WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/REG104/R/B/2
G/L/546
13 May 2002
(02-2659)
Original: English
COOPERATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND SYRIA
Biennial Report on the Operation of the Agreement
Communication from the European Community
The report below presents the information rece ived from the Permanent Delegation of the
European Commission, dated 19 April 2002.  It is organized in accordance with the standard format(WT/REG/W/6).
_______________
This report covers the period 1999-2001.  The previous biennial report submitted by the EC
on the operation of the Cooperation Agreement between the EC and Syria was circulated as WTO
document WT/REG104/R/B/1, G/L/372 of 2 May 2000.
I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE AGREEMENT
1. Membership and Dates of Signature, Ratification and Entry into Force
There have been no changes during the reporting period.
Negotiations for the conclusion of a new and strengthened agreement, an Euro-Mediterranean
Association Agreement, which would replace the existing Co-operation Agreement, were launched in
May 1998 and have continued during the reporting period.  This Association Agreement will cover a
number of areas, essentially involving political dialogue, the establishment of a free-trade area over a
transitional period, economic and financial co-operation and co-operation in social and cultural
affairs.
4. Trade Data
Total bilateral trade between the EU and Syria increased to €5.2 billion in 2000.  Further
statistical information is provided in the annex.
II. TRADE PROVISIONS
1. Import restrictions &
2. Export restrictions &
3. Rules of origin &WT/REG104/R/B/2
G/L/546
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4. Standards &
5. Safeguards &
6. Anti-dumping and countervailing measures
These trade provisions of the Agreement have not been modified during the reporting period.
7. Subsidies and State-aid
The Agreement does not include any provisi ons concerning State aids or subsidies.
8. Sector-specific provisions
The situation remains as described in the last regular report.
III. GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE AGREEMENT &
IV. OTHER
The situation remains as described in the last regular report.WT/REG104/R/B/2
G/L/546
Page 3Annex
EC-Syria Imports/Exports, 2000 and comparison with extra-EU
balance balance
HS Section M Euro % Total M Euro % Total M Euro M Euro % Total M Euro % Total M Euro imports exports
07-Aug-01
Total 3,428 100.0% 1,761 100.0% -1,667 1,026,798 100.0% 937,836 100.0% -88,961 0.3% 0.2% 0.51
of which:
01 Animals & animal products 18 0.5% 28 1.6% 10 15,386 1.5% 12,064 1.3% -3,321 0.1% 0.2% 1.54
02 Vegetable products 19 0.6% 61 3.5% 42 25,086 2.4% 11,223 1.2% -13,864 0.1% 0.5% 3.19
03 Animal or vegetable fats 0 0.0% 7 0.4% 7 2,360 0.2% 2,687 0.3% 327 0.0% 0.3% 55.23
04 Prepared foodstuffs 3 0.1% 124 7.0% 121 22,170 2.2% 29,937 3.2% 7,767 0.0% 0.4% 46.43
05 Mineral products 3,012 87.9% 117 6.6% -2,896 160,181 15.6% 33,372 3.6% -126,808 1.9% 0.3% 0.04
06 Chemical products 2 0.1% 222 12.6% 221 63,673 6.2% 113,378 12.1% 49,705 0.0% 0.2% 119.05
07 Plastics & rubber 3 0.1% 104 5.9% 101 26,308 2.6% 35,240 3.8% 8,932 0.0% 0.3% 32.62
08 Hides & skins 55 1.6% 2 0.1% -54 10,204 1.0% 8,969 1.0% -1,234 0.5% 0.0% 0.03
09 Wood & wood products 1 0.0% 12 0.7% 11 14,618 1.4% 7,007 0.7% -7,611 0.0% 0.2% 12.48
10 Wood pulp products 0 0.0% 70 4.0% 70 17,021 1.7% 24,481 2.6% 7,461 0.0% 0.3% 255.80
11 Textiles & textile articles 278 8.1% 59 3.4% -218 69,611 6.8% 40,549 4.3% -29,062 0.4% 0.1% 0.21
12 Footwear, headgear 1 0.0% 1 0.0% 0 10,903 1.1% 6,825 0.7% -4,078 0.0% 0.0% 1.55
13 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos 1 0.0% 15 0.8% 14 7,846 0.8% 15,121 1.6% 7,275 0.0% 0.1% 16.74
14 Pearls, (semi-)precious stones, metals 0 0.0% 1 0.1% 1 35,656 3.5% 28,969 3.1% -6,687 0.0% 0.0% 3.13
15 Base metals & articles thereof 7 0.2% 176 10.0% 169 57,454 5.6% 52,942 5.6% -4,512 0.0% 0.3% 26.03
16 Machinery & mechanical applicances 12 0.4% 582 33.1% 570 298,805 29.1% 298,008 31.8% -797 0.0% 0.2% 47.05
17 Transportation equipment 5 0.1% 88 5.0% 83 90,679 8.8% 139,903 14.9% 49,224 0.0% 0.1% 17.57
18 Instruments - measuring, musical 5 0.1% 41 2.4% 37 42,480 4.1% 39,533 4.2% -2,947 0.0% 0.1% 9.09
19 Arms & ammunition 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 601 0.1% 1,574 0.2% 973 0.0% 0.0% 247.91
20 Miscellaneous 1 0.0% 9 0.5% 8 27,149 2.6% 18,409 2.0% -8,739 0.0% 0.0% 11.41
21 Works of art 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0 2,672 0.3% 4,583 0.5% 1,910 0.0% 0.0% 0.71
Other 5 0.1% 41 2.3% 36 25,935 2.5% 13,062 1.4% -12,872 0.0% 0.3% 8.01
Source : Eurostat COMEXT 30 Jul 01 (Statistical regime 4) TRADE/D/1  Paul VERBURGTimports exportsEU15 trade 2000 with EXTRA-EUR Syria / Total
0608 SyriaSyria
market shares Exp-Imp 
ratio
1011 Extra-EUREU15 trade 2000 with Syria
imports exportsWT/REG104/R/B/2
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EC-Syria Imports/Exports, 1997-2000
__________EU15 trade 1997-2000 with Syria (million Euro)
imports exports balance total trade
HS Section 1997 1998 1999 2000 1997 1998 1999 2000 1997 1998 1999 2000 1997 1998 1999 2000
011 Extra-EU1507-Aug-01
Total 2,027 1,465 2,158 3,428 1,354 1,534 1,665 1,761 -673 69 -493 -1,667 3,380 2,999 3,822 5,189
of which:
01 Animals & animal products 12 13 15 18 27 20 23 28 16 8 8 10 39 33 38 45
02 Vegetable products 12 10 22 19 22 17 59 61 10 7 38 42 35 27 81 80
03 Animal or vegetable fats 0010 6577 6557 7587
04 Prepared foodstuffs 1323 1 3 7 1 7 2 1 0 4 1 2 4 1 3 6 1 7 0 1 0 2 1 2 1 1 3 9 1 7 5 1 0 6 1 2 6
05 Mineral products 1,719 1,173 1,857 3,012 58 39 42 117 -1,661 -1,134 -1,815 -2,896 1,777 1,213 1,898 3,129
06 Chemical products 1122 1 7 0 2 0 3 2 1 3 2 2 2 1 7 0 2 0 2 2 1 2 2 2 1 1 7 1 2 0 3 2 1 5 2 2 4
07 Plastics & rubber 11237 7 8 4 8 4 1 0 47 6 8 3 8 2 1 0 17 9 8 6 8 5 1 0 8
08 Hides & skins 33 21 24 55 1 1 1 2 -31 -19 -23 -54 34 22 25 57
09 Wood & wood products 00111 357 1 21 356 1 11 358 1 3
10 Wood pulp products 00004 6 4 7 5 9 7 04 6 4 7 5 9 7 04 6 4 7 6 0 7 1
11 Textiles & textile articles 230 219 191 278 75 75 57 59 -155 -144 -134 -218 305 294 248 337
12 Footwear, headgear 1001 1101 0000 2111
13 Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos 01011 8 1 5 1 4 1 51 8 1 5 1 3 1 41 9 1 6 1 4 1 6
14 Pearls, (semi-)precious stones, metals 0110 1221 1121 1231
15 Base metals & articles thereof 1447 1 4 0 1 4 7 1 2 0 1 7 6 1 3 8 1 4 3 1 1 6 1 6 9 1 4 1 1 5 0 1 2 5 1 8 2
16 Machinery & mechanical applicances 5 8 5 12 412 499 483 582 408 491 478 570 417 508 488 595
17 Transportation equipment 1 1 24 5 59 116 312 88 59 115 288 83 60 117 336 93
18 Instruments - measuring, musical 13254 1 3 8 4 2 4 14 0 3 5 4 0 3 74 2 4 1 4 4 4 6
19 Arms & ammunition 0000 0000 0000 0000
20 Miscellaneous 1001 9 1 0 1 09 9 1 0981 0 1 1 1 09
21 Works of art 1000 0000 - 1000 1100
Other 66553 7 3 6 2 5 4 13 0 3 0 2 0 3 64 3 4 2 3 1 4 6
Source : Eurostat COMEXT 30 Jul 01 (Statistical regime 4) TRADE/D/1  Paul VERBURGTSyria
0608 Syria