Brussels, 17/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The agreement between the EU and Norway on the liberalisation of trade in agricultural products has been formally concluded and will come into force from 1 January 2012, the European Commission announced on Wednesday 16 November. The agreement, which has finally been ratified by the appropriate authorities of each of the parties, forms part of the ordinary process of progressive liberalisation of trade in the agricultural sector provided for in the 1992 agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). It will allow EU exporters to strengthen their position on the Norwegian market. The additional liberalisation represents roughly 20% of the current value of EU exports to Norway. If account is taken of existing bilateral preferences, around 60% of EU exports to Norway will be completely liberalised (in terms of trade value).
The exports of EU agricultural products to Norway have been growing over the last decade and have doubled between 2000 and 2010 to €1.7 billion. Norway is a net importer of agricultural produce and the agricultural products trade balance is in the EU's favour.
The main features of the agreement are: (1) additional full liberalisation representing roughly 20% of the EU exports to Norway, or €250 million; - new tariff quotas, in the meat sector (600 tonnes for swine meat, 800t for poultry and 900t for bovine meat); - additional tariff quotas concerning cheese (2,700t), cereals (durum wheat 5,000t, maize 10,000t, rye 1,000t), fruit and vegetables (strawberries 300t, potatoes 3,000t, lettuce 400t), meat products (sausages 200t, ham 200t, bacon crisp 100t, meatballs 50t) and juices (apple 1,000t, bilberry 200t, blackcurrant 150t). The trade value is estimated at around €50 million; - tariff reductions applying for some ornamental plants and flowers, namely begonias, roses, tulips and lilies. The trade concerned by these concessions is estimated at €3.5 million. (2) Concessions granted by the EU to Norway: - full liberalisation on products on which Norway offers full liberalisation; - additional tariff quotas for cheese (3,200t), fresh raspberries (400t), potato chips (200t) and pet food (13,000t). (LC/transl.rt)