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  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/LIC/Q/EEC/3 
16 November 2004 
 
 (04-4893) 
Committee on Import Licensing Original:   English 
  
 
RESTRICTIONS ON SALES OF URANIUM  
 
Questions from the UNITED STATES to the EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
1 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 8 November 2004, is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of the United States.  
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Since 1992, the EU has maintained strict quan titative restrictions on imports of natural and 
enriched uranium to protect its domestic producers.  Since 1994, import restrictions have been applied 
in accordance with the terms of a never publishe d declaration, the Corfu Declaration, which 
reportedly imposes explicit quotas for imports of both natural and enriched uranium.   
 
With respect to enriched uranium, we believe  that only about 20 per cent of the European 
market is open to imports of enriched uranium.  The quotas are enforced through licensing restrictions 
administered by the Euratom Supply Agency.  Clearly these restrictions have had a negative impact 
on import suppliers and we believe it is time to provide more information on these restrictions.   
 The United States requests that the EU provide (1 ) a copy of the Corfu Declaration as well as 
relevant annexes addressing the issue of import ac cess to the EU market for natural and enriched 
uranium,    (2) clarification of the content a nd purpose of the Corfu Declaration, in particular 
concerning the quantitative restrictions placed on impor ts of enriched uranium, (3) a notification to 
the Committee of the licensing requirements that enforce these quotas, and (4) provision to the 
Committee of the legislation that enforces them. 
 
 
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1 See Understanding on Procedures for th e Review of Notifications (G/LIC/4). 