GATT/AIR/2833 11 SEPTEMBER 1989

SUBJECT: ACCESSION OF VENEZUELA

1. AT ITS MEETING ON 21-22 JUNE 1989, THE COUNCIL ESTABLISHED A WORKING PARTY TO EXAMINE THE REQUEST OF THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA FOR ACCESSION TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE WORKING PARTY (L/6558) ARE AS FOLLOWS: "TO EXAMINE THE APPLICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF VENEZUELA TO ACCEDE TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT UNDER ARTICLE XXXIII, AND TO SUBMIT TO THE COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH MAY INCLUDE A DRAFT PROTOCOL OF ACCESSION". MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL CONTRACTING PARTIES INDICATING THEIR WISH TO SERVE ON THE WORKING PARTY.

2. THE MEMORANDUM ON THE FOREIGN TRADE REGIME OF VENEZUELA HAS BEEN CIRCULATED IN DOCUMENT L/6565. CONTRACTING PARTIES WISHING TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE FOREIGN TRADE REGIME OF VENEZUELA ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR QUESTIONS TO THE SECRETARIAT IN WRITING NOT LATER THAN 16 OCTOBER 1989.

3. THE REPRESENTATIVE OF VENEZUELA HAS ADVISED THAT VENEZUELA IS READY TO ENTER INTO TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS RELATING TO ITS ACCESSION TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT (L/6563). CONTRACTING PARTIES WISHING TO ENTER INTO TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS WITH VENEZUELA ARE INVITED TO CONTACT THE VENEZUELAN AUTHORITIES AND INFORM THE SECRETARIAT NOT LATER THAN 16 OCTOBER 1989. AN UP-TO-DATE COPY OF THE CUSTOMS TARIFF OF VENEZUELA AND IMPORT STATISTICS FOR THE PERIOD 1986-1988 ARE AVAILABLE IN THE SECRETARIAT (DEVELOPMENT DIVISION ROOM 2010) FOR CONSULTATION BY INTERESTED DELEGATIONS.

A.DUNKEL

89-1268