited according to the need to correct certain situations, and they should not exceed the damage caused by specific actions in or difficulty. Priority is given to those which least disturb the functioning of the agreement in the Mayor.
4. The security measures are regularly reviewed to ensure the consultation as soon as possible to facilitate the application of the way, replacement or cancellation.
5. in exceptional cases must be handled immediately and it is therefore not possible to carry out a preliminary study of the circumstances, can the interested party article 16 (Government subsidies), article 17 (dumping), article 18 (emergency measures on imports) and article 20 (re-export and deficit) in the cases referred to immediately apply the precautionary and provisional measures strictly necessary to deal with the situation. The security measures in the United Pasveikt Committee is informed immediately and counseling takes place between the Contracting Parties as quickly as possible.
Article 23

Security exceptions nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Contracting Parties from taking any measures which they consider necessary to: (a) protect from disclosure any) information, which would be inconsistent with the relevant Contracting Parties to security considerations;
(b)) guarantee the security of each of the Contracting Parties, as well as protect from interference in its international obligations or domestic policies: (I) for arms, munitions and war materials, provided that it does not interfere with the production of competition that is not directly intended for military purposes, as well as the trade of goods, material and services, directly or indirectly, for the supply of military authorities; or (II) in the case of biological and chemical weapons, nuclear weapons or other explosive nuclear non-proliferation; or (iii) if it made war or other serious international conflict.
24. Article 1 of the Joint Committee This agreement oversees and manages the Joint Committee. The Joint Committee of the Contracting Parties following the trade and economic cooperation and act to improve and further develop such relationship. Joint Committee decision shall enter into force according to each Contracting Party the applicable law.
2. In order to be able to enforce this agreement, the Contracting Parties shall exchange information and, at the request of either party shall hold consultations within the Joint Committee.
3. the Joint Committee is composed of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
4. the Joint Committee shall act by mutual consensus.
5. each Contracting Party, a Joint Committee chaired by alternately.
6. the Joint Committee shall meet once a year to monitor the operation of this agreement. The Joint Committee of one or other of the Contracting Parties, special conditions created to meet the request.
7. the Joint Committee is empowered to decide on the establishment of working groups, which can help to implement the responsibilities assigned to it.
8. the Joint Committee is empowered to take independent decisions in the implementation of this agreement.
The Joint Committee may make recommendations and to make the corrections according to each Contracting Party the applicable law.
Article 25 of the further development of the AGREEMENT the Contracting Parties recognize the service, investment and joint projects to ambitious growing importance.
If one of the Contracting Parties considers that the Contracting Parties ' economic interests is developing and deepening relations, established on the basis of this agreement, they are also expanding the areas not covered by this agreement, it shall submit a reasoned request to the Contracting Parties. The Contracting Parties may instruct the Joint Committee to examine this request and, if necessary, recommend them for further action, especially with regard to the opening of negotiations.
Article 26 obligations 1. the Contracting Parties shall take all necessary measures to ensure the achievement of the objectives of the agreement and compliance with the obligations laid down therein.
2. If either Contracting Party considers that the other party has failed to fulfil an obligation under this agreement, an interested party, after consultation within the Joint Committee is empowered to take appropriate measures as set out in article 22 (security measures).
Article 27 annexes and protocols to this agreement and the annexes (A) and (B) the Protocol shall form an integral part thereof.
Article 28 of the customs unions, free trade zones and border trade this agreement does not preclude the customs unions and free-trade zone for preservation or formation, or the organisation of border trade so that it does not adversely affect the trade regime and in particular the conditions which apply to goods contained in this agreement, the rules of origin.
Article 29 amendments amendments are submitted to the Contracting Parties for acceptance in accordance with article 24 of the agreement, paragraph 8 and shall enter into force at the moment of receipt of the written confirmation of the depositary.
Article 30 depositary, the Government of the Republic of Estonia shall act as the depositary of this agreement.
Article 31 entry into force of the agreement the Contracting Parties notify the depositary in writing when the country concerned the necessary constitutional requirements have been met for the entry into force of this agreement.
This agreement shall enter into force one month after the contracting parties concerned, the receipt of the notification of the depositary country and remain in force for an indefinite period.
Article 32 denunciation each Contracting Party may terminate this agreement by written notice of it to the depositary. The agreement shall cease to have effect six months after the depositary has informed all Contracting Parties of any such notification received. Acknowledging this, the duly authorized representatives of the parties signed the agreement.
The agreement concluded in Tallinn, 13 September 1993, the original Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian and English, as the Depositary Government, recognising the Republic of Estonia.
In the event of a dispute, the variation of this agreement on the basis of the interpretation of the text in English.
The Republic of Estonia, the Estonian Prime Minister MART Laar, on behalf of the Republic of Latvia of Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Birkavs, on behalf of the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic of Lithuania, the Republic's Prime Minister Adolf SLAZEVIČ in