Copyright 1995 NLCIFT



Title:Understanding on the interpretation of article XXXV


       UNDERSTANDING ON THE INTERPRETATION OF ARTICLE XXXV
       OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE 1947



The CONTRACTING PARTIES,

     Having regard to the interlinked provisions of paragraph 1
of Article XXXV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
1947;

     Noting that by invoking Article XXXV a contracting party on
the one hand, or a government acceding to GATT 1947 on the other,
declines to apply GATT 1947, or alternatively Article II of that
Agreement, to the other party; 

     Desiring to ensure that tariff negotiations between
contracting parties and a government acceding to GATT 1947 are
not inhibited by unwillingness to accept an obligation to apply
GATT 1947 as a consequence of entry into such negotiations;

     Agree as follows:

     A contracting party and a government acceding to GATT 1947
may engage in negotiations relating to the establishment of a
GATT schedule of concessions by the acceding government without
prejudice to the right of either to invoke Article XXXV in
respect of the other.