Czech Republic and Republic of Slovakia

 The trade agreement between Israel and the Czech Republic went into effect on January 1, 1997, and a similar agreement was signed with the Republic of Slovakia.

 Under the agreement, an immediate exemption was granted on industrial imports that conform with the regulations of origin. Discounts were granted on sensitive products according to a reductions table which became fully exempt in 2002.

 The regulations of origin set forth in the agreement are identical to the regulations of origin provided in the agreement between Israel and EU countries.

 To be eligible for the benefits set forth in the agreement, the consignment must be shipped with an EUR-1 certificate of origin or a declaration given by the exporter.

Poland

 On January 1, 1998 the third agreement was signed with Poland.  

 Under the agreement, an exemption was granted on industrial imports classified in Chapters 25 to 97 of the Customs Tariff, with the exception of several products mentioned in Appendix 1 of the agreement. Discounts were granted on these sensitive products according to a reductions table which became fully exempt in 2002.

 The regulations of origin set forth in the agreement are identical to the regulations of origin provided in the agreement between Israel and EU countries.

 To be eligible for the benefits set forth in the agreement, the consignment must be shipped with an EUR-1 certificate of origin or a declaration given by the exporter.

Hungary

 On January 2, 1998 the trade agreement between Israel and Hungary went into effect, which gave an immediate exemption on industrial imports conforming with the regulations of origin. Discounts were granted on sensitive products according to a reductions table which became fully exempt in 2001.

 The regulations of origin set forth in the agreement are identical to the regulations of origin provided in the agreement between Israel and EU countries.

 To be eligible for the benefits set forth in the agreement, the consignment must be shipped with an EUR-1 certificate of origin or a declaration given by the exporter.

Mexico

 On July 1, 2000 the free trade zone agreement between Israel and Mexico went into effect.  The object of the agreement was to ensure equal competitive conditions for Israeli exports compared to suppliers from NAFTA countries.

 The agreement provided for reduced customs on all industrial products as well as a list of food and agricultural products.  The agreement contains a limited list of sensitive products in which the import duties levied on them will be gradually reduced and eventually will become fully exempt by January 1, 2005.  Import duties were gradually reduced on all other industrial products until they became fully exempt on January 1, 2003.

 Rules of Origin – The rules are specific for each product depending on its classification in the Customs Tariff.  A product is considered “Original” according to its production processes.  Other rules of origin criteria were determined in the textile fields.

 To be eligible for the benefits set forth in the agreement, the consignment must be shipped with a certificate of origin that was determined in the trade agreement between Israel and Mexico, and the consignment must be shipped directly from Israel to Mexico.

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Globes | 26 Feb 08

Israel in free-trade talks with Japan

Japanese officials have expressed interest in Israel’s water and aerospace industries.

Lilach Weissman, Tokyo

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today met Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Akira Amari in an effort to reach a bilateral economic cooperation agreement that will include a free-trade agreement. Japan has free-trade agreements with only a few countries, including Singapore and Mexico, and is due to sign agreements with India and South Korea.

If an agreement is signed, it will include a range of goods involved in bilateral trade, and may enable less strict Japanese standards being applied to Israeli goods and also exempt Israel from agricultural quotas. Negotiations between Israel and Japan have not yet reached fruition, and the subject may arise in Olmert’s talks with Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiko Koumura tomorrow.

Olmert has already reached a number of understandings with Amari, including the establishment of a joint work group on R&D. Chief Scientist Dr. Eli Opper will go to Japan to promote this subject. Olmert and Amari also reached an agreement to collaborate in aerospace. Amari said that an Israeli delegation would be invited to participate in a conference on the subject scheduled for the end of the year.

At a meeting with Manufacturers Association president Shraga Brosh, Japan Business Federation Chairman Fujio Mitarai, and president of Canon, expressed great interest in Israel’s high-tech industry and its auto industry, which numbers 150 companies. He was also interested in Israel’s water technologies.

Brosh said, "Japan is currently Israel’s 14th largest export partner, with $750 million in exports, and which has not grown in many years. The Manufacturers Association wants to double this figure within 3-5 years."

USA - Israel Free Trade Agreement

The United States-Israel Free Trade Area (FTA) agreement took effect September 1, 1985 and is designed to stimulate trade between the United States and Israel. The agreement, which has no expiration date, provides for the elimination of duties for merchandise from Israel entering the United States.

 As of January 1, 1995, all eligible reduced rate imports from Israel were accorded duty-free treatment. The FTA does allow the two countries to protect sensitive agricultural subsectors with nontariff barriers including import bans, quotas, and fees.

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 On January 1, 1993 a free trade zone agreement was signed between Israel and EFTA countries, as a result of which import duties on industrial products were immediately lifted.

 Only products originating in EFTA countries, directly imported from EFTA countries to Israel and accompanied by an EUR1 certificate of origin or a certificate of declaration of the exporter, are eligible for customs discounts.

 The countries included in the agreement are listed here:

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.

 On January 7, 2001 the trade agreement between Israel and Romania went into effect, which gave an immediate exemption on industrial imports conforming with the regulations of origin. Discounts were granted on sensitive products according to a reductions table which will become fully exempt in 2004.

 The regulations of origin set forth in the agreement are identical to the regulations of origin provided in the agreement between Israel and EU countries.

 To be eligible for the benefits set forth in the agreement, the consignment must be shipped with an EUR-1 certificate of origin or a declaration given by the exporter.

Bulgaria

 The trade agreement between Israel and Bulgaria went into effect in 2001. The agreement is identical to the trade agreement with Romania, so that under the agreement an immediate exemption was given on industrial imports conforming with the regulations of origin. A gradual reductions table was determined for sensitive products.

 The regulations of origin set forth in the agreement are identical to the regulations of origin provided in the agreement between Israel and EU countries.

 To be eligible for the benefits set forth in the agreement, the consignment must be shipped with an EUR-1 certificate of origin or a declaration given by the exporter.

 The trade agreement between Israel and Turkey went into effect on May 1, 1997.  Under the agreement, an immediate exemption was granted on industrial imports that conform with the regulations of origin and are not mentioned in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the agreement.  Discounts were granted on these sensitive products according to a reductions table which became fully exempt in 2002.

 The regulations of origin set forth in the agreement are identical to the regulations of origin provided in the agreement between Israel and EU countries.

 To be eligible for the benefits set forth in the agreement, the consignment must be shipped with an EUR-1 certificate of origin or a declaration given by the exporter.

Jordan

 The trade agreement between Israel and Jordan was signed in October 1995 for a three-year period, which is automatically renewed if it has not been terminated by one of the parties.

 Within the framework of the agreement, it was decided to lift all and any economic boycotts and to grant most favored nation (MFN) status to each other.

The regulations of origin determined that the main criterion for a material change in the product is if there is a value addition of 35% of the product value ex-factory, provided that the goods undergo a production process that is not minimal processing.