As regards EFTA-Lebanon trade statistics, see EFTA Trade Statistics Instrument Agreements between economic operators of the Parties and abuse of a dominant position by economic operators of the Parties are incompatible with the Agreement where they affect trade between the EFTA States and Lebanon. In such a case, a Party may refer the matter to the Joint Committee and take appropriate measures in the absence of agreement between the Parties concerned. The Agreement also provides for an exchange of information between the Contracting Parties on the application of their competition law. The free trade agreement covers trade in industrial products, including fish and marine products. In addition, bilateral agreements on basic agricultural products have been concluded between the various EFTA countries and Lebanon, which are part of the instruments for the creation of the free trade area. In addition, trade in agricultural commodities is covered by three bilateral agreements negotiated separately between Iceland, Norway and Switzerland/Liechtenstein, of the one part, and Lebanon, of the other part. These agreements are part of the instruments for the creation of the free trade area. They provide for reciprocal customs concessions. Each agreement also contains specific rules of origin, usually based on the “fully acquired” origin criteria. In November 2010, the EU and Lebanon signed a Protocol establishing a dispute settlement mechanism under the trade provisions of the Association Agreement. One of the objectives of the Agreement is the progressive liberalisation of trade in goods, in accordance with Article XXIV of the GATT. Until 1 March 2015, virtually all tariffs on trade in industrial goods, fish and other marine products were eliminated.
The agreement also contains provisions on the removal of other trade barriers and trade-related disciplines, including competition rules, state monopolies and state aid. In addition, the agreement contains chapters on intellectual property, services, investment, payments and transfers. The Agreement provides for the establishment of a Joint Committee to monitor the application of the Agreement and to provide for a binding arbitration procedure. The EU-Lebanon Association Agreement has progressively liberalised trade in goods between the EU and Lebanon. Its gradual implementation was planned between 2008 and 2014 and Lebanese industry and most agricultural products enjoy free access to the EU market in order to create a bilateral free trade area. The Parties share the objective of promoting, by different means, an attractive and stable mutual investment environment. The Parties shall endeavour to progressively liberalize and open their markets to each other`s trade in services, in accordance with the provisions of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). In addition, the EFTA States and Lebanon will consider granting each other additional benefits that both parties may grant to a third party. The Parties agree to apply their sanitary and phytosanitary rules in a non-discriminatory manner and not to apply new measures which have the effect of undue impeding trade. The Parties agree to cooperate in the field of technical rules, standards and conformity assessment and to hold consultations within the Joint Committee where one Party considers that another Party has taken measures that may create or create a technical barrier to trade within the meaning of the relevant WTO Agreement.
The pan-Euro-Mediterranean system of cumulation of origin was introduced in 2005. It brings together the EU, Lebanon and other partners in Europe and the Mediterranean to support regional integration through the creation of a common system of rules of origin. . . .