Multilateral trade relations and the GATT agreements
The European Commission, DG I, has published a call for expressions of interest for studies in relation to multilateral trade relations and the GATT agreements. The Commission invites expressions of interest from persons who are interested in having their name entered on a list of potential contractors for the studies. The list drawn up following the call will be used solely for the contracts whose estimated value is below the thresholds laid down in the relevant public procurement directives. The Commission is interested in the following projects: - Civil aircraft sector: Monitoring study on the US government direct and indirect support/subsidies to the US civil aircraft (airframes) industry in the context of existing international trade rules. - TSSIWTO dispute settlement: Certain trade cases could be pursued under the dispute settlement system of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Commission requires analysis and legal assistance in the preparation of possible submissions. - "Buy American" legislation: Study on the effects of "Buy American" legislation on EU exports of certain products into the US market. - Government procurement - China: Study on government procurement in China, including description of system, assessment of value by product and service area. - Trade restrictions: Leather and footwear sectors: These studies are intended to provide a detailed picture of those trade restrictions which exist in the major export markets for these sectors. Both tariff and non-tariff restrictions should be considered. In the specific case of the leather sector, export restrictions on raw hides and skins should also be analysed. - Textiles/clothing market access: The Commission is considering the creation of a database containing information on the restrictions on EU exports which exist in third countries. The fields of this database will consist of both tariff (including the applied tariff rate) and non-tariff restrictions. The eventual possibility of creating on-line access with the EU textiles industry should also be considered. - Shipbuilding: The shipbuilding agreement foresees a number of provisions on "injurious pricing". Studies are required first on accurate quotations to ship transactions and on the future developments in the market in order to keep compliance by other signatories under close review. - Automotive industry: To perform a study of market access barriers for the automotive industry. It would include not only legislative or regulatory measures but also barriers arising from the competitive conditions within domestic markets. The Commission has already examined market access for a selected number of countries. The potential contractor should verify and update the information available to the Commission. - Trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS): Some of the important trading partners of the Community have already implemented the TRIPS as agreed by the GATT. The Commission is envisaging studies and brochures on the application of this agreement by the Community's major trade partners. - The 1996 evaluation of the internal market: the external dimension: Studies on the impact and effectiveness of the internal market programme in regard to the external dimension. At least two studies are envisaged: . The changes in market access conditions for third countries' producers; . Assessment of the impact of the internal market programme on EU producers' external competitiveness. - Trade and environment: Different studies on the relation between trade and environment within the framework of the WTO. This year the Commission will need at least the following studies: . The environmental usefulness of border tax adjustments; . Examination of the impact on the environment of export taxes and export restraints, for instance the Indonesian and Malaysian export taxes on tropical wood; . The effects of European agriculture subsidies on the environment in third countries. - Science and technology: Within the framework of the Community's external economic relations, the study will consist of a comparative analysis of international cooperation in public-funded S&T in the EU, the United States and Japan and its effects on industrial competitiveness. Another aim is to identify the affiliates of foreign companies which were unsuccessful in acquiring funds from publicly funded sources. The emphasis would be on identifying legal and administrative barriers and other potentially discouraging regulations, economic or financial discouragement and cultural or other general visible or invisible barriers. Applications should be sent to: European Commission DG I "External Economic Relations" Trade Sector Directorates D and G 200 rue de la Loi (B-28 5/42) B-1049 Brussels