Association Agreement between Central America and the European UnionAcuerdo que establece asociación entre Centroamérica y la Unión Europea y sus Estados miembros

The text is as follows:

AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CENTRAL AMERICA, ON THE ONE HAND, AND THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES, ON THE OTHER THE REPUBLIC OF COSTA RICA, THE REPUBLIC OF EL SALVADOR, THE REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA, THE REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS, THE REPUBLIC OF NICARAGUA, THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA, hereinafter referred to as "Central America", on the one hand, and THE KINGDOM OF BELGIUM, THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY, THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA, IRELAND, THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC, THE KINGDOM OF SPAIN, THE FRENCH REPUBLIC, THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC, THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS, THE REPUBLIC OF LATVIA, THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA, THE GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG, HUNGARY, MALTA, THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS, THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA, THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND, THE PORTUGUESE REPUBLIC, ROMANIA, THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA, THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC, THE REPUBLIC OF FINLAND, THE KINGDOM OF SWEDEN, THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND, Contracting Parties to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, hereinafter referred to as "the Member States of the European Union", and THE EUROPEAN UNION, on the other, CONSIDERING the historical, cultural, political, economic and social ties that have traditionally existed between the Parties and the desire to strengthen their relations based on common principles and values, building on the existing mechanisms governing relations between the Parties, as well as the desire to consolidate, deepen and diversify bi-regional links in areas of common interest in a spirit of mutual respect, equality, non-discrimination, solidarity and mutual benefit; CONSIDERING the positive development of the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*) during the last two decades, which has made it possible to foster common objectives and interests to embark on a new, deeper, modern and permanent phase of relations, with the aim of establishing a bi-regional() association that responds to current internal challenges as well as new international realities;

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "both regions")

() (Sinalevi Note: In accordance with the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the word "bi-regional" is to be considered not incorporated into the present aforementioned agreement.)

STRESSING the importance that the Parties attach to the consolidation of the process of political dialogue and economic cooperation established to date between the Parties within the framework of the San José Dialogue, initiated in 1984 and renewed on numerous occasions since then; RECALLING the conclusions of the 2006 Vienna Summit, including the commitments undertaken by Central America regarding the deepening of regional economic integration; RECOGNISING the progress achieved in the Central American economic integration process, such as the ratification of the Framework Convention for the Establishment of the Central American Customs Union and the Treaty on Investment and Trade in Services, as well as the implementation of a jurisdictional mechanism that guarantees compliance with regional economic legislation throughout the Central American region; REAFFIRMING their respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; RECALLING their commitment to the principles of the Rule of Law and good governance; BASING themselves on the principle of shared responsibility and convinced of the importance of preventing the consumption of illicit drugs and reducing their harmful effects, including the fight against the cultivation, production, processing and trafficking of drugs and their precursors, as well as against money laundering; NOTING that the provisions of this Agreement that fall within the scope of Part III, Title V, of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union are binding on the United Kingdom and Ireland as independent Contracting Parties, and not as part of the European Union, unless the European Union, together with the United Kingdom, Ireland, or both jointly notify the Republics of the CA Party that the United Kingdom or Ireland is bound as part of the European Union, in accordance with Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of Freedom, Security and Justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

In the event that the United Kingdom or Ireland, or both, cease to be bound as part of the European Union in accordance with Article 4a of Protocol No. 21, the European Union, together with the United Kingdom, Ireland, or both, shall immediately inform the Republics of the CA Party of any change in their position, in which case they shall continue to be bound by the provisions of this Agreement in their own right. The same applies to Denmark, in accordance with the Protocol annexed to those Treaties on the position of Denmark; UNDERSCORING their commitment to work together towards the eradication of poverty, the creation of employment, equitable and sustainable development, including aspects such as vulnerability to natural disasters, the conservation and protection of the environment and biodiversity, as well as the progressive integration of the Republics of the CA Party into the world economy; REAFFIRMING the importance that the Parties attach to the principles and rules governing international trade, in particular those contained in the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization of 15 April 1994 (hereinafter "the WTO Agreement"), and the multilateral agreements annexed to the WTO Agreement, as well as the need to apply them in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner; CONSIDERING the difference in economic and social development existing between the Republics of the CA Party and the United Kingdom(*), and the common objective of strengthening the process of economic and social development in Central America;

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

WISHING to strengthen their economic relations, in particular trade and investment, by strengthening and improving the current level of access of the Republics of the CA Party to the European Union market, thus contributing to economic growth in Central America and the reduction of asymmetries between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*);

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "both regions")

CONVINCED that this Agreement will create a climate conducive to the growth of sustainable economic relations between them, particularly in the sectors of trade and investment, which are essential for achieving economic and social development and technological modernisation and innovation; UNDERSCORING the need to build on the principles, objectives and mechanisms governing relations between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*), in particular the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, signed in 2003 (hereinafter referred to as "the 2003 Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement"), as well as the 1993 Framework Cooperation Agreement signed between those same parties; (Sinalevi Note: By means of section 1) sub-section a) of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the paragraph beginning with the words "UNDERSCORING the need to build" is not incorporated into the present aforementioned Agreement.)

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "both regions")

AWARE of the need to promote sustainable development in the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*) through a development partnership involving all stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector, in accordance with the principles set out in the Monterrey Consensus and the Johannesburg Declaration, as well as its implementation plan;

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "both regions")

REAFFIRMING that States, in the exercise of their sovereign power to exploit their natural resources, in accordance with their own environmental and development policies, must promote sustainable development; AWARE of the need to establish a comprehensive dialogue on migration to strengthen bi-regional cooperation in this area within the framework of the parts of this Agreement relating to Political Dialogue and Cooperation, and to ensure effective promotion and protection of the human rights of all migrants; RECOGNISING that no provision of this Agreement shall be invoked or interpreted or understood in any way as defining the position of the Parties in current or future bilateral or multilateral trade negotiations; EMPHASISING their willingness to cooperate in international fora on issues of mutual interest; BEARING IN MIND the strategic partnership developed between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean in the framework of the 1999 Rio Summit, reaffirmed at the 2002 Madrid Summit, the 2004 Guadalajara Summit, the 2006 Vienna Summit, the 2008 Lima Summit and the 2010 Madrid Summit; (Sinalevi Note: By means of section 1) sub-section b) of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the paragraph beginning with the words "BEARING IN MIND the strategic partnership developed" is not incorporated into the present Agreement previously referred to.)

TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the Madrid Declaration of May 2010; HAVE DECIDED TO CONCLUDE THIS AGREEMENT:

PART I GENERAL AND INSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

Principles 1. Respect for democratic principles and fundamental human rights, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and for the rule of law underpins the internal and international policies of both Parties and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.

2. The Parties confirm their commitment to promoting sustainable development, which is a guiding principle for the implementation of this Agreement, taking special account of the Millennium Development Goals. The Parties shall ensure an appropriate balance between the economic, social and environmental components of sustainable development.

3. The Parties reaffirm their adherence to good governance and the rule of law, which entails, in particular, the supremacy of the law, the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary, clear decision-making procedures by public authorities, transparent and accountable institutions, efficient and transparent administration of public affairs at the local, regional and national levels, and the application of measures aimed at preventing and combating corruption.

Objectives The Parties agree that the objectives of this Agreement are:

• a)to strengthen and consolidate relations between the Parties through an association based on three interdependent and fundamental parts: political dialogue, cooperation and trade, on the basis of mutual respect, reciprocity and common interest. Full use shall be made of the agreements and institutional mechanisms agreed upon by the Parties to implement this Agreement; b) to develop a privileged political partnership based on common values, principles and objectives, in particular respect for and promotion of democracy and human rights, sustainable development, good governance and the rule of law, with a commitment to promoting and protecting these values and principles worldwide, thereby contributing to strengthening multilateralism; c) to enhance bi-regional cooperation in all areas of common interest in order to achieve more sustainable and equitable social and economic development in the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*);

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "both regions")

• d)to broaden and diversify the bi-regional trade relationship of the Parties in conformity with the WTO Agreement and the specific objectives and provisions set out in Part IV of this Agreement, which should contribute to greater economic growth, the gradual improvement of the quality of life in the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*) and their better integration into the world economy;

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "both regions")

• e)to strengthen and deepen the progressive process of regional integration in Central America(*) in areas of common interest, as a way to facilitate the implementation of this Agreement; (*) (Thus inserted the preceding phrase by section 2) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019.") f) to strengthen good neighbourly relations and the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes; g) to maintain at least, and preferably improve, the level of good governance, as well as the levels achieved in social, labour and environmental matters through the effective implementation of the international conventions to which the Parties are party at the time of the entry into force of this Agreement; and h) to promote increased trade and investment between the Parties, taking into consideration special and differential treatment to reduce the structural asymmetries existing between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*).

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "both regions")

Scope The Parties shall treat each other as equals. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such a way as to undermine the sovereignty of any Republic of the CA Party.

Association Council 1. An Association Council is hereby established which shall supervise the fulfillment of the objectives of this Agreement and its implementation. The Association Council shall meet at ministerial level at regular intervals not exceeding a period of four(*) years, and extraordinarily when circumstances so require and if the Parties so agree. The Association Council shall meet at the level of Heads of State or Government, when appropriate and so agreed by the Parties. In addition, to strengthen political dialogue and make it more efficient, specific ad hoc working meetings shall be promoted.

(*) (Thus amended the preceding sentence by section 3) sub-section a) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019.") 2. The Association Council shall examine any major issue arising under this Agreement, as well as any other bilateral, multilateral or international issue of common interest.

3. The Association Council shall also examine proposals and recommendations from the Parties aimed at improving the relations established under this Agreement.

Composition and Rules of Procedure 1. The Association Council shall be composed of representatives of the United Kingdom(*) and of each of the Republics of the CA Party at ministerial level, in accordance with the respective internal provisions of the Parties and taking into consideration the specific issues (Political Dialogue, Cooperation and/or Trade) to be addressed at each particular session.

2. The Association Council shall establish its own rules of procedure.

3. The members of the Association Council may arrange to be represented, in accordance with the conditions laid down in its rules of procedure.

4. The chair of the Association Council shall be held alternately by a representative of the United Kingdom(*), on the one hand, and by a representative of a Republic of the CA Party, on the other, in accordance with its rules of procedure.

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Power to Take Decisions 1. To achieve the objectives of this Agreement, the Association Council shall have the power to take decisions in the cases provided for in this Agreement.

2. The decisions adopted shall be binding on the Parties, which shall take all necessary measures to implement them in accordance with the internal rules and legal procedures of each Party.

3. The Association Council may also formulate such recommendations as it deems appropriate.

4. The Association Council shall adopt its decisions and recommendations by mutual agreement between the Parties. In the case of the Republics of the CA Party, the adoption of decisions and recommendations shall require their consensus.

5. The procedure established in paragraph 4 shall apply to all other bodies created under this Agreement.

Association Committee 1. The Association Council shall be assisted in the performance of its duties by an Association Committee, which shall be composed of representatives of the United Kingdom(*) and of each of the Republics of the CA Party, at senior official level, and taking into consideration the specific issues (Political Dialogue, Cooperation and/or Trade) to be addressed at each particular session.

(*) (Thus its designation was replaced by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

2. The Association Committee shall be responsible for the general implementation of this Agreement.

3. The Association Council shall establish the rules of procedure of the Association Committee.

4. The Association Committee shall be empowered to adopt decisions in the cases provided for in this Agreement or where the Association Council has delegated such power to it. In such case, the Association Committee shall adopt its decisions in accordance with the conditions set out in Articles 4 to 6.

5. The Association Committee shall generally meet once a year to conduct an overall review of the implementation of this Agreement, on a date and with an agenda agreed in advance by the Parties, one year in London(*) and the following year in Central America. Extraordinary meetings may be convened, by mutual agreement and at the request of either Party. The Association Committee shall be chaired alternately by a representative of each of the Parties.

(*) (Thus its designation was replaced by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "Brussels")

Subcommittees 1. The Association Committee shall be assisted in the performance of its functions by the Subcommittees established in this Agreement.

2. The Association Committee may decide to create any additional Subcommittee. It may decide to modify the assigned tasks or dissolve any Subcommittee.

3. The Subcommittees shall meet once a year or at the request of either Party or the Association Committee, at an appropriate level. When meetings are in person, they shall be held alternately in London(*) or in Central America. Meetings may also be held by any technological means available to the Parties.

(*) (Thus its designation was replaced by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "Brussels")

4. The Subcommittees shall be chaired alternately by a representative of the United Kingdom(*), on the one hand, and by a representative of a Republic of the CA Party, on the other, for a period of one year.

(*) (Thus its designation was replaced by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

5. The creation or existence of a Subcommittee shall not prevent the Parties from bringing any matter directly to the Association Committee.

6. The Association Council shall adopt the rules of procedure that will determine the composition and functions of such Subcommittees, as well as their mode of operation, provided this is not provided for in this Agreement.

7. A Cooperation Subcommittee is hereby established. It shall assist the Association Committee in the performance of its duties relating to Part III of this Agreement. It shall also have the following tasks:

• a)address any cooperation matter entrusted to it by the Association Committee; b) monitor the general implementation of Part III of this Agreement; c) discuss any issue related to cooperation that may affect the operation of Part III of this Agreement.

Parliamentary Association Committee 1. The Parties may establish a Parliamentary Association Committee. It shall be constituted by members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom(*), on the one hand, and by members of the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), and in the case of the Republics of the CA Party that are not members of PARLACEN, by representatives designated by their respective National Congresses, on the other, who shall meet and exchange views. It shall determine the frequency of its meetings and shall be chaired alternately by one of the two sides.

(Thus the preceding paragraph was amended by subsection 3) subparagraph b) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019.")

(*) (Thus its designation was replaced by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "European Parliament")

2. The Parliamentary Association Committee shall establish its own rules of procedure.

3. The Parliamentary Association Committee may request from the Association Council pertinent information on the implementation of this Agreement. The Association Council shall provide the Committee with the requested information.

4. The Parliamentary Association Committee shall be informed of the decisions and recommendations of the Association Council.

5. The Parliamentary Association Committee may make recommendations to the Association Council.

Joint Consultative Committee 1. A Joint Consultative Committee is hereby established as an advisory body to the Association Council. Its task shall be to present to said Council the views of civil society organizations related to the implementation of this Agreement, without prejudice to other processes under Article 11. Furthermore, the Joint Consultative Committee shall contribute to promoting dialogue and cooperation between the civil society organizations of the European Union and those of Central America.

2. The Joint Consultative Committee shall be composed of an equal number of representatives of the European Economic and Social Committee, on the one hand, and representatives of the Consultative Committee of the Central American Integration System (CC-SICA) and the Consultative Committee for Economic Integration (CCIE), on the other.

3. The Joint Consultative Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

(Note from Sinalevi: By subsection 3) subparagraph c) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that this number is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement.)

Civil Society 1. The Parties shall promote meetings of representatives of the civil societies of the European Union and of Central America, including the academic community, social and economic partners, and non-governmental organizations.

2. The Parties shall request periodic meetings with such representatives to inform them about the implementation of this Agreement and receive their proposals in this regard.

PART II POLITICAL DIALOGUE

Objectives The Parties agree that the objectives of the political dialogue between the Republics of the CA Party and the United Kingdom(*) are:

(*) (Thus its designation was replaced by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• a)establish a privileged political partnership based primarily on respect for and the promotion of democracy, peace, human rights, the rule of law, good governance, and sustainable development; b) defend common values, principles, and objectives through their promotion at the international level, particularly within the United Nations; c) strengthen the United Nations Organization as the centre of the multilateral system to enable it to effectively address global challenges; d) intensify political dialogue to allow a broad exchange of opinions, positions, and information leading to joint initiatives at the international level; e) cooperate in the fields of foreign and security policy, with the aim of coordinating their positions and taking joint initiatives of mutual interest in the relevant international forums.

Areas 1. The Parties agree that the political dialogue shall cover all aspects of mutual interest, both at the regional and international levels.

2. The political dialogue between the Parties shall pave the way for new initiatives aimed at achieving common objectives and establishing common ground in areas such as: regional integration; the rule of law; good governance; democracy; human rights; the promotion and protection of the rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples and persons, as recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; equal opportunities and gender equality; the structure and orientation of international cooperation; migration; poverty reduction and social cohesion; core labour standards; environmental protection and the sustainable management of natural resources; regional security and stability, including the fight against citizen insecurity; corruption; drugs; transnational organized crime; trafficking in small arms and light weapons, as well as their ammunition; the fight against terrorism; the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts.

3. The dialogue under Part II shall also cover international treaties on human rights, good governance, core labour standards, and the environment, in accordance with the international commitments of the Parties, and shall, in particular, raise the question of their effective implementation.

4. The Parties may agree at any time to add any other topic as an area of political dialogue.

Disarmament 1. The Parties agree to cooperate and contribute to strengthening the multilateral system in the field of conventional arms disarmament, through full compliance with and national implementation of their existing obligations under international treaties and agreements, and other relevant international instruments in the field of conventional arms disarmament.

2. In particular, the Parties shall promote the full implementation and universalization of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, as well as the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its protocols.

3. The Parties further recognize that the illicit production, transfer, and circulation of small arms and light weapons, including their ammunition, as well as their excessive accumulation and uncontrolled spread, continue to pose a serious threat to international peace and security. Therefore, they agree to cooperate in the fight against the illicit trade and excessive accumulation of small arms and light weapons, including their ammunition, and also agree to work together to regulate the licit trade in conventional arms.

4. Therefore, the Parties agree to respect and fully implement their obligations to address the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, including their ammunition, within the framework of existing international agreements and applicable resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, as well as their commitments within the framework of other applicable international instruments in this area, such as the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Weapons of Mass Destruction 1. The Parties consider that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, to both state and non-state actors, represents one of the most serious threats to international stability and security.

2. Therefore, the Parties agree to cooperate and contribute in the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, through full compliance with and national implementation of their existing obligations under international disarmament and non-proliferation treaties and agreements, and other relevant international obligations.

3. The Parties agree that this provision constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.

4. The Parties also agree to cooperate and contribute to the objective of non-proliferation by:

• a)taking the necessary steps to sign, ratify, or accede to, as appropriate, and fully implement and comply with all other relevant international instruments; b) establishing an effective system of national export controls that verifies the export and transit of goods related to weapons of mass destruction, including the control of dual-use technologies for their end-use in weapons of mass destruction, and which includes effective sanctions for violations of export controls.

5. The Parties agree to establish a regular political dialogue to accompany and consolidate their cooperation in this area.

Fight against Terrorism 1. The Parties reaffirm the importance of the fight against terrorism and, in accordance with internationally recognized human rights, humanitarian law, and refugee law, the relevant international conventions and other instruments, United Nations resolutions on the matter, and their respective legislation and regulations, as well as the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy contained in UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/60/288 of September 8, 2006, agree to cooperate in the prevention and elimination of acts of terrorism.

2. This cooperation shall be carried out mainly:

• a)within the framework of the full implementation of international conventions and instruments, including all relevant United Nations General Assembly resolutions and United Nations Security Council resolutions; b) through the exchange of information on terrorist groups and their support networks, in accordance with international and national law; c) through cooperation on the means and methods used to counter terrorism, including technical fields and training, and the exchange of experiences in the prevention of terrorism and in the field of protecting human rights in the fight against terrorism; d) through the exchange of views on legal frameworks and best practices, as well as technical and administrative assistance; e) through the exchange of information in accordance with their respective legislation; f) through technical assistance and training on investigation methods, information technology, and the formulation of protocols on prevention, alerts, and effective response to terrorist threats or acts; and g) through the exchange of views on prevention models related to other illicit activities linked to terrorism, such as money laundering, firearms trafficking, identity document forgery, and trafficking in human beings, among others.

Serious Crimes of International Concern 1. The Parties reaffirm that the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole must not go unpunished and that their prosecution must be ensured through measures, whether at the national or international level, as appropriate, including the International Criminal Court.

2. The Parties consider that the establishment and effective functioning of the International Criminal Court constitutes an important advance for international peace and justice, and that the Court represents an effective instrument to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole when national courts are unwilling or unable to do so, given the complementary nature of the International Criminal Court with national criminal jurisdictions.

3. The Parties agree to cooperate to promote universal adherence to the Rome Statute by:

• a)continuing to take actions to implement the Rome Statute and to ratify and implement related instruments (such as the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Criminal Court); b) sharing experiences with regional partners in the adoption of the necessary legal adjustments to allow the ratification and implementation of the Rome Statute; and c) taking measures to safeguard the integrity of the Rome Statute.

4. It is the sovereign decision of each State to decide when is the most appropriate time to accede to the Rome Statute.

Financing for Development 1. The Parties agree to support international efforts to promote policies and regulations aimed at financing development and strengthening cooperation to achieve the internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, as well as the commitments of the Monterrey Consensus and other related forums.

2. To this end, and with the aim of promoting more inclusive societies, the Parties recognize the need to develop new and innovative financial mechanisms.

Migration 1. The Parties reaffirm the importance they attach to the joint management of migratory flows between their territories. Recognizing that poverty is one of the fundamental causes of migration and with the aim of strengthening cooperation between them, they shall engage in a comprehensive dialogue on all issues relating to migration, such as irregular migration, refugee flows, smuggling of and trafficking in human beings, and shall include related issues such as the brain drain in national strategies for the economic and social development of the areas from which migrants originate, also taking into account the historical and cultural links existing between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*).

(*) (Thus its designation was replaced by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "both regions")

2. The Parties agree to ensure the effective enjoyment, protection, and promotion of the human rights of all migrants and the principles of equity and transparency in the equal treatment of migrants, and underline the importance of combating racism, discrimination, xenophobia, and other forms of intolerance.

Environment 1. The Parties shall promote a dialogue in the fields of the environment and sustainable development through the exchange of information and by encouraging initiatives on environmental issues at the local and global levels, recognizing the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, as established in the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.

2. This dialogue shall be aimed, among other things, at combating the threat of climate change, the conservation of biodiversity, the protection and sustainable management of forests to, among other things, reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, the protection of water and marine resources, watersheds and wetlands, research and development of alternative fuels and renewable energy technologies, and the reform of environmental governance with a view to increasing its efficiency.

Citizen Security The Parties shall engage in dialogue on citizen security, which is fundamental for promoting human development, democracy, good governance, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They recognize that citizen security transcends national and regional borders and, consequently, requires the promotion of broader dialogue and cooperation on this matter.

Good Governance in Tax Matters With a view to strengthening and developing economic activities, and taking into account the need to develop an adequate regulatory framework, the Parties recognize and commit to complying with the internationally agreed common principles relating to good governance in tax matters.

Common Economic and Financial Credit Fund 1. The Parties agree on the importance of redoubling efforts to reduce poverty and support the development of Central America, particularly its poorest areas and populations.

2. Therefore, the Parties agree to negotiate the creation of a common economic and financial mechanism, which includes, among other things, the involvement of the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Latin America Investment Facility (LAIF), and technical assistance through the regional cooperation programme for Central America. Said mechanism shall contribute to poverty reduction, promote the development and comprehensive well-being of Central America, and foster socio-economic growth and the promotion of a balanced relationship between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*).

(*) (Thus its designation was replaced by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "both regions")

3. To this end, a bi-regional working group has been established. The mandate of this group shall be to examine the creation of such a mechanism, as well as its operating modalities.

(Sinalevi Note: By means of subparagraph 4) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that this numeral is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement) PART III COOPERATION

Objectives 1. The general objective of cooperation is to support the implementation of this Agreement in order to achieve an effective association between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*) through the contribution of resources, mechanisms, tools, and procedures.

(*) (Its designation thus substituted by the subparagraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously stated as "both regions")

2. Priority shall be given to the following objectives, which are set out in more detail in Titles I to IX of this Part:

• a)strengthening peace and security; b) contributing to strengthening democratic institutions, good governance, and the full implementation of the Rule of Law, gender equality and equity, all forms of non-discrimination, cultural diversity, pluralism, the promotion and respect of human rights, fundamental freedoms, transparency, and citizen participation; c) contributing to social cohesion through the reduction of poverty, inequality, social exclusion, and all forms of discrimination to improve the quality of life of the peoples of Central America and the European Union; d) promoting economic growth to foster sustainable development, reducing imbalances between and within the Parties, and developing synergies between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*);

(*) (Its designation thus substituted by the subparagraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously stated as "both regions")

• e)deepening the regional integration process in Central America by strengthening the capacity to implement and take advantage of the benefits of this Agreement, thereby contributing to the economic, social, and political development of the Central American region as a whole; f) strengthening production and management capacities and improving competitiveness, creating opportunities for trade and investment for all economic and social agents in the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*).

(*) (Its designation thus substituted by the subparagraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously stated as "both regions")

3. The Parties shall undertake policies and measures aimed at fulfilling the objectives mentioned above. These measures may include innovative financial mechanisms with the objective of contributing to the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals, in accordance with the commitments of the Monterrey Consensus and subsequent forums.

Principles Cooperation between the Parties shall be governed by the following principles:

• a)cooperation shall support and complement the efforts of the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*) to implement the priorities set out in their own development policies and strategies, without prejudice to activities carried out with their civil society;

(*) (Its designation thus substituted by the subparagraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously stated as "the associated countries and regions")

• b)cooperation shall be the result of a dialogue between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*);

(*) (Its designation thus substituted by the subparagraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously stated as "the associated countries and regions")

• c)the Parties shall promote the participation of civil society and local authorities in their development policies and in their cooperation; d) cooperation activities shall be established at both the national and regional levels, which shall complement each other to support the general and specific objectives established in this Agreement; e) cooperation shall take into account cross-cutting issues, such as democracy and human rights, good governance, indigenous peoples, gender equality, the environment, including natural disasters, and regional integration; f) the Parties shall increase the effectiveness of their cooperation by acting within mutually agreed frameworks; they shall promote harmonization, alignment, and coordination among donors, as well as the fulfillment of mutual obligations related to the carrying out of cooperation activities; g) cooperation includes technical and financial assistance as a means to contribute to the fulfillment of the objectives of this Agreement; h) the Parties agree on the importance of taking into account their different levels of development in the design of cooperation activities; i) the Parties agree on the importance of continuing to support policies and strategies for poverty reduction in middle-income countries, paying special attention to lower-middle-income countries; j) cooperation under this Agreement shall not affect the participation of the Republics of the CA Party, as developing countries, in the United Kingdom's(*) activities in the field of research for development or other European Union development cooperation programs aimed at third countries, subject to the rules and procedures of these programs.

(Sinalevi Note: By means of subparagraph 5) sub-subparagraph a) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that subparagraph j) above is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement)

(*) (Its designation thus substituted by the subparagraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously stated as "EU Party")

Modalities and Methodology 1. To execute cooperation activities, the Parties agree that:

• a)instruments may cover a wide range of bilateral, horizontal, or regional activities, such as programs and projects, including those for infrastructure, budget support, sectoral policy dialogue, exchange and transfer of equipment, studies, impact assessments, statistics and databases, exchanges of experiences and experts, training, communication and awareness campaigns, seminars, and publications; b) executing agents may include local, national, and regional authorities, as well as civil society organizations and international organizations; c) they shall provide adequate and necessary administrative and financial resources to ensure the execution of the cooperation activities they have agreed upon, in accordance with their own laws, regulations, and procedures; d) all entities involved in cooperation shall be subject to transparent resource management and accountability; e) they shall promote innovative cooperation and financing modalities and instruments, in order to improve the effectiveness of cooperation and make the most of this Agreement; f) cooperation between the Parties shall identify and develop innovative cooperation programs for the Republics of the CA Party; g) they shall encourage and facilitate private financing and foreign direct investment, particularly through financing from the European Investment Bank in Central America, in accordance with its own procedures and financial criteria; (Sinalevi Note: By means of subparagraph
• 5)sub-subparagraph b. i) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that in subparagraph g) above the words "particularly through financing from the European Investment Bank in Central America, in accordance with its own procedures and financial criteria"; are not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement) h) the participation of each Party as a partner in framework programs, specific programs, and other activities of the other Party shall be promoted, in accordance with its own rules and procedures; (Sinalevi Note: By means of subparagraph
• 5)sub-subparagraph b. ii) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that subparagraph h) above; is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement) i) the participation of the Republics of the CA Party in the United Kingdom's(*) thematic and horizontal cooperation programs for Latin America shall be promoted, including through possible specific windows; (Sinalevi Note: By means of subparagraph
• 5)sub-subparagraph b. ii) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that subparagraph i) above; is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement)

(*) (Its designation thus substituted by the subparagraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously stated as "EU Party")

• j)the Parties, in accordance with their own rules and procedures, shall promote triangular cooperation in areas of common interest between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*) and with third countries;

(*) (Its designation thus substituted by the subparagraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously stated as "the two regions")

• k)the Parties must jointly study all practical possibilities for cooperation of mutual interest.

2. The Parties agree to promote cooperation between financial institutions, in accordance with their needs and within the framework of their respective programs and legislation.

Evolutionary Clause 1. The fact that a field or cooperation activity has not been included in this Agreement shall not be interpreted as an impediment for the Parties to decide, in accordance with their respective legislation, to cooperate in that field or activity.

2. No possibility of cooperation shall be excluded beforehand. The Parties may resort to the Association Committee to study the practical possibilities for cooperation of mutual interest.

3. Regarding the implementation of this Agreement, the Parties may make proposals to expand cooperation in all fields, taking into account the experience acquired during the implementation of the Agreement.

Statistical Cooperation 1. The Parties agree to cooperate to develop better statistical methods and programs in accordance with internationally accepted standards, including the collection, processing, quality control, and dissemination of statistics, with the objective of generating comparable indicators between the Parties, allowing them to use the other Party's statistics on trade in goods and services, foreign direct investment, and, more generally, on any field covered by this Agreement for which statistics can be compiled. The Parties recognize the usefulness of bilateral cooperation to support these objectives.

2. Cooperation in this field shall also aim to:

• a)develop a regional statistical system in support of the regional integration priorities agreed between the Parties; b) cooperate in the field of statistics on science, technology, and innovation.

3. This cooperation could include, among other things: technical exchanges between the statistical institutes of the Republics of the CA Party and the Member States of the European Union and Eurostat, including exchanges of scientists; the development of improved and, where appropriate, coherent methods for the collection, disaggregation, analysis, and interpretation of data; and the organization of seminars, working groups, or statistical training programs.

(Sinalevi Note: By means of subparagraph 5) sub-subparagraph c) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that in paragraph 3) above the words "and Eurostat", are not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement)

Democracy and Human Rights 1. The Parties shall cooperate to achieve the full observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms that are universal, indivisible, and interdependent and interrelated, as well as for the building and strengthening of democracy.

2. This cooperation may include, among other things:

• a)the effective implementation of international human rights instruments, as well as the recommendations emanating from the Treaty Bodies and special procedures; b) the integration of the promotion and protection of human rights into national policies and development plans; c) the strengthening of capacities to implement democratic principles and practices; d) the development and implementation of action plans on democracy and human rights; e) awareness-raising and education on human rights, democracy, and a culture of peace; f) the strengthening of democratic institutions and those related to the field of human rights, as well as legal and institutional frameworks for the promotion and protection of human rights; g) the development of joint initiatives of mutual interest within the relevant multilateral forums.

Good Governance The Parties agree that cooperation in this field shall actively support governments through actions aimed, in particular, at:

• a)respecting the Rule of Law; b) ensuring the separation of Powers; c) guaranteeing the independence and efficiency of the judicial system; d) promoting transparent, accountable, effective, stable, and democratic institutions; e) promoting policies that ensure accountability and transparent management; f) fighting corruption; g) strengthening good and transparent governance at the national, regional, and local levels; h) establishing and maintaining, at all levels, clear procedures for decision-making by public authorities; i) supporting the participation of civil society.

Modernization of the State and Public Administration, including Decentralization 1. The Parties agree that cooperation in this field shall aim to improve their legal and institutional frameworks, based mainly on best practices. This includes the reform and modernization of public management, including capacity development, to support and strengthen decentralization processes and to underpin the organizational changes resulting from integration, paying special attention to organizational efficiency and the provision of services to citizens, as well as the transparent and good management of public resources, and accountability.

2. This cooperation may include national and regional programs and projects aimed at developing capacities for the design, implementation, and evaluation of public policies. Likewise, the judicial system shall be strengthened, and the participation of civil society shall be promoted.

Conflict Prevention and Resolution 1. The Parties agree that cooperation in this field shall promote and support a comprehensive peace policy that includes conflict prevention and resolution. This policy shall be based on the principle of societal commitment and participation and shall focus primarily on developing regional, subregional, and national capacities. It shall ensure equal political, economic, social, and cultural opportunities for all segments of society, strengthen democratic legitimacy, promote social cohesion and an effective mechanism for the peaceful conciliation of the interests of different groups, and foster an organized and active civil society, particularly by drawing on existing regional institutions.

2. Cooperation shall strengthen capacities for conflict resolution and may include, among other things, support measures for mediation, negotiation, and reconciliation processes, strategies that promote peace, efforts to improve levels of trust and security at the regional level, efforts made on behalf of children, women, and the elderly, as well as actions to combat anti-personnel mines.

Strengthening of Institutions and the Rule of Law The Parties shall attach special importance to the consolidation of the Rule of Law and the strengthening of institutions at all levels, particularly to law enforcement and the administration of justice. Cooperation shall be aimed mainly at strengthening the independence of the Judiciary and increasing its efficiency.

Protection of Personal Data 1. The Parties agree to cooperate to improve the level of protection of personal data towards the highest international standards, such as the Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerized Personal Data Files, modified by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 14, 1990, and to work towards the free movement of personal data between the Parties, taking into account their domestic legislation.

2. Cooperation on the protection of personal data may include, among other things, technical assistance in the form of exchange of information and expertise, taking into account the laws and regulations of the Parties.

Illicit Drugs 1. The Parties shall cooperate to ensure a global, comprehensive, and balanced approach through effective action and coordination between the competent authorities, including those in health, education, public security and/or interior, customs, social and justice fields, in order to reduce as far as possible the supply and demand for illicit drugs, as well as their impact on drug-dependent persons and society in general. The aim is also to achieve more effective control and prevention against the diversion of chemical precursors used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, including the diversion of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific use, for illicit purposes.

2. Cooperation shall be based on the principle of shared responsibility, on the relevant international conventions, as well as on the Political Declaration, the Declaration on the Guiding Principles of Drug Demand Reduction, and other main documents adopted by the Twentieth Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on drugs in June 1998.

3. Cooperation shall be aimed at coordinating and increasing joint efforts to address the problem of illicit drugs. Without prejudice to other cooperation mechanisms, the Parties agree that, at the interregional level, the Coordination and Cooperation Mechanism on Drugs between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean shall be used for this purpose, and agree to cooperate to increase its effectiveness.

(Note from Sinalevi: By means of subsection 6) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the second sentence is not incorporated into the present aforementioned Agreement) 4. The Parties also agree to cooperate against crimes related to drug trafficking through greater coordination with relevant international bodies and agencies.

5. The Parties shall cooperate to ensure a comprehensive and balanced approach through effective action and coordination among the competent authorities, taking into account the social, justice, and public and/or internal security spheres, with the purpose of:

• a)exchanging views on legislative frameworks and best practices; b) combating the supply, trafficking, and demand for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances; c) strengthening judicial and police cooperation to combat illicit trafficking; d) strengthening maritime cooperation to efficiently combat trafficking; e) establishing information and monitoring centers; f) defining and implementing measures aimed at reducing the illicit trafficking of drugs, prescription medicines (narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances), and chemical precursors; g) establishing joint research programs and projects, as well as mutual legal assistance; h) encouraging alternative development, in particular the promotion of legal crops for small producers; i) facilitating the training and education of human resources to prevent drug consumption and trafficking, and strengthening administrative control systems; j) supporting prevention and education programs dedicated to young people both inside and outside educational institutions; k) strengthening the prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration of drug-dependent persons through various modalities, and reducing the adverse effects derived from drug abuse.

Money laundering, including terrorist financing 1. The Parties agree to cooperate to prevent their financial systems and their businesses from being used for the laundering of proceeds generated by any serious crime, particularly crimes related to illicit drugs and psychotropic substances, and those associated with terrorist acts.

2. In accordance with the standards established by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), this cooperation shall include, where appropriate, administrative and technical assistance aimed at the development and implementation of regulations and the effective functioning of appropriate standards and mechanisms. In particular, the cooperation shall enable the exchange of pertinent information and the adoption of appropriate standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, in accordance with those adopted by international bodies active in this field and with the best practices used in the international context.

Organized crime and citizen security 1. The Parties agree to cooperate in the prevention of and fight against organized crime and financial crimes. To this end, they shall promote and exchange best practices and apply standards and instruments agreed upon at the international level, such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Supplementary Protocols, and the United Nations Convention against Corruption. They shall, in particular, promote witness protection programs.

2. The Parties also agree to cooperate to improve citizen security, in particular by supporting security policies and strategies. This cooperation should contribute to crime prevention and could include activities such as regional cooperation projects between police and judicial authorities, training programs, and the exchange of best practices for criminal profiling. It shall also include, among other things, exchanges of views on legislative frameworks, as well as administrative and technical assistance aimed at strengthening the institutional and operational capacities of law enforcement authorities.

Fight against corruption 1. The Parties recognize the importance of preventing and combating corruption in the private and public sectors and reaffirm their concern regarding the serious threat that corruption poses to the stability and security of democratic institutions. To this end, the Parties shall cooperate to implement and promote relevant international standards and instruments, such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

2. In particular, the Parties shall cooperate to:

• a)improve organizational effectiveness and ensure transparent management of public resources and accountability; b) strengthen relevant institutions, including law enforcement authorities and the Judiciary; c) prevent corruption and bribes in international transactions; d) monitor and evaluate anti-corruption policies at the local, regional, national, and international levels; e) encourage actions that promote the values of a culture of transparency and legality and a change in individuals' attitudes towards corrupt practices; f) continue developing cooperation to facilitate measures aimed at asset recovery, promote best practices, and build capacities.

Illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons 1. The Parties shall cooperate to prevent and combat the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, including their ammunition. They shall endeavor to coordinate actions to strengthen legal and institutional cooperation, as well as the collection and destruction of illicit small arms and light weapons, including their ammunition, found in the hands of civilians.

2. The Parties shall cooperate to promote joint initiatives in the fight against trafficking in small arms and light weapons, including their ammunition. In particular, the Parties shall cooperate on joint initiatives aimed at implementing national, regional, and international programs, as well as conventions in this field, within both a multilateral and an interregional framework.

Fight against terrorism with full respect for human rights 1. Cooperation in the field of the fight against terrorism shall apply the framework and standards agreed upon in Article 16 of Part II.

2. The Parties shall also cooperate to ensure that any person who participates in the financing, planning, preparation, or perpetration of terrorist acts, or supports such acts, is brought to justice. The Parties agree that the fight against terrorism shall be carried out in full compliance with all relevant United Nations Resolutions, respecting the sovereignty of States, as well as due process, human rights, and fundamental freedoms.

3. The Parties agree to cooperate in the prevention and suppression of acts of terrorism through police and judicial cooperation.

Social cohesion, including the fight against poverty, inequalities, and exclusion 1. The Parties, recognizing that social development must go hand in hand with economic development, agree that cooperation shall aim to improve social cohesion through the reduction of poverty, inequity, inequality, and social exclusion, particularly to fulfill the Millennium Development Goals and the internationally agreed objective of promoting fair globalization and decent work for all. The fulfillment of these objectives shall mobilize significant financial resources, both from cooperation and domestic sources.

2. To this end, the Parties shall cooperate to promote and support the implementation of:

• a)economic policies with a social vision oriented towards a more inclusive society, with a better distribution of income, in order to reduce inequality and inequity; b) trade and investment policies, taking into account the link between trade and sustainable development, to foster fair trade, the development of micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises, both rural and urban, and their representative organizations, as well as corporate social responsibility; c) equitable and sound fiscal policies that enable a better redistribution of wealth, ensure adequate levels of social investment, and reduce the informal economy; d) efficient public social investment linked to clearly identified social objectives and oriented towards results; e) effective social policies and equitable access to social services for all in a wide variety of areas, such as education, health, nutrition, sanitation, housing, justice, and social security; f) employment policies oriented towards decent work for all and the creation of economic opportunities, with special attention to the poorest and most vulnerable groups and the most disadvantaged regions of the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*), as well as specific measures that promote tolerance for cultural diversity in the workplace;

(*) (As substituted its denomination by subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously it indicated "the regions")

• g)social protection regimes, inter alia, in the areas of pensions, health, accidents, and unemployment, based on the principle of solidarity and accessibility for all; h) strategies and policies to combat xenophobia and discrimination, in particular on grounds of gender, race, convictions, beliefs, or ethnicity; i) specific policies and programs dedicated to young people.

3. The Parties agree to encourage the exchange of information on the social cohesion aspects of national plans or strategies, as well as lessons learned regarding their formulation and implementation.

4. The Parties shall also seek to jointly assess the contribution of the implementation of this Agreement to social cohesion.

Employment and social protection 1. The Parties agree to cooperate to promote employment and social protection through actions and programs, aimed in particular at:

• a)ensuring decent work for all; b) creating more inclusive and efficient labor markets; c) expanding social protection coverage; d) exchanging best practices in the areas of worker mobility and the transfer of pension rights; e) promoting social dialogue; f) ensuring respect for the fundamental principles and rights at work identified by the Conventions of the International Labour Organization, the so-called core labor standards, in particular as regards freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining and non-discrimination, the abolition of forced labor and child labor, and equal treatment between men and women; g) addressing issues related to the informal economy; h) paying special attention to disadvantaged groups and the fight against discrimination; i) developing the quality of human resources by improving education and training, including effective vocational training; j) improving health and safety conditions at work, mainly by strengthening labor inspections; k) stimulating job creation and entrepreneurship, strengthening the institutional framework necessary for the creation of small and medium-sized enterprises and facilitating access to credit and microfinance.

2. Activities may be carried out at the national, regional, and interregional levels, including through networking, mutual learning, identification and dissemination of good practices, information exchange on the basis of comparable statistical tools and indicators, and contacts between social partner organizations.

Education and training 1. The Parties agree that cooperation shall be aimed at:

• a)promoting equitable access to education for all, including young people, women, older adults, indigenous peoples, and minority groups, paying special attention to the most vulnerable and marginalized segments of society; b) improving the quality of education, considering basic primary education as a priority; c) improving the completion rate of primary education and reducing early dropout in compulsory secondary education; d) improving non-formal learning; e) improving the infrastructure and equipment of existing educational centers; f) promoting the education of indigenous peoples, including bilingual intercultural education; g) promoting higher education as well as vocational training and lifelong learning.

2. The Parties also agree to foster:

• a)cooperation between higher education institutions of the Parties, as well as the exchange of students, researchers, and academics through existing programs; b) synergies between higher education institutions and the public and private sector in agreed areas, in order to facilitate insertion into the labor market.

3. The Parties agree to pay special attention to further developing the LAC-EU (Latin America and Caribbean-European Union) Knowledge Area and initiatives such as the LAC-EU Common Higher Education Area, in particular to encourage pooling and the exchange of experiences and technical resources.

(Note from Sinalevi: By means of subsection 7) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the foregoing subsection 3) is not incorporated into the present aforementioned Agreement)

Public health 1. The Parties agree to cooperate to develop efficient health systems, a competent and sufficient health workforce, financing mechanisms, and fair social protection regimes.

2. Special attention shall be paid to sectoral reforms and ensuring equitable access to high-quality health services, food and nutritional security, in particular for vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities, older adults, women, children, and indigenous peoples.

3. In addition, they shall aim to cooperate to promote primary health care and prevention, through integrated approaches and actions involving other sectoral policies, in particular: to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, dengue, Chagas disease, and other priority communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as chronic diseases; reduce infant mortality; improve maternal health; and address other priority areas, such as sexual and reproductive health, care and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, provided that these objectives do not contravene national legal frameworks. Furthermore, the Parties shall cooperate in areas such as education, water treatment, and sanitation issues.

4. Cooperation may also foster the development, application, and promotion of international health law, including the International Health Regulations and the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

5. The Parties shall seek to create partnerships beyond the public health system through strategic partnerships with civil society and other actors, giving priority to disease prevention and health promotion.

Indigenous peoples and other ethnic groups 1. The Parties, respecting and promoting their national, regional, and international obligations, agree that cooperation activities shall strengthen the protection and promotion of the rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, as recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In addition, cooperation activities shall strengthen and promote the human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons belonging to minorities and ethnic groups.

2. Special attention should be paid to poverty reduction and the fight against inequality, exclusion, and discrimination. Relevant international documents and instruments addressing the rights of indigenous peoples, such as United Nations Resolution 59/174 concerning the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, and, as ratified, Convention 169 of the International Labour Organization concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries, should guide the development of cooperation activities, in accordance with the national and international obligations of the Parties.

3. The Parties also agree that cooperation activities shall systematically take into account the social, economic, and cultural identity of these peoples and shall ensure, as appropriate, their effective participation in cooperation activities, particularly in the areas most relevant to them, such as the sustainable management and use of land and natural resources, the environment, education, health, cultural heritage, and identity.

4. Cooperation shall contribute to promoting the development of indigenous peoples. Likewise, it shall contribute to promoting the development of persons belonging to minorities and organizations of ethnic groups. Such cooperation shall also strengthen their negotiation, administration, and management capacities.

Vulnerable groups 1. The Parties agree that cooperation in favor of vulnerable groups shall give priority to measures—including innovative projects and policies—that involve vulnerable groups, in order to promote human development, reduce poverty, and combat social exclusion.

2. Cooperation shall include the protection of human rights and equal opportunities for vulnerable groups, the creation of economic opportunities for the poorest, as well as specific social policies aimed at developing human capacities through education and training, access to basic social services, social protection networks, and justice, paying special attention, among others, to persons with disabilities and their families, children, women, and older adults.

Gender perspective 1. The Parties agree that cooperation shall help strengthen policies, programs, and mechanisms aimed at ensuring, improving, and expanding participation and equal opportunities for men and women in all sectors of political, economic, social, and cultural life, particularly with a view to the effective implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Where appropriate, affirmative action measures in favor of women shall be provided for.

2. Cooperation shall promote the integration of a gender perspective in all relevant cooperation areas, including public policies, development strategies and actions, and indicators to measure their impact.

3. Cooperation shall also help facilitate equal access for men and women to all services and resources that allow them the full exercise of their fundamental rights, for example regarding education, health, vocational training, employment opportunities, political decision-making, governance structures, and private enterprises.

4. Special attention shall be paid to programs addressing violence against women, particularly through prevention.

Youth 1. Cooperation between the Parties shall support all relevant sectoral policies directed at young people in order to prevent the reproduction of poverty and marginality. It shall include support for family and education policies, and shall provide employment opportunities for young people, especially in disadvantaged areas, and shall promote social and justice programs for the prevention of juvenile delinquency and reintegration into economic and social life.

2. The Parties agree to promote the active participation of young people in society, including in the development of policies that may influence their lives.

Migration 1. Cooperation shall be based on the assessment of specific needs, through mutual consultation between the Parties, and shall be implemented in accordance with the European Union and national legislation in force. It shall focus, in particular, on:

• a)the root causes of migration; b) the development and application of domestic legislation and national practices on international protection, with a view to complying with the provisions of the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and other relevant international instruments, and to ensuring respect for the principle of "non-refoulement"; c) admission rules and the rights and status of persons admitted, fair treatment and integration into society of legally resident persons, education and training of legal migrants, and measures against racism and xenophobia, and all applicable provisions relating to the human rights of migrants; d) the establishment of an effective policy to facilitate the transfer of remittances; e) temporary and circular migration, including the prevention of brain drain; f) the establishment of a comprehensive and effective policy on immigration, trafficking in persons, and smuggling of persons, including the issue of how to combat criminal networks and organizations of traffickers and smugglers, and how to protect and assist victims of such trafficking in persons; as well as any other form of migration that is not in accordance with the legal framework of the destination country; g) the return, in humane, safe, and dignified conditions, of persons who do not possess a legal residence permit, with full respect for their human rights, and the readmission of such persons in accordance with subsection 2; h) the exchange of best practices on migratory integration between the European Union and the Republics of the CA Party; i) support measures aimed at the sustainable reintegration of returnees.

2. Within the framework of cooperation to prevent and control immigration that contravenes the legal framework of the destination country, the Parties also agree to readmit their nationals whose stay in the territories of the other Party contravenes their respective legal frameworks. To this end:

• a)each Republic of the CA Party shall readmit, upon request and without any further formality, all of its nationals whose stay in the territory of a Member State of the European Union contravenes the legal framework of the United Kingdom(*); it shall provide its nationals with adequate identity documents and shall make available to them the administrative services necessary for such purposes; and

(*) (As substituted its denomination by subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously it indicated "of the Member State")

• b)each Member State of the European Union shall readmit, upon request and without any further formality, all of its nationals whose stay in the territory of a Republic of the CA Party contravenes the legal framework of the Republic of the CA Party: it shall provide its nationals with adequate identity documents and shall make available to them the administrative services necessary for such purposes.

3. In the event that the person to be readmitted is not in possession of any document or other proof of their nationality, the competent diplomatic and/or consular representations of the Member State of the European Union or of the Republic of the CA Party, at the request of the Republic of the CA Party concerned or of the Member State of the European Union involved, shall take the necessary measures to interview the person in order to determine their nationality.

(As amended the previous paragraph by subsection 8) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019") 4. The Parties agree to conclude, upon request and as soon as possible, a readmission agreement regulating the specific obligations of the Member States of the European Union and the Republics of the CA Party. Such agreement shall also address the readmission of nationals of other countries and stateless persons.

Cooperation on the environment 1. The Parties agree to cooperate to protect and improve the quality of the environment at the local, regional, and global levels in order to achieve sustainable development, as established in the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.

2. Taking into account the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, as well as national development priorities and strategies, the Parties shall give due attention to the relationship between poverty and the environment and to the impact of economic activity on the environment, also taking into account the possible impact of this Agreement.

3. Cooperation shall address, in particular:

• a)the protection and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems, including forests and fishery products; b) the fight against pollution of freshwater and seawater, air, and soil, through, among others, adequate management of waste, wastewater, chemical substances, and other hazardous substances and materials; c) global issues, such as climate change, the destruction of the ozone layer, desertification, deforestation, the conservation of biodiversity, and biosafety; d) in this context, cooperation shall seek to facilitate joint initiatives in the areas of mitigation of and adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change, including the strengthening of carbon market mechanisms.

4. Cooperation may include measures such as:

• a)promoting policy dialogue and the exchange of best environmental practices, experiences, and capacity building, including institutional strengthening; b) transferring and using clean technologies and sustainable know-how (conocimientos técnicos), including the creation of incentives and mechanisms for innovation and environmental protection; c) integrating environmental considerations into other policies, such as land-use planning (ordenamiento territorial); d) promoting sustainable production and consumption patterns, with sustainable use of ecosystems, services, and goods; e) promoting environmental awareness and education, as well as greater participation of civil society, in particular local communities, in environmental protection and efforts for sustainable development; f) encouraging and promoting regional cooperation in the field of environmental protection; g) assisting in the implementation and enforcement of multilateral environmental agreements to which the Parties are party; h) strengthening environmental management, as well as monitoring and control systems.

Management of Natural Disasters 1. The Parties agree that cooperation in this area shall aim to reduce the vulnerability of the Central American region to natural disasters, through support for national efforts; the regional framework for reducing vulnerability and responding to such disasters; regional research; the dissemination of best practices and lessons learned from disaster risk reduction; preparedness, planning, monitoring, prevention, mitigation, response, and rehabilitation. Cooperation shall also support efforts to harmonize the legal framework in accordance with international standards, and the improvement of institutional coordination and governmental support.

2. The Parties shall promote strategies that reduce social and environmental vulnerability and strengthen the capacities of local communities and institutions for disaster risk reduction.

3. The Parties shall pay special attention to improving disaster risk reduction in all their policies, including land-use planning (gestión territorial), rehabilitation, and reconstruction.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Competition Policy Technical assistance shall focus, among other things, on the development of institutional capacities and the training of human resources of the competition authorities, taking into consideration the regional dimension, to support them in the strengthening and effective enforcement of competition laws in the areas of control of monopolistic practices and concentrations, including the promotion of competition.

Customs Cooperation and Mutual Assistance 1. The Parties shall promote and facilitate cooperation between their respective customs services to ensure that the objectives set out in Chapter 3 (Customs and Trade Facilitation) of Title II of Part IV of this Agreement are met, in particular to ensure the simplification of customs procedures and the facilitation of legitimate trade without prejudice to their control powers.

2. Cooperation shall result, among other things, in:

• a)exchanges of information on customs legislation and procedures, in particular in the following areas:
• i)simplification and modernization of customs procedures; ii) facilitation of transit movements; iii) enforcement of intellectual property rights by customs authorities; iv) relations with the business community; v) free movement of goods and regional integration; b) the development of joint initiatives in mutually agreed areas; c) the promotion of coordination among all relevant border agencies, both internally and across borders.

3. The Parties shall provide each other with mutual administrative assistance in customs matters in accordance with the provisions of Annex III of Part IV of this Agreement.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Customs and Trade Facilitation The Parties recognize the importance of technical assistance in customs and trade facilitation for implementing the measures set out in Chapter 3 (Customs and Trade Facilitation) of Title II of Part IV of this Agreement. The Parties agree to cooperate, among others, in the following areas:

• a)improving institutional cooperation to strengthen the regional integration process; b) providing specialized knowledge and capacity building on customs matters to the competent authorities (certification and verification of origin, among other things) and on technical issues to enforce regional customs procedures; c) the application of modern customs mechanisms and techniques, including risk assessment, binding advance rulings, simplification of procedures for the entry and release of goods, customs controls, and company audit methods; d) introduction of procedures and practices that reflect, to the extent possible, the international instruments and standards applicable in the customs and trade field, including WTO rules and the instruments and standards of the World Customs Organization (hereinafter, the "WCO"), among others, the Revised International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention) and the standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade within the WCO Framework; and e) information systems and automation of customs and other trade procedures.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer 1. The Parties recognize the importance of cooperation and technical assistance in intellectual property and agree to cooperate, among other things, on the following:

• a)improving institutional cooperation (for example between the Intellectual Property Offices of the Republics of the CA Party), thus facilitating the exchange of information on legal frameworks relating to intellectual property rights and other relevant rules on protection and enforcement; b) fostering and facilitating the development of contacts and cooperation in the field of intellectual property, including the promotion and dissemination of information among and within business circles, civil society, consumers, and educational institutions; c) providing capacity building and training (for example for judges, prosecutors, and customs and police officers) on the enforcement of intellectual property rights; d) cooperating in the development and improvement of electronic systems of the Intellectual Property Offices of the Republics of the CA Party; e) cooperating in the exchange of information and providing specialized knowledge and technical assistance on regional integration in the field of intellectual property rights.

2. The Parties recognize the importance of customs cooperation and, therefore, undertake to promote and facilitate cooperation with the aim of implementing border measures in relation to intellectual property rights, specifically increasing the exchange of information and coordination between the relevant customs administrations. Cooperation shall seek to strengthen and modernize the functioning of the customs of the Republics of the CA Party.

3. The Parties also recognize the importance of technical assistance cooperation in the field of technology transfer to strengthen intellectual property and agree to cooperate, among others, in the following activities:

• a)the Parties shall promote technology transfer, which shall be achieved through academic, professional, and/or business exchange programs aimed at the transmission of knowledge from the United Kingdom(*) to the Republics of the CA Party;

(*) (Thus substituted its name by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• b)the Parties recognize the importance of creating mechanisms that strengthen and promote foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Republics of the CA Party, especially in innovative and high-technology sectors. The United Kingdom(*) shall make its best efforts to offer institutions and companies in its territories incentives aimed at promoting and favoring the transfer of technology to institutions and companies in the Republics of the CA Party, in such a way as to allow these countries to establish a viable technological platform;

(*) (Thus substituted its name by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• c)likewise, the United Kingdom(*) shall facilitate and promote programs aimed at the creation of research and development activities in Central America to meet the needs of the region, such as access to medicines, infrastructure, and technological development necessary for the development of its population, among others.

(*) (Thus substituted its name by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Cooperation in Establishment, Trade in Services, and Electronic Commerce 1. The Parties recognize the importance of cooperation and technical assistance to facilitate the implementation of the commitments and maximize the opportunities created under Title III (Establishment, trade in services, and electronic commerce) of Part IV, and to fulfill the objectives of this Agreement.

2. Cooperation includes technical assistance, training, and capacity building, among other things, to:

• a)improve the capacity of service suppliers of the Republics of the CA Party to comply with and gather information on the regulations and standards of the United Kingdom(*) at the European Union level, and at the national and subnational level; (Note from Sinalevi: Through section 9) sub-section a) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the words "at the European Union level, and at the national and subnational level" of subparagraph a) above are not incorporated into this Agreement referred to above)

(*) (Thus substituted its name by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• b)improve the export capacity of service suppliers of the Republics of the CA Party, paying special attention to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises; c) facilitate interaction and dialogue between service suppliers of the United Kingdom(*) and of the Republics of the CA Party;

(*) (Thus substituted its name by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• d)address the needs for qualifications and standards in those sectors where commitments have been undertaken under this Agreement; e) promote the exchange of information and experiences and facilitate technical assistance related to the development and application of standards at the national or regional level, where applicable; f) establish mechanisms to promote investment between the United Kingdom(*) and the Republics of the CA Party, and strengthen the capacities of investment promotion agencies in the Republics of the CA Party.

(*) (Thus substituted its name by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Technical Barriers to Trade The Parties recognize the importance of cooperation and technical assistance in the field of technical barriers to trade and agree to cooperate, among others, in the following areas:

• a)providing specialized knowledge, capacity building, including the development and strengthening of relevant infrastructure, training, and technical assistance in the areas of technical regulation, standardization, conformity assessment, accreditation, and metrology; which may include activities aimed at facilitating the understanding of and compliance with the requirements of the European Union, in particular by small and medium-sized enterprises; b) supporting the harmonization of legislation and procedures on technical barriers to trade within Central America and facilitating the movement of goods within the region; c) promoting the active participation of representatives of the Republics of the CA Party in the work of relevant international organizations in order to increase the use of international standards; d) exchanging information, experiences, and best practices to facilitate the implementation of Chapter 4 (Technical barriers to trade) of Title II of Part IV of this Agreement; which may include trade facilitation programs in the areas of common interest covered by Chapter 4.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Public Procurement The Parties recognize the importance of cooperation and technical assistance in public procurement (contratación pública) and agree to cooperate as follows:

• a)upon prior agreement of the interested Parties, improving institutional cooperation and facilitating the exchange of information on legal frameworks relating to public procurement, with the possible initiation of a dialogue mechanism; b) upon request of a Party, facilitating capacity building and training, including training for the private sector on innovative means for competitive public procurement; c) supporting outreach activities in the Republics of the CA Party related to the provisions of Title V (Public procurement) of Part IV of this Agreement, for the public sector, the private sector, and civil society, in relation to the Procurement Systems of the European Union and the opportunities that Central American suppliers could have in the European Union; d) supporting the development, establishment, and operation of a single point of access to information relating to public procurement for the entire Central American region. This single point of access shall function as indicated in Article 212, paragraph 1, subparagraph d), Article 213, Article 215, paragraph 4, and Article 223, paragraph 2, of Title V (Public procurement) of Part IV of this Agreement; e) improving the technological capacities of public entities, whether at the central or regional level, or other contracting entities.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Fisheries and Aquaculture 1. The Parties recognize the importance of economic, technical, and scientific cooperation for the sustainable development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. The objectives of such cooperation must be, in particular:

• a)promoting the sustainable exploitation and management of fisheries; b) promoting best practices in fisheries management; c) improving data collection in order to consider the best available scientific information for the assessment and management of resources; d) strengthening the monitoring, control, and surveillance (SCV) system; e) fighting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (INDNR) fishing activities.

2. This cooperation may consist, among other things, of:

• a)providing specialized technical knowledge, support, and capacity building for sustainable management of fishery resources, including the development of alternative fisheries; b) exchanging information, experience, and capacity building for the sustainable social and economic development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector; special attention shall be paid to the responsible development of artisanal and small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, as well as to the diversification of their products and activities, including in areas such as the processing industry; c) supporting institutional cooperation and facilitating the exchange of information on legal frameworks in fisheries and aquaculture, including all relevant international instruments; d) strengthening cooperation within the framework of international organizations and with national and regional fisheries management organizations that provide technical assistance, such as workshops and studies, in order to ensure a better understanding of the added value of international legal instruments for achieving adequate management of marine resources.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Artisanal Goods The Parties recognize the importance of cooperation programs that promote actions with the aim of helping artisanal goods manufactured in the Republics of the CA Party to benefit from this Agreement. More specifically, cooperation could focus on the following areas:

• a)capacity building to facilitate market access opportunities for Central American artisanal goods; b) capacity building for Central American entities responsible for export promotion, in particular supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (hereinafter, "MIPYMEs") in urban and rural sectors that are necessary to manufacture and export artisanal goods, including in relation to customs procedures and technical requirements established in the European Union market; c) the promotion of the preservation of these cultural products; d) support for the development of the infrastructure necessary to help MIPYMEs engaged in the manufacture of artisanal goods; e) capacity building to improve the business performance of producers of artisanal goods, through training programs.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Organic Products The Parties recognize the importance of cooperation programs to enhance the benefits that organic products produced in the Republics of the CA Party could obtain from this Agreement. More specifically, cooperation may focus, among others, on the following areas:

• a)capacity building to facilitate market access opportunities for Central American organic products; b) capacity building for Central American entities responsible for export promotion, in particular helping MIPYMEs in urban and rural sectors that are necessary to produce and export organic products, including in relation to customs procedures, technical regulations, and quality standards required in the European Union market; c) support for the development of the infrastructure necessary to support MIPYMEs engaged in the production of organic products; d) capacity building to improve the business performance of producers of organic products, through training programs; e) cooperation on the development of distribution networks in the European Union market.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Food Safety, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, and Animal Welfare Issues 1. Cooperation in this area shall be oriented towards the objective of strengthening the capacities of the Parties on sanitary and phytosanitary and animal welfare issues, in order to improve access to the other Party's market, while safeguarding the level of protection of people, animals, and plants, as well as animal welfare.

2. Among other things, it may consist of:

• a)assisting in the harmonization of legislation and procedures on sanitary and phytosanitary measures within Central America and facilitating the movement of goods within the region; b) providing specialized knowledge on legislative and technical capacity to develop and enforce legislation, as well as to develop sanitary and phytosanitary control systems (including eradication programs, food safety systems, and alert notifications), and animal welfare; c) supporting the development and strengthening of institutional and administrative capacities in Central America, both at the regional and national levels, in order to improve their sanitary and phytosanitary situation; d) developing capacities in each of the Republics of the CA Party to meet sanitary and phytosanitary requirements in order to improve access to the other Party's market, while safeguarding the level of protection; e) providing advice and technical assistance on the sanitary and phytosanitary regulatory system of the European Union and on the application of the standards required by the European Union market.

3. The Subcommittee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Affairs established in Chapter 5 (Sanitary and phytosanitary measures) of Title II (Trade in goods) of Part IV of this Agreement shall propose the cooperation needs to establish a work program.

4. The Association Committee shall follow up on the progress of the cooperation established under this Article and shall present the results of this exercise to the Subcommittee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Affairs.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Trade and Sustainable Development 1. The Parties recognize the importance of cooperation and technical assistance in the trade and labor, and trade and environment areas to achieve the objectives of Title VIII (Trade and sustainable development) of Part IV of this Agreement.

2. To complement the activities established in Title III (Social development and social cohesion) and Title V (Environment, natural disasters and climate change) of Part III of this Agreement, the Parties agree to cooperate, including through the support of technical assistance, training and capacity-building actions, inter alia, in the following areas:

• a)supporting the development of incentives to encourage the protection of the environment and decent working conditions, especially through the promotion of legal and sustainable trade, for example through fair and ethical trade schemes, including those involving corporate social responsibility and accountability, as well as those related to labelling and marketing initiatives; b) promoting trade-related cooperation mechanisms as agreed by the Parties to help implement the current and future international climate change regime; c) promoting trade in products derived from the sustainable management of natural resources, including through effective measures regarding wildlife, fisheries and the certification of legally and sustainably produced timber. Particular attention shall be paid to voluntary and flexible marketing mechanisms and initiatives aimed at promoting environmentally sustainable production systems; d) strengthening institutional frameworks, the development and implementation of policies and programmes related to the implementation and enforcement of multilateral environmental agreements and environmental legislation, agreed by the Parties, and the development of measures to combat illegal trade with environmental relevance, including through enforcement and customs cooperation activities; e) strengthening institutional frameworks, development and implementation of policies and programmes related to the Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (freedom of association and collective bargaining, forced labour, child labour and non-discrimination in employment), as well as the implementation and enforcement of the conventions of the International Labour Organization (hereinafter, the "ILO") and labour legislation, agreed by the Parties; f) facilitating the exchange of views on the development of methodologies and indicators for sustainability reviews and supporting initiatives to jointly review, monitor and evaluate the contribution of Part IV of this Agreement to sustainable development; g) strengthening institutional capacity on trade and sustainable development issues and supporting the organisation and facilitation of the dialogue frameworks with civil society agreed on these matters.

Industrial cooperation 1. The Parties agree that industrial cooperation shall promote the modernisation and restructuring of Central American industry and specific sectors, as well as industrial cooperation between economic agents, in order to strengthen the private sector under conditions that promote the protection of the environment.

2. Industrial cooperation initiatives shall reflect the priorities set by the Parties. They shall take into account the regional aspects of industrial development, promoting transnational partnerships where appropriate. The initiatives shall aim, in particular, to create an appropriate framework for improving management know-how and promoting transparency regarding markets and the conditions under which businesses operate.

Energy (including renewable energy) 1. The Parties agree that their joint objective shall be to stimulate cooperation in the field of energy, in particular clean and renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, energy-saving technology, rural electrification and the regional integration of energy markets, among other areas identified by the Parties, and in accordance with domestic legislation.

2. Cooperation may include, inter alia:

• a)energy policy formulation and planning, including interconnected infrastructures of regional importance, the improvement and diversification of energy supply and the improvement of energy markets, including the facilitation of transit, transmission and distribution in the Republics of the CA Party; b) management and training for the energy sector and the transfer of technology and know-how, including ongoing work on standards relating to emission-generating energies and energy efficiency; c) the promotion of energy saving, energy efficiency, renewable energy and the study of the environmental impact of energy production and consumption, particularly its effects on biodiversity, reforestation and changes in land use; d) the promotion of the application of clean development mechanisms, in support of initiatives on climate change and its variability.

Cooperation in the field of mining The Parties agree to cooperate in the field of mining taking into account their respective internal legislation and procedures, as well as aspects of sustainable development, including the protection and conservation of the environment, through initiatives such as promoting the exchange of information, experts, experience, development and transfer of technology.

Fair and sustainable tourism 1. The Parties recognise the importance of the tourism sector for reducing poverty through the social and economic development of local communities and the great economic potential of the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*) for business development in this field.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to the International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "both regions")

2. To this end, they agree to promote fair and sustainable tourism, in particular to support:

• a)the development of policies aimed at optimising the socio-economic benefits of tourism; b) the creation and consolidation of tourism products, through the provision of non-financial services, training, technical assistance and service provision; c) the integration of environmental, cultural and social considerations into the development of the tourism sector, including both the protection and promotion of cultural heritage and natural resources; d) the participation of local communities in the tourism development process, particularly rural and community-based tourism, and eco-tourism; e) marketing and promotion strategies, institutional capacity development and human resources, and the promotion of international standards; f) the promotion of cooperation and partnership between the public sector and the private sector; g) the development of management plans for national and regional tourism development; h) the promotion of information technologies in the field of tourism.

Transport cooperation 1. The Parties agree that cooperation in this field shall focus on the restructuring and modernisation of transport and related infrastructure systems, including border posts; on facilitating and improving the movement of people and goods; and on providing better access to urban, air, maritime, waterway, rail and road transport markets, by improving transport management from an operational and administrative point of view, and promoting high operating standards.

2. Cooperation may consist, inter alia, of:

• a)exchanges of information on the Parties' policies, in particular regarding urban transport and the interconnection and interoperability of multimodal transport networks and other matters of mutual interest; b) the management of waterways, roads, railways, ports and airports, including appropriate collaboration between the relevant authorities; c) projects in the field of satellite navigation systems and urban public transport; (Thus amended the preceding subparagraph by section 9 sub section b) of the annex to the International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") d) the improvement of safety standards and pollution prevention, including cooperation in the appropriate international forums to improve compliance with international standards; e) activities that promote the development of aeronautical and maritime transport.

Good governance in the tax area In accordance with their respective competences, the Parties shall enhance international cooperation in the tax area to facilitate the collection of legitimate tax revenues and to develop measures for the effective implementation of the internationally agreed principles of good governance in the tax area, as referred to in Article 22, Part II, of this Agreement.

Micro-enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises The Parties agree to promote the competitiveness and insertion into international markets of rural and urban MSMEs and their representative organisations, recognising their contribution to social cohesion through poverty reduction and job creation, the provision of non-financial services, training and technical assistance, carrying out, inter alia, the following cooperation actions:

• a)technical assistance and other business development services (BDS); b) strengthening of local and regional institutional frameworks to create and operate MSMEs; c) support for MSMEs to enable them to participate in goods and services markets at local and international level, through participation in trade fairs, trade missions and other promotion mechanisms; d) promotion of productive linkage processes; e) promotion of the exchange of experiences and best practices; f) promotion of joint investments, alliances and business networks; g) identification and reduction of obstacles faced by MSMEs in accessing sources of financing, and creation of new financing mechanisms; h) promotion of the transfer of both technology and knowledge; i) support for innovation, as well as research and development; j) support for the use of quality management systems.

Cooperation on microcredit and microfinance The Parties agree that, in order to reduce income inequality, microfinance, including microcredit programmes, generates self-employment and has proven to be an effective instrument for helping to overcome poverty and reduce vulnerability to economic crises, and brings with it greater participation in the economy. Cooperation shall address the following issues:

• a)the exchange of experiences and specialised knowledge in the fields of ethical banking, community-focused associative and self-managed banking, and the strengthening of sustainable microfinance programmes, including certification, monitoring and validation programmes; b) access to microcredit, facilitating access to financial services provided by banks and financial institutions through incentives and risk management programmes; c) the exchange of experiences on alternative policies and legislation that promote the creation of popular and ethical banking.

Cooperation in the field of regional integration 1. The Parties agree that cooperation in this field shall strengthen the process of regional integration in Central America in all its aspects, in particular the development and implementation of its common market, with the aim of progressively achieving an Economic Union.

2. Cooperation shall support activities related to the Central American integration process, in particular the development and strengthening of common institutions in order to make them more efficient, auditable and transparent, as well as their inter-institutional relations.

3. Cooperation shall strengthen the participation of civil society in the integration process within the conditions established by the Parties and shall include support for consultation mechanisms and awareness-raising campaigns.

4. Cooperation shall promote the development of common policies and the harmonisation of legal frameworks to the extent provided for in the Central American integration instruments, including economic policies such as trade, customs, agriculture, energy, transport, communications, competition, as well as the coordination of macroeconomic policies in areas such as monetary policy, fiscal policy and public finances.

Cooperation may also promote the coordination of sectoral policies in areas such as consumer protection, the environment, social cohesion, security, natural risk and disaster prevention and response. Particular attention shall be paid to the gender perspective.

5. Cooperation may promote investment in common infrastructure and networks, particularly at the borders of the Republics of the CA Party.

Regional cooperation The Parties agree to use all existing cooperation instruments to promote activities aimed at developing active cooperation between the United Kingdom(*) and the Republics of the CA Party, without prejudice to cooperation between the latter, between the Republics of the CA Party and other countries and/or regions of Latin America and the Caribbean in all areas of cooperation covered by this Agreement. Efforts shall be made to ensure that regional and bilateral cooperation activities are complementary.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to the International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Culture and audiovisual cooperation 1. The Parties undertake to promote cultural cooperation to strengthen mutual understanding and foster balanced cultural exchanges, as well as the circulation of cultural activities, goods and services, and of artists and cultural professionals, including other civil society organisations from the United Kingdom(*) and the Republics of the CA Party, in accordance with their respective legislation.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to the International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

2. The Parties shall foster intercultural dialogue between people, cultural institutions and organisations representing civil society of the United Kingdom(*) and the Republics of the CA Party.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to the International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

3. The Parties shall foster coordination within the framework of UNESCO in order to promote cultural diversity, inter alia through consultations on the ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions by the United Kingdom(*) and the Republics of the CA Party. Cooperation shall also include the promotion of cultural diversity, including that of indigenous peoples and the cultural practices of other specific groups, as well as education in indigenous languages.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to the International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

4. The Parties agree to promote cooperation in the audiovisual and media sectors, including radio and the press, through joint training initiatives as well as audiovisual development, production and distribution activities, including in the educational and cultural field.

5. Cooperation shall take place in accordance with the relevant national provisions and applicable international agreements on copyright.

6. Cooperation in this field shall also include, inter alia, the protection and promotion of natural and cultural heritage (tangible and intangible), including the prevention of and fight against illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, in accordance with the relevant international instruments.

7. A Protocol on Cultural Cooperation of relevance to this title is annexed to this Agreement.

Information society 1. The Parties agree that information and communication technologies are key sectors in a modern society and are vital for economic and social development and for a smooth transition towards the information society. Cooperation in this field shall help establish a sound regulatory and technological framework, foster the development of these technologies and develop policies that will help reduce the digital divide and develop human capacities, provide equitable and inclusive access to information technologies and make the most of the use of these technologies to deliver services. In this regard, cooperation shall also support the implementation of these policies and help improve the interoperability of electronic communications services.

2. Cooperation in this field shall also be aimed at promoting:

• a)dialogue and exchange of experiences on regulatory and policy issues related to the information society, including the use of information and communication technologies such as digital government, e-learning and online health, as well as policies aimed at reducing the digital divide; b) the exchange of experiences and best practices concerning the development and implementation of digital government applications; c) dialogue and exchange of experiences on the development of electronic commerce, as well as digital signatures and teleworking; d) the exchange of information on standards, conformity assessment and type approval; e) joint research and development projects in information and communication technologies; f) the development of the use of the Advanced Academic Network, i.e., the search for long-term solutions to ensure that REDClara is self-sustainable.

Scientific and technological cooperation 1. Cooperation in this field shall aim to develop scientific, technological and innovation capacities covering all activities falling within the framework research programmes. To this end, the Parties shall foster policy dialogue at regional level, the exchange of information and the participation of their research and technological development bodies in the following scientific and technological cooperation activities, in accordance with their internal rules:

(Sinalevi Note: Through section

• 10)sub section i) of the annex to the International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the words "covering all activities falling within the framework research programmes" of the preceding paragraph are not incorporated into the present Agreement referred to above) a) joint initiatives to raise awareness of capacity-building programmes in science and technology, as well as of the European research and technological development and demonstration programmes; (Sinalevi Note: Through section
• 10)sub section ii) of the annex to the International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the words "as well as of the European research and technological development and demonstration programmes" of subparagraph a) above are not incorporated into the present Agreement referred to above) b) initiatives to promote participation in the framework programmes and other relevant programmes of the European Union; (Sinalevi Note: Through section
• 10)sub section iii) of the annex to the International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the preceding subparagraph is not incorporated into the present Agreement referred to above) c) joint research actions in areas of common interest; d) joint scientific meetings to foster the exchange of information and identify areas for joint research; e) the promotion of advanced studies in science and technology that contribute to the long-term sustainable development of the Parties; f) the development of links between the public sector and the private sector; special emphasis shall be placed on transposing scientific and technological results into national productive systems and social policies, and environmental aspects and the need to use cleaner technologies shall be taken into account; g) the evaluation of scientific cooperation and the dissemination of results; h) the promotion, dissemination and transfer of technology; i) assistance to establish National Innovation Systems (NIS), to develop technology and innovation, in order to provide adequate responses to the demand driven by small and medium-sized enterprises and to promote, inter alia, local production; and, further, assistance to develop centres of excellence and high-tech clusters; j) the promotion of training, research, development and applications of nuclear science and technology for medical applications enabling the transfer of technology to the Republics of the CA Party in areas such as health, in particular radiology and nuclear medicine for radiodiagnosis and radiotherapy treatment, and areas mutually agreed upon by the Parties, in accordance with current international conventions and standards, and in accordance with the jurisdiction of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

2. Special importance shall be given to the development of human potential as a lasting basis for scientific and technological excellence, and to the creation of sustainable links between the scientific and technological communities of the Parties, both at national and regional level. To this end, exchanges of researchers and best practices in research projects shall be promoted.

3. Research centres, higher education centres and other interested stakeholders, including MSMEs, established in the Parties, shall participate in this cooperation as appropriate.

4. The Parties agree to use all mechanisms to increase the quantity and quality of highly qualified human resources, inter alia, through joint training and research, scholarships, and exchanges.

5. The Parties shall promote the participation of their respective entities in the scientific and technological programmes of the other Parties, with the aim of achieving mutually beneficial scientific excellence and in accordance with their respective provisions governing the participation of legal entities from third countries.

PART IV TRADE

Establishment of a free trade area and relationship with the WTO Agreement 1. The Parties to this Agreement, in accordance with Article XXIV of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (hereinafter the "GATT 1994") and Article V of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (hereinafter "GATS"), hereby establish a free trade area.

2. The Parties reaffirm their existing rights and obligations1 with respect to the other Party in accordance with the WTO Agreement.

1 The term "existing" implies that this paragraph applies exclusively to any existing provision of the WTO Agreement and not to any modification or provision agreed after the completion of this Agreement.

Objectives The objectives of Part IV of this Agreement are:

• a)the expansion and diversification of trade in goods between the Parties, through the reduction or elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade; b) the facilitation of trade in goods, in particular through the agreed provisions relating to customs and trade facilitation, standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, as well as sanitary and phytosanitary measures; c) the liberalisation of trade in services, in accordance with Article V of the GATS; d) the promotion of regional economic integration in the area of customs procedures, technical regulations, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures to facilitate the movement of goods between and within the Parties; e) the development of a climate conducive to increasing investment flows, improving conditions of establishment between the Parties on the basis of the principle of non-discrimination, and facilitating trade and investment between the Parties through current payments and capital movements related to direct investment; f) the effective, reciprocal, and gradual opening of the government procurement markets of the Parties; g) the adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights, in accordance with the international obligations in force between the Parties, to ensure a balance between the rights of right holders and the public interest, taking into account the differences between the Parties and the promotion of technology transfer between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*);

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "the regions")

• h)the promotion of free and undistorted competition in the economic and trade relations between the Parties; i) the establishment of an effective, fair, and predictable dispute settlement mechanism; and j) the promotion of international trade and investment between the Parties in a manner that contributes to the objective of sustainable development through collaborative joint work.

Definitions of general application Unless otherwise provided, for the purposes of Part IV of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meaning set out below:

- "Central America", the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama; - "customs duty" includes any duty or charge of any kind imposed on or in connection with the importation of a good, including any form of surtax or surcharge imposed on or in connection with such importation. A "customs duty" does not include:

• a)a charge equivalent to an internal tax imposed in accordance with Article 85 of Chapter 1 (National Treatment and Market Access for Goods) of Title II; b) a duty imposed in accordance with the domestic legislation of a Party and consistent with Chapter 2 (Trade Defence) of Title II; c) fees or other charges imposed in accordance with the domestic legislation of a Party and consistent with Article 87 of Chapter 1 of Title II; - "days", calendar days, including weekends and holidays, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement; - "Harmonized System" or "HS", the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, including its General Rules of Interpretation and its Section and Chapter Notes, as adopted and applied by the Parties in their respective tariff laws; - "legal person", any legal entity duly constituted or otherwise organised in accordance with applicable law, whether or not for profit, and whether privately or publicly owned, including any corporation, trust, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, or association; - "measure", any act or omission, including laws, regulations, procedures, requirements, or practices; - "national", any natural person who has the nationality of one of the Member States of the European Union or of a Republic of the CA Party in accordance with their respective legislation; - "person", any natural person or legal person; - "preferential tariff treatment", the rate of the customs duty applicable in accordance with this Agreement to an originating good.

Objective The Parties shall progressively liberalise trade in goods in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and in conformity with Article XXIV of GATT 1994.

Scope of application Unless otherwise provided, the provisions of this Chapter shall apply to trade in goods between the Parties.

Classification of goods The classification of goods traded between the Parties shall be that set out in the respective tariff nomenclature of each Party in conformity with the Harmonized System.

Elimination of customs duties 1. Each Party shall eliminate customs duties on originating goods of the other Party in accordance with the schedules set out in Annex I (Elimination of Customs Duties). For the purposes of this Chapter, "originating" means complying with the rules of origin set out in Annex II (Concerning the Definition of the Concept of "Originating Products" and Methods of Administrative Cooperation)2.

2 For the purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated, the terms "good" and "product" shall be considered equivalent.

2. For each good, the base rate of customs duties to which the successive reductions shall be applied in accordance with paragraph 1 shall be that specified in the schedules.

3. If, at any time, a Party reduces its applied most-favoured-nation customs duty rate after the date on which Part IV of the EU-Central America Agreement has been applied, that tariff rate shall apply provided it is lower than the customs duty rate calculated in accordance with that Party's schedule.

(Paragraph thus amended by subsection 11 sub-subsection i) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") 4. Five years after the entry into force of this Agreement, at the request of any Party, the Parties shall consult on the possibility of accelerating and broadening the scope of the elimination of customs duties on imports between the Parties. An agreement adopted by the Parties to accelerate or broaden the pace of elimination or to eliminate a customs duty applied to a good shall supersede any tariff rate or staging category determined in accordance with their schedules for that good.

Standstill No Party shall increase any existing customs duty or adopt any new customs duty on a good originating in the other Party3. This shall not prevent any Party from:

3 In the case of goods not benefiting from preferential tariff treatment, "customs duty" means the "base rate" indicated in the schedule of each Party.

• a)increasing a customs duty to the level established in its schedule following a unilateral reduction; b) maintaining or increasing a customs duty as authorised by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body; or c) increasing the base rates of excluded goods in order to achieve a common external tariff.

National treatment Each Party shall accord national treatment to the goods of the other Party in accordance with Article III of GATT 1994, including its interpretative notes. To this end, Article III of GATT 1994 and its interpretative notes are incorporated into and made an integral part of this Agreement4.

4 The Parties recognise that Article 158 of Chapter 6 (Exceptions Relating to Goods) of Title II also applies to this Article.

Import and export restrictions No Party shall adopt or maintain any prohibition or restriction on the importation of any good of the other Party or on the exportation or sale for export of any good destined for the territory of the other Party, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or in accordance with Article XI of GATT 1994 and its interpretative notes. To this end, Article XI of GATT 1994 and its interpretative notes are incorporated into and made an integral part of this Agreement5.

5 The Parties recognise that Article 158 of Chapter 6 (Exceptions Relating to Goods) of Title II also applies to this Article.

Fees and other charges on imports and exports Each Party shall ensure, in accordance with Article VIII.1 of GATT 1994 and its interpretative notes, that all fees and charges of any kind (other than customs duties, charges equivalent to an internal tax or other internal charges applied in accordance with Article 85 of this Chapter, and anti-dumping and countervailing duties applied in accordance with the domestic legislation of a Party and in conformity with Chapter 2 (Trade Defence) of this Title) imposed on or in connection with importation or exportation are limited in amount to the approximate cost of services rendered and do not represent an indirect protection to domestic goods or a taxation of imports or exports for fiscal purposes.

Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, no Party shall maintain or adopt any duty or tax on the export of goods to the other Party or in connection with such export.

Agricultural export subsidies 1. For the purposes of this Article, "export subsidies" shall have the same meaning as in Article 1(e) of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (hereinafter the "Agreement on Agriculture"), including any amendment to that article.

2. The Parties share the objective of working jointly within the WTO to ensure the parallel elimination of all forms of export subsidies and the establishment of disciplines on all export measures with equivalent effect. To this end, export measures with equivalent effect include export credits, export credit guarantees or insurance programmes, exporting state trading enterprises, and food aid.

3. No Party shall maintain, introduce, or reintroduce export subsidies on agricultural goods destined for the territory of the other Party that are:

• a)fully and immediately liberalised in accordance with Annex I (Elimination of Customs Duties); or b) fully but not immediately liberalised and benefiting from a duty-free quota upon the entry into force of this Agreement in accordance with Annex I (Elimination of Customs Duties); or c) subject to preferential tariff treatment as provided for in this Agreement for products falling under headings 0402 and 0406 and benefiting from a duty-free quota.

4. In the cases described in paragraph 3(a) to (c), if a Party maintains, introduces or reintroduces export subsidies, the affected/importing Party may apply an additional duty increasing the customs duties on imports of such goods up to the lower of the applied Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff level and the base rate set out in Annex I (Elimination of Customs Duties) for the period established for maintaining the export subsidy.

5. Regarding products fully liberalised after a transitional period in accordance with Annex I (Elimination of Customs Duties) that do not benefit from a duty-free quota upon entry into force, no Party shall maintain, introduce or reintroduce export subsidies at the end of that transitional period.

AND ORGANIC PRODUCTS

Technical cooperation Articles 59, 60 and 61 of Title VI (Economic and Trade Development) of Part III of this Agreement establish cooperation measures for technical assistance to improve trade between the Parties in fisheries, aquaculture, handicraft, and organic products.

Sub-Committee on Market Access for Goods 1. The Parties hereby establish a Sub-Committee on Market Access for Goods in accordance with Article 348 and as set out in Annex XXI (Sub-Committees).

2. The functions of the Sub-Committee shall include:

• a)monitoring the correct implementation and administration of this Chapter; b) serving as a forum for consultations concerning the interpretation and application of this Chapter; c) examining proposals presented by the Parties regarding the acceleration of tariff elimination and the inclusion of goods in the schedules; d) formulating relevant recommendations to the Association Committee on matters within its competence; and e) any other matter instructed by the Association Committee.

General provisions 1. The Parties maintain their rights and obligations under the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (hereinafter the "Anti-Dumping Agreement"), the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (hereinafter the "SCM Agreement"), and the WTO Agreement on Rules of Origin (hereinafter the "Agreement on Rules of Origin").

2. Where anti-dumping or countervailing measures may be established at both regional and national levels, the Parties shall ensure that the regional and national authorities do not apply such anti-dumping or countervailing measures simultaneously to the same product.

Transparency and legal certainty 1. The Parties agree that trade defence measures shall be used in full compliance with WTO requirements and shall be based on a fair and transparent system.

2. Recognising the benefits of legal certainty and predictability for economic operators, the Parties shall ensure that, where appropriate, their respective domestic legislations on anti-dumping and countervailing measures are and remain harmonised and fully compatible with WTO legislation.

3. Notwithstanding Article 6.9 of the Anti-Dumping Agreement and Article 12.8 of the SCM Agreement, it is desirable that the Parties ensure, immediately after the imposition of any provisional measure, full and meaningful disclosure of all essential facts and considerations forming the basis for the decision to apply measures, without prejudice to Article 6.5 of the Anti-Dumping Agreement and Article 12.4 of the SCM Agreement. Disclosures shall be made in writing and shall be provided to interested parties in sufficient time to defend their interests.

4. Upon request from interested parties, the Parties shall grant them the opportunity to be heard to express their views during investigations on anti-dumping or countervailing measures. This shall not unnecessarily delay the conduct of the investigations.

Consideration of public interest A Party may choose not to apply anti-dumping or countervailing measures if, on the basis of the information available during the investigation, it can be clearly concluded that the application of such measures is detrimental to the public interest.

Lesser duty rule Where a Party decides to impose an anti-dumping or countervailing duty, the amount of such duty shall not exceed the margin of dumping or the countervailable subsidies, but it is desirable that the duty be less than that margin if such lesser duty is adequate to remove the injury to the domestic industry.

Causal link In order to impose anti-dumping or countervailing measures, and in accordance with Article 3.5 of the Anti-Dumping Agreement and Article 15.5 of the SCM Agreement, the investigating authorities shall separate and distinguish, as part of demonstrating a causal relationship between the dumped imports and the injury to the domestic industry, the injurious effects of all known factors from the injurious effects of the dumped or subsidised imports.

Cumulative assessment Where imports from more than one country are simultaneously subject to anti-dumping or countervailing duty investigations, the investigating authority of the United Kingdom(*) shall examine with particular care whether the cumulative assessment of the effects of imports from any Republic of the CA Party is appropriate in light of the conditions of competition between the imported products and the conditions of competition between the imported products and the like domestic product.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Exclusion from dispute settlement procedures The Parties shall not have recourse to the dispute settlement procedure under Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement for matters arising from this Section.

SUB-SECTION B.1 GENERAL PROVISIONS

Administration of safeguard proceedings 1. Each Party shall ensure that its laws, regulations, decisions, and rulings governing proceedings for the application of safeguard measures are administered in a consistent, impartial, and reasonable manner.

2. Each Party shall assign the determination of serious injury, or threat thereof, in safeguard proceedings under this Section to a competent investigating authority. Such determination shall be subject to review by judicial or administrative tribunals, to the extent provided for by domestic legislation.

3. Each Party shall adopt or maintain equitable, timely, transparent, and effective procedures relating to safeguard proceedings under this Section.

Non-accumulation No Party may apply, with respect to the same product and simultaneously:

• a)a bilateral safeguard measure in accordance with Sub-Section B.3 (Bilateral Safeguard Measures) of this Chapter; and b) a measure under Article XIX of GATT 1994, the WTO Agreement on Safeguards (hereinafter the "Agreement on Safeguards"), or Article 5 of the Agreement on Agriculture.

SUB-SECTION B.2 MULTILATERAL SAFEGUARD MEASURES

General provisions The Parties maintain their rights and obligations in accordance with Article XIX of GATT 1994, the Agreement on Safeguards, Article 5 of the Agreement on Agriculture, and the Agreement on Rules of Origin.

Transparency Notwithstanding Article 101, at the request of the other Party, the Party initiating an investigation or intending to adopt safeguard measures shall immediately provide written ad hoc notification with all pertinent information, including, where appropriate, on the initiation of a safeguard investigation, on provisional findings, and on the final findings of the investigation.

Exclusion from dispute settlement procedures The Parties shall not have recourse to the dispute settlement procedure in accordance with Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement for the provisions relating to rights and obligations under the WTO framework arising from this Sub-Section.

SUB-SECTION B.3 BILATERAL SAFEGUARD MEASURES

Application of a bilateral safeguard measure 1. Notwithstanding Sub-Section B.2 (Multilateral Safeguard Measures), if, as a consequence of the reduction or elimination of a customs duty under this Agreement, an originating product of one Party is being imported into the territory of the other Party in such increased quantities, in absolute terms or relative to domestic production, and under such conditions as to constitute a substantial cause of serious injury, or threat thereof, to domestic producers of like or directly competitive products, the importing Party may adopt appropriate measures in accordance with the conditions and procedures set out in this Sub-Section.

2. If the conditions in paragraph 1 are met, the safeguard measures of the importing Party may consist solely of one of the following:

• a)suspension of the further reduction of the rate of customs duty on the product concerned provided for under this Agreement; or b) an increase in the rate of customs duty on the product concerned to a level not exceeding the lesser of:
• i)the most-favoured-nation applied rate of customs duty on the product at the time the measure is adopted; or ii) the most-favoured-nation applied rate of customs duty on the product on the day immediately preceding the date on which Part IV of the EU-Central America Agreement has been applied.

(Paragraph thus amended by subsection 11 sub-subsection i) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") 3. In the case of products that were already fully liberalised before the date on which Part IV of the EU-Central America Agreement has been applied as a result of tariff preferences granted before the date on which Part IV of the EU-Central America Agreement has been applied, the United Kingdom(*) shall examine with particular care whether the increase in imports results from the reduction or elimination of customs duties under this Agreement.

(Paragraph thus amended by subsection 11 sub-subsection ii) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019")

(*) (Así sustituída su denominación por el apartado de las Declaraciones Conjuntas "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" del anexo del Tratado Internacional, N° 9775 del 29 de octubre de 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Anteriormente se indicada "Parte UE")

4. None of the foregoing measures shall be applied within the limits of the duty-free tariff-rate quotas granted under this Agreement.

Conditions and limitations 1. No bilateral safeguard measure may be applied:

• a)except to the extent and for such time as may be necessary to prevent or remedy the situation described in Articles 104 or 109; b) for a period exceeding two years; the period may be extended for another two years if the competent authorities of the importing Party determine, in accordance with the procedures specified in this Subsection, that the measure continues to be necessary to prevent or remedy the situations described in Articles 104 or 109, provided that the total period of application of a safeguard measure, including the initial period of application and any extension thereof, does not exceed four years; or c) beyond the expiration of the transition period, except with the consent of the other Party; "transition period" means ten years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement; for any good for which the schedule set out in Annex I (Elimination of Customs Duties) of the Party applying the measure provides for tariff elimination over ten or more years, "transition period" means the tariff elimination period for the goods set out in that schedule, plus three years.

2. When a Party ceases to apply a bilateral safeguard measure, the customs duty rate shall be the rate that would have been in effect for the good according to that Party’s schedule.

Provisional measures In critical circumstances where delay would cause damage which would be difficult to repair, a Party may apply a bilateral safeguard measure on a provisional basis, without complying with the requirements of Article 116(1) of this Chapter, where a preliminary determination has been made that there is clear evidence that imports of an originating product of the other Party have increased as a result of the reduction or elimination of a customs duty under this Agreement, and that such imports cause or threaten to cause the situations described in Articles 104 or 109. The duration of any provisional measure shall not exceed two hundred days, during which time the Party shall comply with the relevant procedural rules set out in Subsection B.4 (Procedural rules applicable to bilateral safeguard measures). The Party shall promptly refund any increase in duties if the investigation described in Subsection B.4 does not lead to a finding that the requirements of Article 104 are met. The duration of any provisional measure shall be counted as part of the period specified in Article 105(1)(b). The importing Party concerned shall inform the other Party upon taking such provisional measures and shall immediately refer the matter to the Association Committee for its consideration if the other Party so requests.

Compensation and suspension of concessions 1. A Party applying a bilateral safeguard measure shall consult with the Party whose products are subject to the measure in order to mutually agree on appropriate trade liberalization compensation in the form of concessions having a substantially equivalent trade effect. The Party shall provide an opportunity for such consultations no later than thirty days from the application of the bilateral safeguard measure.

2. If the consultations referred to in paragraph 1 do not result in an agreement on trade liberalization compensation within thirty days, the Party whose products are subject to the safeguard measure may suspend the application of concessions substantially equivalent to trade with the Party applying the safeguard measure.

Time period between measures No safeguard measure referred to in this Subsection shall be applied to the import of a product that has previously been subject to such a measure, unless a period of time has elapsed equal to half of the period during which the safeguard measure was applied for the immediately preceding period.

Ultra-peripheral regions 1. Where any product originating in one or more of the Republics of the CA Party is being imported into the territory of one or more of the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party() ultra-peripheral regions of the United Kingdom(*) in such increased quantities and under such conditions as to cause or threaten to cause a serious deterioration in the economic situation of the affected ultra-peripheral region or regions of the United Kingdom(*), the latter, after having examined alternative solutions, may exceptionally adopt safeguard measures limited to the territory of the affected region or the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party().

(*) (Así sustituída su denominación por el apartado de las Declaraciones Conjuntas "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" del anexo del Tratado Internacional, N° 9775 del 29 de octubre de 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Anteriormente se indicada "Parte UE")

() (Así sustituida su denominación por el apartado de las Declaraciones Conjuntas "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" del anexo del Tratado Internacional, N° 9775 del 29 de octubre de 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Anteriormente se indicada "las regiones")

2. Without prejudice to paragraph 1, other rules set out in this Subsection applicable to bilateral safeguards shall also apply to any safeguard adopted in accordance with this Article.

3. The Association Council may discuss whether, in cases of serious deterioration, or threat of serious deterioration, of the economic situation of extremely underdeveloped regions of the Republics of the CA Party, this Article may also apply to such regions.

(Nota de Sinalevi: Mediante el aparte 11) sub aparte b) del anexo del Tratado Internacional, N° 9775 del 29 de octubre de 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019", se acordó indicar que este numeral y toda referencia alguna al artículo 109, no se incorpora al Acuerdo anteriormente referido) SUBSECTION B.4 PROCEDURAL RULES APPLICABLE TO BILATERAL SAFEGUARD MEASURES

Applicable law For the application of bilateral safeguard measures, the competent investigating authority shall comply with the provisions of this Subsection and, in cases not covered by it, the competent investigating authority shall apply the rules established under its domestic legislation.

Initiation of a proceeding 1. In accordance with the domestic legislation of each Party, where applicable, the competent investigating authority may initiate a safeguard proceeding on its own initiative, or upon receipt of a written application by an entity demonstrating that it is representative of the domestic industry producing a like or directly competitive good to the imported good.; (Así reformado el párrafo anterior por el aparte 11 sub aparte c. i) del anexo del Tratado Internacional, N° 9775 del 29 de octubre de 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019") 2. Once written applications have been submitted, they shall be made available promptly to the public, except for the confidential information they contain.

3. Upon initiation of a safeguard proceeding, the competent investigating authority shall publish a notice of initiation of the proceeding in the official journal of the Party. The notice shall identify the entity that filed the written application, if any, the imported good that is the subject of the proceeding, as well as its tariff subheading and its tariff line under which it is classified, the nature and timelines for issuing the determination, the time and place of the public hearing or the period within which interested parties may request to be heard by the investigating authority, the period during which interested parties may present their views in writing and submit information, the place where the written application and other non-confidential documents filed during the proceeding may be inspected, as well as the name, address, and telephone number of the contact office for further information.

4. With respect to any safeguard proceeding initiated on the basis of a written application filed by an entity claiming to be representative of the domestic industry, the competent investigating authority shall not publish the notice required in paragraph 3 without first carefully assessing whether the written application meets any requirements of its domestic legislation.

(Así reformado el párrafo anterior por el aparte 11 sub aparte c. ii) del anexo del Tratado Internacional, N° 9775 del 29 de octubre de 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019")

Investigation 1. A Party may apply a safeguard measure only following an investigation by the competent investigating authority of that Party in accordance with the procedures set out in this Subsection. Such an investigation shall include reasonable public notice to all interested parties, as well as public hearings or other appropriate means in which importers, exporters, and other interested parties may present evidence and make their views known, including the opportunity to respond to the submissions of other parties.

2. Each Party shall ensure that its competent investigating authority concludes any such investigation within twelve months from its date of initiation.

Proof of injury and causal link 1. In conducting its proceeding, the competent investigating authority shall evaluate all relevant factors of an objective and quantifiable nature having a bearing on the situation of the domestic industry, in particular, the rate and amount of the increase in imports of the product concerned in absolute or relative terms to domestic production, the share of the domestic market taken by the increased imports, and changes in the level of sales, production, productivity, capacity utilization, profits and losses, and employment.

2. A determination that the increased imports have caused or threatened to cause the situations described in Articles 104 or 109 shall not be made, unless the investigation demonstrates, on the basis of objective evidence, the existence of a clear causal link between the increased imports of the good concerned and the situations described in Articles 104 or 109. Where factors other than the increased imports are causing at the same time the situations described in Articles 104 or 109, such injury or serious deterioration in the economic situation shall not be attributed to the increased imports.

Hearings In the course of each proceeding, the competent investigating authority shall:

• a)hold a public hearing, after providing reasonable notice, to allow all interested parties and any representative consumer association to appear in person or through a representative, present evidence, and be heard regarding serious injury or threat of serious injury and the appropriate remedy; or b) provide all interested parties with an opportunity to be heard where they have made a written request within the period established in the notice of initiation, demonstrating that they are likely to be affected by the outcome of the investigation and that there are special reasons why they should be heard orally.

Confidential information Any information that is by nature confidential or is provided on a confidential basis shall, upon sufficient cause being shown, be treated as such by the competent investigating authority. Such information shall not be disclosed without permission of the party submitting it.

Parties providing confidential information may be asked to provide non-confidential summaries thereof, or, if such parties indicate that such information cannot be summarized, the reasons why a summary cannot be provided. However, if the competent investigating authority finds that a request for confidentiality is not warranted and that the party concerned is unwilling to make the information public or to authorize its disclosure in general or summarized form, the authority may disregard such information, unless it is demonstrated to the authority's satisfaction from appropriate sources that the information is correct.

Notifications and publications 1. Where a Party considers that one of the circumstances set out in Articles 104 or 109 exists, it shall immediately refer the matter to the Association Committee for its consideration. The Association Committee may make any recommendation needed to remedy the circumstances that have arisen. If the Association Committee has made no recommendation aimed at remedying the circumstances, or no other satisfactory solution has been reached within thirty days from the date the matter was referred to the Association Committee, the importing Party may adopt the appropriate measures to remedy the circumstances in accordance with this Subsection.

2. The competent investigating authority shall provide the exporting Party with all relevant information, which shall include evidence of injury or serious deterioration in the economic situation caused by increased imports, a precise description of the product in question and the proposed measures, the proposed date of imposition and the expected duration.

3. The competent investigating authority shall also publish its findings and reasoned conclusions reached on all pertinent issues of fact and law in the official journal of the Party, and shall include the description of the imported good and the situation which has given rise to the imposition of measures pursuant to Articles 104 or 109, the causal link between such situation and the increased imports, as well as the form, level, and duration of the measures.

4. The competent investigating authority shall not disclose any information provided pursuant to any undertaking regarding confidential information that may have been made during the proceedings.

Objectives 1. The Parties recognize the importance of customs and trade facilitation matters in the evolving context of global trade. The Parties agree to strengthen cooperation in this area to ensure that the relevant legislation and procedures, as well as the administrative capacity of the relevant administrations, meet the objectives of effective control and the promotion of trade facilitation, and help to promote the development and regional integration of the Republics of the CA Party.

2. The Parties recognize that legitimate public policy objectives, including those related to security and the prevention of fraud, shall not be compromised in any way.

Customs and trade-related procedures 1. The Parties agree that their respective customs legislation, provisions, and procedures shall be based on:

• a)international instruments and standards applicable in the customs area, including the WCO Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade, as well as the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System; b) the protection and facilitation of legitimate trade through the effective application of and compliance with the requirements set out in customs legislation; c) legislation that avoids unnecessary or discriminatory burdens, protects against customs fraud, and further facilitates the achievement of higher levels of compliance; d) the application of modern customs techniques, including risk management, simplified procedures for the entry and release of goods, post-clearance controls, and company audit methods; e) a system of binding rulings on customs matters, especially on tariff classification and rules of origin, in accordance with the rules established in the Parties' legislation; f) the progressive development of systems, including those based on information technology, to facilitate the electronic exchange of data within customs administrations and with other related public institutions; g) rules ensuring that any penalties imposed for minor breaches of customs regulations or procedural requirements are proportionate and non-discriminatory and that their application does not result in unwarranted delays; h) fees and charges that are reasonable and limited in amount to the cost of the service provided in connection with any specific transaction and which are not calculated on an ad valorem basis.

Customs fees and charges shall not be imposed for consular services; and i) the elimination of any requirement for the mandatory use of pre-shipment inspections, as defined in the WTO Agreement on Pre-shipment Inspection, or any other inspection activity carried out at destination, before customs clearance, by private companies.

2. The Parties agree that their customs legislation, provisions, and procedures shall be based, to the extent possible, on the substantive elements of the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures as amended (Revised Kyoto Convention) and its Annexes.

3. To improve working methods, as well as to ensure non-discrimination, transparency, efficiency, integrity, and accountability of operations, the Parties shall:

• a)take measures, to the extent possible, to reduce, simplify, and standardize the data and documentation required by customs and other related public institutions; b) simplify requirements and formalities wherever possible, with respect to the release and prompt clearance of goods; c) establish effective, prompt, non-discriminatory, and easily accessible procedures guaranteeing the right of appeal, in accordance with each Party's legislation, against administrative actions, rulings, and decisions in customs matters affecting imports, exports, or goods in transit. Charges, where applicable, shall be commensurate with the costs of appeal procedures; and d) adopt measures to ensure that the highest levels of integrity are maintained.

4. The Parties shall ensure that legislation relating to customs brokers is based on transparent and proportionate rules. Where a Party requires the mandatory use of customs brokers, legal persons may operate with their own customs brokers who have been licensed by the competent authorities for this purpose. This provision shall be without prejudice to the position of the Parties in multilateral negotiations.

Transit movements 1. The Parties shall ensure freedom of transit through their territory, in accordance with the principles of Article V of GATT 1994.

2. Any restriction, control, or requirement shall pursue a legitimate public policy objective, be non-discriminatory and proportionate, and be applied uniformly.

3. Without prejudice to legitimate customs control and supervision of goods in transit, each Party shall accord to traffic in transit to or from the territory of any of the Parties treatment no less favourable than that accorded to traffic in transit through its territory.

4. In accordance with the principles of Article V of GATT 1994, the Parties shall operate regimes allowing the transit of goods without imposing any customs duties, transit duties, or other charges imposed in respect of transit, except charges for transportation or those commensurate with administrative expenses entailed by transit or with the cost of services rendered; and subject to the provision of an appropriate guarantee.

5. The Parties shall promote and implement regional transit arrangements to reduce barriers to trade.

6. The Parties shall ensure cooperation and coordination in their territory among all concerned authorities and agencies to facilitate transit traffic and promote cross-border cooperation.

Relations with the business community The Parties agree on:

• a)ensuring that all legislation, procedures, and fees and charges are made publicly available, to the extent possible, through electronic means, along with the necessary additional information.

The Parties shall make available to the public the relevant administrative notices, including the requirements and procedures for entry of goods, the hours of operation and procedures of customs offices, as well as the points of contact for information requests; b) the need for timely and regular consultations with representatives of interested parties on legislative proposals and procedures concerning customs matters. To that end, each Party shall establish appropriate and regular consultation mechanisms; c) that a reasonable period of time should elapse between the publication and the entry into force of a law or amendment thereto, a procedure, or a fee or charge6; 6 In the Parties where legislation requires entry into force simultaneously with publication, the Government shall ensure that operators are informed sufficiently in advance of any new measure of the type mentioned in this paragraph.

• d)fostering cooperation with the business community through non-arbitrary and publicly accessible procedures, such as Memoranda of Understanding, which shall be based on those promulgated by the WCO; and e) ensuring that their respective customs-related requirements and procedures continue to respond to the needs of the business community, follow best practices, and remain as little trade-restrictive as possible.

Customs valuation The WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (hereinafter the "Agreement on Customs Valuation") shall govern the customs valuation rules applied to reciprocal trade between the Parties.

Risk management Each Party shall use risk management systems that enable its customs authorities to focus their inspection activities on high-risk goods and that facilitate the clearance and movement of low-risk goods.

Subcommittee on Customs, Trade Facilitation and Rules of Origin 1. The Parties hereby establish a Subcommittee on Customs, Trade Facilitation and Rules of Origin in accordance with Article 348 and as set out in Annex XXI (Subcommittees).

2. The functions of the Subcommittee shall include:

• a)monitoring the implementation and administration of this Chapter and Annex II (Concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation) of this Agreement; b) providing a forum for consultation and discussion on all matters concerning customs, including in particular customs procedures, customs valuation, tariff regimes, customs nomenclature, customs cooperation, and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters; c) providing a forum for consultation and discussion on issues relating to rules of origin and administrative cooperation; d) fostering cooperation on the development, application, and enforcement of customs procedures, mutual administrative assistance in customs matters, rules of origin, and administrative cooperation; e) attending to requests for modification of rules of origin and presenting the results of analyses and recommendations to the Association Committee; f) carrying out the tasks and functions set out in Annex II (Concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation) of this Agreement; g) strengthen cooperation on capacity building and technical assistance; and h) any other matter instructed by the Association Committee.

3. The Parties may agree to hold ad hoc meetings on customs cooperation, rules of origin or mutual administrative assistance.

Cooperation and technical assistance in customs and trade facilitation Articles 53 and 54 of Title VI (Economic and commercial development) of Part III of this Agreement set out the technical assistance measures necessary for the implementation of this chapter.

Objectives 1. The objective of this chapter is to facilitate and increase trade in goods by identifying, preventing and eliminating unnecessary obstacles to trade between the Parties, which may arise from the preparation, adoption and application of technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures, within the terms of the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (hereinafter, the "TBT Agreement").

2. The Parties undertake to cooperate in strengthening regional integration between the Parties on issues relating to technical barriers to trade.

3. The Parties undertake to establish and strengthen technical capacity in matters relating to technical barriers to trade, with the aim of improving access to their respective markets.

General provisions The Parties reaffirm their existing rights and obligations with respect to each other under the TBT Agreement, which is incorporated into and forms an integral part of this Agreement. The Parties shall pay particular attention to Article 12 of the TBT Agreement on special and differential treatment.

Scope and coverage 1. This chapter applies to the preparation, adoption and application of technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures, as defined in the TBT Agreement, which may affect trade in goods between the Parties.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, this chapter does not apply to sanitary and phytosanitary measures as defined in Annex A of the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (hereinafter, the "SPS Agreement"), nor to purchasing specifications prepared by governmental bodies or institutions for the production or consumption requirements of such governmental bodies or institutions, which shall be governed by Title V (Public procurement) of Part IV of this Agreement.

Definitions For the purposes of this chapter, the definitions in Annex 1 of the TBT Agreement shall apply.

Technical regulations The Parties agree to make the best use of good regulatory practice, as set out in the TBT Agreement. In particular, the Parties agree to:

• a)use relevant international standards as a basis for technical regulations, as well as for conformity assessment procedures, except where such international standards would be an ineffective or inappropriate means for the fulfilment of the legitimate objectives pursued, and, where international standards have not been used as a basis, explain, upon request of the other Party, the reasons why such standards have been considered inappropriate or ineffective for the achievement of the objective pursued; b) promote the development of regional technical regulations and that these replace national ones that are in force, in order to facilitate trade between the Parties; c) establish mechanisms to improve information to the industries of the other Party on technical regulations (for example, through a public website); and d) provide, upon request and without undue delay, information and, where appropriate, written guidance on compliance with its technical regulations, to the other Party or its economic operators.

Standards 1. The Parties confirm their obligation under Article 4.1 of the TBT Agreement to ensure that their standardizing bodies accept and comply with the "Code of Good Practice for the Preparation, Adoption and Application of Standards" in Annex 3 of the TBT Agreement.

2. The Parties undertake to:

• a)ensure adequate interaction of regulatory authorities and national, regional or international standardizing bodies; b) ensure the application of the principles set out in the "Decision of the Committee on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations with relation to Articles 2 and 5 and Annex 3 of the Agreement", adopted by the WTO TBT Committee on 13 November 2000; c) ensure that their standardizing bodies cooperate so that, to the extent possible, international standardization work is used as a basis for the development of standards at the regional level; d) promote the development of regional standards; when a regional standard is adopted, it shall fully replace all existing national standards; e) exchange information on the use of standards by the Parties in connection with technical regulations and ensure, to the extent possible, that standards are not mandatory; and f) exchange information and expertise on the work carried out by international, regional and national standardizing bodies, and on the extent to which international standards are used as a basis for their national and regional standards; as well as general information on cooperation agreements used by either Party on standardization matters.

Conformity assessment and accreditation 1. The Parties recognize that a broad range of conformity assessment mechanisms exists to facilitate the acceptance of products in the territory of the Parties, including:

• a)the acceptance of a supplier's declaration of conformity; b) the designation of conformity assessment bodies located in the territory of the other Party; c) the acceptance of the results of conformity assessment procedures by bodies located in the territory of the other Party; and d) voluntary agreements between conformity assessment bodies in the territory of each Party.

2. Accordingly, the Parties undertake to:

• a)require conformity assessment procedures that are not stricter than necessary, in accordance with Article 5.1.2 of the TBT Agreement; b) ensure that, where several conformity assessment bodies have been authorized by a Party in accordance with its applicable domestic legislation, the legislative measures adopted by that Party do not restrict the freedom of operators to choose where to carry out the relevant conformity assessment procedures; and c) exchange information on accreditation policy and consider how to make best use of international accreditation standards and international agreements affecting the accreditation bodies of the Parties, for example through the mechanisms of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

Special and differential treatment In accordance with Article 126 of this chapter, the Parties agree to:

• a)ensure that legislative measures do not restrict the conclusion of voluntary agreements between conformity assessment bodies located in the Republics of the CA Party and those located in the United Kingdom(*), and promote the participation of such bodies in those agreements;

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated "EU Party")

• b)that, where one Party identifies a specific problem related to an existing or proposed technical regulation, standard or conformity assessment procedure that may affect trade between the Parties, the exporting Party may request clarifications and guidance on how to comply with the measure of the importing Party; the latter shall give prompt and due attention to such request and take into account the concerns expressed by the exporting Party; c) upon request of the exporting Party, the importing Party undertakes to provide without delay, through its competent authorities, information on the technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures applicable to a group of goods or a specific good for its commercialisation in the territory of the importing Party; and d) in accordance with Article 12.3 of the TBT Agreement, in the preparation or application of technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures, the United Kingdom(*) shall take into account the special development, financial and trade needs of the Republics of the CA Party to ensure that such technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures do not create unnecessary obstacles to their exports.

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated "EU Party")

Cooperation and technical assistance The Parties agree that it is in their common interest to promote initiatives of mutual cooperation and technical assistance on issues related to technical barriers to trade. In this regard, the Parties have identified a series of cooperation activities set out in Article 57 of Title VI (Economic and commercial development) of Part III of this Agreement.

Collaboration and regional integration The Parties agree that collaboration between national and regional authorities responsible for technical barriers to trade, in both the public and private sectors, is important to facilitate trade within the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*) and between the Parties themselves. To this end, the Parties undertake to carry out joint actions, including:

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated "the regions")

• a)strengthen their cooperation on standards, technical regulations, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment, in order to increase mutual understanding of their respective systems and, in areas of common interest, explore trade facilitation initiatives that bring their regulatory requirements closer together; to this end, they may establish regulatory dialogues at both horizontal and sectoral levels; b) seek to identify, develop and promote trade-facilitating initiatives, which shall include but not be limited to:
• i)strengthening regulatory cooperation, for example through the exchange of information, expertise and data, and technical and scientific cooperation, in order to improve the way technical regulations are prepared, regarding transparency and consultation, and use regulatory resources effectively; ii) simplifying procedures and requirements; and iii) promoting and encouraging bilateral cooperation between their respective public or private bodies responsible for metrology, standardization, testing, certification and accreditation; c) upon request, each Party shall give due consideration to proposals for cooperation from the other Party under the terms of this chapter.

Transparency and notification procedures The Parties agree to:

• a)comply with the transparency obligations of the Parties, as set out in the TBT Agreement, and provide early notice on the introduction of technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures that have a significant effect on trade between the Parties and, where such technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures are introduced, allow sufficient time between their publication and entry into force for economic operators to adapt; b) when making notifications in accordance with the TBT Agreement, allow the other Party a minimum period of sixty days from the notification to submit written comments on the proposal except where urgent problems of safety, health, environmental protection or national security arise or threaten to arise, and, where possible, give due consideration to reasonable requests for an extension of the period for making comments; this period shall be extended if recommended by the WTO TBT Committee; and c) give due consideration to the comments of the other Party where, prior to the WTO notification process, part of the process for preparing a technical regulation or conformity assessment procedure is open to public consultation in accordance with the procedures of each region; and, upon request, provide written responses to the comments made by the other Party.

Market surveillance The Parties undertake to:

• a)exchange views on market surveillance activities and law enforcement measures; and b) ensure that market surveillance is carried out by the competent authorities independently in order to avoid conflicts of interest.

Fees The Parties undertake to ensure that:

• a)any fees that may be imposed for assessing the conformity of products originating in the territory of a Party are equitable in comparison with those that would be charged for assessing the conformity of like products of national origin or originating in the territory of the other Party, taking into account communication, transportation and other costs arising from the fact that the applicant's facilities and the conformity assessment body's facilities are in different locations; CENTR-AM/EU/en 165 b) a Party gives the other the opportunity to lodge a complaint against the amount charged for assessing the conformity of products where the fee is excessive in relation to the cost of the certification service and where this undermines the competitiveness of its products; and c) the expected processing period for any mandatory conformity assessment process is reasonable and equitable for imported and national goods.

Marking and labelling 1. The Parties reiterate, as set out in Article 1 of Annex 1 of the TBT Agreement, that a technical regulation may include or deal exclusively with marking and labelling requirements, and agree that, where their technical regulations require any marking or labelling requirement, the principles of Article 2.2 of the TBT Agreement shall be observed.

2. In particular, the Parties agree to the following:

• a)they shall require only marking or labelling that is relevant to consumers or users of the product or to indicate the product's conformity with mandatory technical requirements7; 7 Where labelling is required for fiscal purposes, such requirement shall be formulated in a manner that is not more trade-restrictive than necessary to fulfil a legitimate objective.
• b)if necessary in view of the risk of products to human, animal or plant life or health, the environment or national security, the Parties may:
• i)require the approval, registration or certification of labels or markings as a precondition for sale in their respective markets; or ii) establish requirements on the physical characteristics or design of a label, in particular that the information be placed on a specific part of the product or in a specific format or size.

The above is without prejudice to the measures adopted by the Parties in accordance with their domestic regulations to verify that the labelling complies with mandatory requirements and measures adopted to control practices that may mislead consumers; c) where a Party requires economic operators to use a unique identification number, it shall issue such number to economic operators of the other Party without any undue delay and on a non-discriminatory basis; d) provided that it is not misleading, contradictory or confusing with respect to the information required in the country of destination of the goods, the Parties shall allow the following:

• i)information in languages other than the language required in the country of destination of the goods; ii) international nomenclatures, pictograms, symbols or graphics; and iii) information additional to that required by the country of destination of the goods; e) where legitimate objectives under the TBT Agreement are not compromised and the information can reach the consumer adequately, the Party shall seek to accept non-permanent or removable labels, or marking or labelling in the accompanying documentation instead of marks or labels physically attached to the product; and f) the Parties shall allow labelling and corrections to labelling to take place in the country of destination prior to the commercialisation of the goods.

3. Taking into account paragraph 2, the Parties agree that, where a Party requires the marking or labelling of textile products, garments or footwear, only the following information may be required to be permanently marked:

• a)with respect to textile products and garments: fibre content, country of origin, safety instructions for specific uses and care instructions; and b) with respect to footwear: predominant materials of the main parts, safety instructions for specific uses and country of origin.

4. The Parties shall apply the provisions of this article within one year from the entry into force of this Agreement.

Subcommittee on Technical Barriers to Trade 1. The Parties establish a Subcommittee on Technical Barriers to Trade in accordance with Article 348 and as set out in Annex XXI (Subcommittees).

2. The Subcommittee shall have the following functions:

• a)address any issue relating to the implementation of this chapter that may affect trade between the Parties; b) monitor the implementation and administration of this chapter; promptly address any issue raised by either Party regarding the preparation, adoption, application or enforcement of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures; and, at the request of either Party, hold consultations on any issue arising under this chapter; c) facilitate the exchange of information on technical regulations, standards and conformity assessment procedures; d) provide a forum for discussion aimed at solving problems or issues that hinder or limit trade, within the limits of the scope and objective of this chapter; e) strengthen cooperation in the development and improvement of standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, including the exchange of information between relevant public or private bodies working on these issues, and encourage direct interaction between non-governmental agents, such as standardizing bodies, accreditors and certifiers; f) facilitate the exchange of information on work carried out in non-governmental, regional and multilateral forums involved in activities related to technical regulations, standardization and conformity assessment procedures; g) explore ways to facilitate trade between the Parties; h) report on the cooperation programmes established under Article 57 of Title VI (Economic and commercial development) of Part III of this Agreement, their achievements and the impact of these projects on trade facilitation and on the implementation of the provisions of this chapter; i) review this chapter in light of developments under the TBT Agreement; j) report to the Association Committee on the implementation of the provisions of this chapter, in particular on progress in meeting the established objectives and the provisions related to special and differential treatment; k) take any other measure that the Parties consider will assist them in the implementation of this chapter; l) establish a dialogue among regulators in accordance with Article 134, letter a), of this chapter and, where appropriate, working groups to discuss different topics of interest to the Parties; the working groups may consist of or consult non-governmental experts and stakeholders; and m) any other matter instructed by the Association Committee.

Objectives The objectives of this chapter are as follows:

• a)protect the health and life of persons, animals and plants in the territory of the Parties, while facilitating trade between them within the scope of application of this chapter; b) collaborate to further implement the SPS Agreement; c) ensure that sanitary and phytosanitary measures do not create unjustified obstacles to trade between the Parties; d) consider the asymmetries between the United Kingdom and the Republics of the CA Party(*);

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated "the regions")

• e)improve cooperation in the sanitary and phytosanitary field, in accordance with Part III of this Agreement, in order to strengthen the capacities of each Party on issues related to sanitary and phytosanitary measures to improve access to the market of the other Party, while maintaining the level of protection of persons, animals and plants; and f) progressively apply the United Kingdom's approach to Central America on trade in goods subject to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

(Thus amended the preceding paragraph by part 11) sub part d) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019")

Multilateral rights and obligations The Parties reaffirm their rights and obligations under the SPS Agreement.

Scope of application 1. This chapter applies to all sanitary and phytosanitary measures of a Party that may directly or indirectly affect trade between the Parties.

2. This chapter shall not apply to the standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures defined in the TBT Agreement.

3. In addition, this chapter shall apply to cooperation on animal welfare.

Definitions For the purposes of this chapter, the definitions contained in Annex A of the

Competent authorities The competent authorities of the Parties shall be the authorities competent for the application of this chapter, as provided in Annex VI (Competent authorities). In accordance with Article 151 of this chapter, the Parties shall inform each other of any modification concerning such competent authorities.

General principles 1. The sanitary and phytosanitary measures applied by the Parties shall follow the principles set out in Article 3 of the SPS Agreement.

2. Sanitary and phytosanitary measures shall not be used to create unjustified obstacles to trade.

3. The procedures established within the scope of application of this chapter shall be applied transparently, without undue delays and under conditions and requirements, including costs, which shall be no higher than the actual cost of the service and must be equitable in relation to any fee charged to like domestic products of the Parties.

4. The Parties shall not use the procedures referred to in paragraph 3 or requests for additional information to delay market access without scientific and technical justification.

Import requirements 1. The exporting Party shall ensure that products exported to the importing Party comply with the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements of the importing Party.

2. The importing Party shall ensure that its import conditions are applied in a proportionate and non-discriminatory manner.

Trade facilitation 1. List of establishments:

• a)for the importation of products of animal origin, the exporting Party shall communicate to the importing Party the list of establishments that comply with the requirements of the importing Party; b) at the request of the exporting Party, accompanied by the appropriate sanitary guarantees, the importing Party shall approve the establishments referred to in Annex VII (Requirements and provisions for the approval of establishments for products of animal origin) situated in the territory of the exporting Party, without prior inspection of individual establishments; the approval shall be in accordance with the requirements and provisions set out in Annex VII and shall be limited to the categories of products for which imports are approved; c) the sanitary guarantees referred to in this Article may include relevant and justified information to guarantee the sanitary situation of the live animals and animal products to be imported; d) unless additional information is requested, the importing Party shall adopt the necessary legislative or administrative measures, in accordance with its applicable legal procedures, to permit importation on that basis within forty working days from receipt of the request from the exporting Party accompanied by the appropriate sanitary guarantees; e) the importing Party shall periodically present a record of requests for approval that have been denied, including information on the non-compliances for which the approval of an establishment was denied.

2. Inspection of imports and inspection fees: any fees established for procedures on imported products may only cover the costs incurred by the competent authority for inspecting imports; such fees shall not exceed the actual cost of the service and shall be equitable in relation to fees applied to similar domestic products.

Verifications 1. In order to maintain confidence in the effective application of the provisions of this Chapter and within its scope, each Party has the right to:

• a)carry out verification of all or part of the control system of the authorities of the other Party, in accordance with the guidelines described in Annex VIII (Guidelines applicable to verifications); the costs of such verification shall be borne by the Party carrying it out; and b) receive information from the other Party about its control system and be informed of the results of the controls carried out within the framework of that system.

2. The Parties shall share the results and conclusions of the verifications carried out in the territory of the other Party and shall make them public.

3. When the importing Party decides to carry out a verification visit to the exporting Party, such visit shall be notified to the other Party at least sixty working days prior to carrying it out, except in cases of urgency or if the Parties have agreed otherwise. Any modification to such visit shall be agreed upon by the Parties concerned.

Measures relating to animal and plant health 1. The Parties shall recognise the concept of pest- or disease-free areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence in accordance with the SPS Agreement, as well as the standards, guidelines, or recommendations of the World Organisation for Animal Health (hereinafter, "the OIE") and the International Plant Protection Convention (hereinafter, "the IPPC"). The Subcommittee referred to in Article 156 of this Chapter may define further details for the procedure for recognition of such areas, taking into account the relevant standards, guidelines, or recommendations of the SPS Agreement, the OIE, and the IPPC. This procedure shall include situations relating to outbreaks and reinfestations.

2. In determining pest- or disease-free areas and areas of low pest or disease prevalence, the Parties shall consider factors such as geographical location, ecosystems, epidemiological surveillance, and the effectiveness of sanitary or phytosanitary controls in such areas.

3. The Parties shall establish close cooperation to determine pest- or disease-free areas and areas of low pest and disease prevalence, with the aim of acquiring confidence in the procedures followed by each Party to determine such areas.

4. In determining such areas, whether for the first time or following an outbreak of an animal disease or the reintroduction of a plant pest, the importing Party shall, in principle, base its own determination of the animal health and plant health situation of the exporting Party or parts thereof on the information provided by the exporting Party in accordance with the relevant standards, guidelines, or recommendations of the SPS Agreement, the OIE, and the IPPC, and shall take into account the determination made by the exporting Party.

5. If the importing Party does not accept the determination mentioned above made by the exporting Party, it shall explain the reasons and be willing to enter into consultations.

6. The exporting Party shall provide the necessary evidence to demonstrate objectively to the importing Party that such areas are, and are likely to remain, respectively, pest- or disease-free areas, or areas of low pest or disease prevalence. For this purpose, reasonable access shall be granted to the importing Party upon request for inspections, testing, and other relevant procedures.

7. The Parties recognise the principle of compartmentalisation of the OIE and that of pest-free places and production sites of the IPPC. They shall consider their future recommendations on the matter, and the Subcommittee established in Article 156 of this Chapter shall make recommendations accordingly.

Equivalence Through the Subcommittee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters established in Article 156, the Parties may develop provisions on equivalence and shall formulate recommendations in accordance with the procedures established in the institutional provisions of this Agreement.

Transparency and exchange of information The Parties shall:

• a)pursue transparency regarding sanitary and phytosanitary measures applicable to trade; b) enhance mutual understanding of each Party's sanitary and phytosanitary measures and their application; c) exchange information on matters related to the development and application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures that affect or may affect trade between the Parties, with the aim of minimising their negative effects on trade; and d) communicate, at the request of a Party, the requirements applicable to the importation of specific products.

Notification and consultations 1. Each Party shall notify the other Party in writing, within three working days, of any serious or significant risk to human, animal, or plant life or health, including any food emergency.

2. Notifications shall be addressed to the contact points set out in Annex IX (Contact points and websites). "Written notification" shall be understood to mean notification by postal mail, fax, or electronic mail.

3. In the event that a Party has serious concerns regarding a risk to human, animal, or plant life or health in relation to products being traded, consultations shall be held, upon request, as soon as possible. Under such conditions, each Party shall endeavour to provide all necessary information to avoid disruptions to trade.

4. The consultations mentioned in paragraph 3 may be held by electronic mail, by video or audioconference, or by any other means mutually agreed by the Parties. The requesting Party shall be responsible for drafting the minutes of the consultation, which shall be submitted for formal approval by the Parties.

Emergency measures 1. In the event of a serious risk to human, animal, or plant life or health, the importing Party may adopt, without prior notification, the necessary measures for the protection of human, animal, and plant life and health. For consignments in transit between the Parties, the importing Party shall consider the most appropriate and proportionate solution to avoid unnecessary disruptions to trade.

2. The Party adopting the measures shall inform the other Party as soon as possible and, in any case, no later than one working day after the adoption of the measure. The Parties may request any information regarding the sanitary and phytosanitary situation, as well as the measures adopted, and the Parties shall respond as soon as the requested information is available.

3. At the request of either Party and in accordance with the provisions of Article 152 of this Chapter, the Parties shall hold consultations on the situation within fifteen working days from the notification. These consultations shall be held to avoid unnecessary disruptions to trade. The Parties may consider options to facilitate the implementation or substitution of the measures.

Cooperation and technical assistance 1. The cooperation and technical assistance measures necessary for the implementation of this Chapter are established in Article 62 of Title VI (Economic and Trade Development) of Part III of this Agreement.

2. The Parties shall establish, through the Subcommittee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters established in Article 156 of this Chapter, a work programme that includes the identification of cooperation and technical assistance needs to develop or strengthen the capacity of the Parties on matters of common interest relating to human, animal, or plant health and food safety.

Special and differential treatment Any Republic of the CA Party may consult directly with the United Kingdom(*) when it identifies a specific problem related to a proposed measure of the United Kingdom(*) that may affect trade between them. To carry out such consultations, the decisions of the WTO SPS Committee, such as document G/SPS/33 and its amendments, may be used for guidance.

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Subcommittee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters 1. The Parties establish a Subcommittee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Matters pursuant to Article 348 and as set out in Annex XXI (Subcommittees).

2. The Subcommittee may address any matter related to the rights and obligations of this Chapter. In particular, it shall have the following responsibilities and functions:

• a)recommend the development of procedures or provisions necessary for the implementation of this Chapter; b) monitor progress in the implementation of this Chapter; c) provide a forum to discuss problems arising from the application of specific sanitary or phytosanitary measures, with the aim of achieving mutually acceptable alternatives; to this end, the Subcommittee shall be urgently convened, upon request by one of the Parties, to hold consultations; d) carry out, where appropriate, the consultations established in Article 155 of this Chapter relating to special and differential treatment; e) carry out, where appropriate, the consultations established in Article 157 of this Chapter relating to the resolution of disputes arising under this Chapter; f) promote cooperation on animal welfare between the Parties; and g) any other matter instructed by the Association Committee.

3. At its first meeting, the Subcommittee shall agree on its internal rules of procedure for approval by the Association Committee.

Dispute settlement 1. When a Party considers that a measure of the other Party is or could be contrary to obligations under this Chapter, it may request technical consultations within the framework of the Subcommittee established in Article 156. The competent authorities indicated in Annex VI (Competent Authorities) shall facilitate such consultations.

2. Unless the Parties to the dispute agree otherwise, when a dispute is the subject of consultations in the Subcommittee in accordance with paragraph 1, such consultations shall replace those provided for in Article 310 of Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement. The consultations in the Subcommittee shall be considered concluded within thirty days from the date of submission of the request, unless the consulting Parties agree to continue them. These consultations may be conducted via telephone conference, videoconference, or any other means agreed upon by the Parties.

General exceptions 1. Article XX of GATT 1994, including its interpretative notes, is incorporated into this Agreement and forms an integral part thereof.

2. The Parties acknowledge that Article XX(b) of GATT 1994 may also apply to environmental measures necessary to protect human, animal, or plant life or health and that Article XX(g) of GATT 1994 applies to measures relating to the conservation of exhaustible natural resources, whether living or non-living.

3. The Parties acknowledge that, upon request of one of the Parties, and before adopting any of the measures provided for in Article XX(i) and (j) of GATT 1994, the exporting Party intending to take the measures shall provide the other Party with all relevant information. The Parties may agree on the necessary means to end the conditions requiring the measures. If no agreement is reached within thirty days, the exporting Party may apply the measures of this Article to the exportation of the product concerned. Where exceptional and critical circumstances requiring immediate action make prior information or examination impossible, the Party intending to adopt measures may apply forthwith the precautionary measures strictly necessary to address the situation and shall inform the other Party immediately thereof.

Objective, scope of application, and coverage 1. The Parties, reaffirming their commitments under the WTO Agreement, establish the necessary provisions for the progressive liberalisation of establishment and trade in services, as well as for cooperation on electronic commerce.

2. No provision of this Title shall be construed as requiring the privatisation of public undertakings or the supply of services in the exercise of governmental authority, or as imposing any obligation regarding public procurement.

3. The provisions of this Title shall not apply to subsidies granted by the Parties.

4. In accordance with the provisions of this Title, each Party shall retain the right to regulate and to introduce new regulations to meet legitimate domestic policy objectives.

5. This Title shall not apply to measures affecting natural persons seeking access to the labour market of a Party, nor to measures regarding citizenship, residence, or permanent employment.

6. No provision of this Title shall prevent a Party from applying measures to regulate the entry or temporary stay of natural persons in its territory, including those measures necessary to protect the integrity of its borders and to ensure the orderly movement of natural persons across them, provided that such measures are not applied in such a manner as to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to any Party under the terms of a specific commitment8.

8 The mere fact of requiring a visa for natural persons of a certain country and not for those of others shall not be regarded as nullifying or impairing benefits under a specific commitment.

Definitions For the purposes of this Title, the following definitions apply:

• a)"measure" means any measure of a Party, whether in the form of a law, regulation, rule, procedure, decision, administrative provision, or in any other form; b) "measures adopted or maintained by a Party" means measures adopted by:
• i)central, regional, or local governments and authorities; and ii) non-governmental bodies in the exercise of powers delegated by central, regional, or local governments or authorities; c) "natural person of a Party" means a national of one of the Member States of the European Union or of a Republic of the CA Party in accordance with their respective legislation; d) "juridical person" means any legal entity duly constituted or otherwise organised under applicable law, whether for profit or otherwise, and whether privately or publicly owned, including any corporation, trust, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship, or association; e) "juridical person of the United Kingdom(*)" or "juridical person of a Republic of the CA Party" means a juridical person constituted in accordance with the laws of a Member State of the European Union or of a Republic of the CA Party, respectively, and having its registered office, central administration, or principal place of business in the territory of the United Kingdom(*) or in the territory of a Republic of the CA Party, respectively; should the juridical person have only its registered office or central administration in the territory of the United Kingdom(*) or in the territory of a Republic of the CA Party, respectively, it shall not be considered a juridical person of the United Kingdom(*) or a juridical person of a Republic of the CA Party, respectively, unless it engages in substantive business operations in the territory of a Member State of the European Union or in the territory of a Republic of the CA Party, respectively9; and 9 In accordance with its notification of the EC Treaty to the WTO (doc.

WT/REG39/1), the EU understands that the concept of "effective and continuous link" with the economy of a Member State enshrined in Article 54 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is equivalent to the concept of "substantive business operations" provided for in Article V, paragraph 6, of GATS.

(Note by Sinalevi: Through paragraph 12) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that footnote of subparagraph e) above is not incorporated into the Agreement previously referred to.)

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• f)notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, shipping companies established outside the United Kingdom(*) or the Republics of the CA Party and controlled by nationals of a Member State of the European Union or of a Republic of the CA Party, respectively, shall also benefit from the provisions of this Agreement if their vessels are registered, in accordance with their respective legislation, in that Member State of the European Union or in a Republic of the CA Party and fly the flag of a Member State of the European Union or of a Republic of the CA Party.

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Cooperation on establishment, trade in services, and electronic commerce The Parties agree that it is in their mutual interest to promote cooperation initiatives and technical assistance on matters relating to establishment, trade in services, and electronic commerce. In this regard, the Parties have identified a series of cooperation activities set out in Article 56 of Title VI (Economic and Trade Development) of Part III of this Agreement.

Definitions For the purposes of this Chapter, the following definitions apply:

• a)"branch of a juridical person of a Party" means a commercial establishment without legal personality, having the appearance of permanency, such as the extension of a parent body, which has a management and is materially equipped to negotiate business with third parties, so that the latter, although knowing that there will if necessary be a legal link with the parent body, whose head office is abroad, do not have to deal directly with such parent body but may transact business at the commercial establishment constituting the extension; b) "economic activity" means the activities committed in Annex X (Lists of commitments on establishment). "Economic activity" does not include activities carried out in the exercise of governmental authority, for example, activities not carried out on a commercial basis nor in competition with one or more economic operators; c) "establishment" means:
• i)the constitution, acquisition, or maintenance of a juridical person10; or 10 It is understood that the terms "constitution" and "acquisition" of a juridical person include the participation of capital in a juridical person with the objective of establishing or maintaining lasting economic links.
• ii)the creation or maintenance of a branch or a representative office, in the territory of a Party for the purpose of carrying out an economic activity; d) "investor of a Party" means any natural or juridical person of a Party that seeks to exercise or is exercising an economic activity by creating an establishment; and e) "subsidiary of a juridical person of a Party" means a juridical person that is effectively controlled by another juridical person of that Party11.

11 A juridical person is controlled by another juridical person if the latter has the power to appoint a majority of its directors or otherwise legally direct its operations.

Coverage This Chapter applies to measures adopted by the Parties affecting establishment12 in all economic activities, as defined in Article 162, with the exception of:

12 The protection of investments, other than the treatment resulting from Article 165, and investor-state dispute settlement procedures, are not covered by this Chapter.

• a)mining, manufacturing, and processing of nuclear materials; b) the production of or trade in arms, munitions, and war material; c) audiovisual services; d) national maritime cabotage and inland waterway transport13; and 13 Without prejudice to the scope of activities that may be considered cabotage under the applicable national legislation, national cabotage under this Chapter covers the transport of persons or goods between a port or point located in a Republic of the CA Party or in a Member State of the European Union and another port or point located in the same Republic of the CA Party or in the same Member State of the European Union, including its continental shelf, as well as traffic originating and terminating in the same port or point located in a Republic of the CA Party or in a Member State of the European Union.
• e)domestic and international air transport services, whether scheduled or non-scheduled, and services directly related to the exercise of traffic rights, other than:
• i)aircraft repair and maintenance services during which the aircraft is withdrawn from service; ii) the selling and marketing of air transport services; iii) computer reservation system (CRS) services; and iv) other auxiliary services that facilitate the operations of air carriers, as listed in Annex X (Lists of commitments on establishment).

Market access 1. With regard to market access through establishment, each Party shall accord to establishments and investors of the other Party treatment no less favourable than that provided for in accordance with the terms, limitations, and conditions agreed and specified in the specific commitments set out in Annex X (Lists of commitments on establishment).

2. In sectors where market access commitments are undertaken, the measures which no Party shall maintain or adopt, whether on the basis of a regional subdivision or on the basis of its entire territory, unless otherwise specified in Annex X, are defined as follows:

• a)limitations on the number of establishments, whether in the form of numerical quotas, monopolies, exclusive rights, or through the requirement of an economic needs test; b) limitations on the total value of transactions or assets in the form of numerical quotas or through the requirement of an economic needs test; c) limitations on the total number of operations or on the total quantity of output expressed in terms of designated numerical units, in the form of quotas or through the requirement of an economic needs test14; 14 Subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) of paragraph 2 do not cover measures taken to limit the production of an agricultural product.
• d)limitations on the participation of foreign capital expressed as a maximum percentage limit on the holding of shares by foreigners or as the total value of individual or aggregate foreign investments; and e) measures that restrict or prescribe the specific types of establishment (subsidiary, branch, representative office)15 or joint ventures through which an investor of the other Party may carry out an economic activity.

15 Each Party may require that, in the case of incorporation under its own law, investors must adopt a specific legal form. As long as such a requirement is applied in a non-discriminatory manner, it does not need to be specified in Annex X (Lists of commitments on establishment) for the Parties to maintain or adopt it.

National treatment 1. In the sectors inscribed in Annex X (Lists of commitments on establishment), and in accordance with the conditions and qualifications set out therein, each Party shall grant to establishments and investors of the other Party treatment no less favourable than that it grants to its own like establishments and investors.

2. A Party may comply with the requirement of paragraph 1 by granting to establishments and investors of the other Party treatment that is formally identical or formally different from that it grants to its own like establishments and investors.

3. Formally identical or formally different treatment shall be considered to be less favourable if it modifies the conditions of competition in favour of the establishments or investors of the Party compared to like establishments and investors of the other Party.

4. Specific commitments assumed under this Article shall not be construed to oblige any Party to compensate for any intrinsic competitive disadvantages that result from the foreign character of the relevant investors.

Lists of commitments The sectors committed by each of the Parties in accordance with this chapter and, through reservations, the limitations, conditions and qualifications on market access and national treatment applicable to establishments and investors of the other Party in those sectors are set out in the lists of commitments included in Annex X (Lists of commitments on establishment).

Other agreements No provision of this Title shall limit the rights of investors of the Parties to benefit from any more favourable treatment provided for in any existing or future international agreement relating to investment to which a Member State of the European Union and a Republic of the CA Party are Parties. No provision of this Agreement shall be subject, directly or indirectly, to any investor-state dispute settlement procedures established in such agreements.

Review The Parties undertake to review the legal framework and the investment environment, as well as the flow of investment between them, in accordance with their commitments in international agreements no later than three years after the entry into force of this Agreement and, thereafter, at regular intervals.

Scope and definitions 1. This chapter applies to measures adopted by the Parties affecting the cross-border supply of all services sectors, with the exception of:

• a)audiovisual services; b) national maritime cabotage and inland waterway transport16; and 16 Without prejudice to the scope of activities that may be considered as cabotage under the applicable national law, national cabotage under this chapter shall cover the transport of passengers or goods between a port or point located in a Republic of the CA Party or in a Member State of the European Union and another port or point located in the same Republic of the CA Party or in the same Member State of the European Union, including its continental shelf, as well as traffic originating and terminating in the same port or point located in a Republic of the CA Party or in a Member State of the European Union.
• c)domestic and international air transport services, whether scheduled or non-scheduled, and services directly related to the exercise of traffic rights, with the exception of:
• i)aircraft repair and maintenance services during which the aircraft is withdrawn from service; ii) the sale and marketing of air transport services; iii) computer reservation system (CRS) services; iv) other auxiliary services that facilitate the operations of air carriers, as set out in Annex XI (Lists of commitments on cross-border supply of services).

2. For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

• a)"cross-border supply of services" means the supply of a service:
• i)from the territory of one Party into the territory of the other Party (mode 1); ii) in the territory of one Party to the service consumer of the other Party (mode 2); b) "services" means any service in any sector except those supplied in the exercise of governmental authority; a "service supplied in the exercise of governmental authority" means any service which is not supplied on a commercial basis, nor in competition with one or more service suppliers; c) "service supplier of a Party" means any natural or juridical person of a Party that seeks to supply or supplies a service; and d) "supply of a service" means the production, distribution, marketing, sale and delivery of a service.

Market access 1. With respect to market access through the modes of supply defined in Article 169, paragraph 2, subparagraph (a), each Party shall grant to services and service suppliers of the other Party treatment no less favourable than that provided for in accordance with the terms, limitations and conditions agreed and specified in the specific commitments set out in Annex XI (Lists of commitments on cross-border supply of services).

2. In sectors where market access commitments are undertaken, the measures which a Party shall not maintain or adopt, whether on the basis of a regional subdivision or on the basis of its entire territory, unless otherwise specified in Annex XI, are defined as follows:

• a)limitations on the number of service suppliers, whether in the form of numerical quotas, monopolies, exclusive service suppliers, or through the requirement of an economic needs test; b) limitations on the total value of service transactions or assets in the form of numerical quotas or through the requirement of an economic needs test; and c) limitations on the total number of service operations or on the total quantity of service output expressed in terms of designated numerical units, in the form of quotas or through the requirement of an economic needs test17.

17 Subparagraph 2(c) does not cover measures of a Party which limit inputs for the supply of services.

National treatment 1. In the sectors inscribed in Annex XI (Lists of commitments on cross-border supply of services), and in accordance with the conditions and qualifications set out therein, each Party shall grant to services and service suppliers of the other Party, with respect to all measures affecting the cross-border supply of services, treatment no less favourable than that it grants to its own like services and service suppliers.

2. A Party may comply with the requirement of paragraph 1 by granting to services and service suppliers of the other Party treatment that is formally identical or formally different from that it grants to its own like services and service suppliers.

3. Formally identical or formally different treatment shall be considered to be less favourable if it modifies the conditions of competition in favour of services or service suppliers of the Party compared to like services or service suppliers of the other Party.

4. Specific commitments assumed under this Article shall not be construed to oblige any Party to compensate for any intrinsic competitive disadvantages that result from the foreign character of the relevant services or service suppliers.

Lists of commitments The sectors committed by each of the Parties in accordance with this chapter, and through reservations, the limitations, conditions and qualifications on market access and national treatment applicable to the services and service suppliers of the other Party in those sectors are set out in the lists of commitments included in Annex XI (Lists of commitments on cross-border supply of services).

FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES

Scope and definitions 1. This chapter applies to measures of the Parties concerning the entry and temporary presence in their territories of key personnel, graduate trainees, business services sellers, contractual services suppliers and independent professionals, in accordance with Article 159, paragraph 5, of this Title.

2. For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

• a)"key personnel" means natural persons employed within a juridical person of one Party, other than a non-profit organisation, who are responsible for the setting-up or the control, administration and operation of an establishment; "key personnel" comprises "business visitors" responsible for setting up an establishment and "intra-corporate transferees":
• i)"business visitors" means natural persons in a senior position who are responsible for setting up an establishment. They do not engage in direct transactions with the general public and do not receive remuneration from a source located in the host Party; ii) "intra-corporate transferees" means natural persons who have been employed by a juridical person or have been partners in it for at least one year and who are temporarily transferred to an establishment in the territory of the other Party. The natural person concerned must belong to one of the following categories:

"Managers":

Persons holding a senior position in a juridical person, who are primarily responsible for the management of the establishment and receive general supervision or direction principally from the board of directors or shareholders of the business or their equivalents, which includes:

- directing the establishment or a department or subdivision thereof; - supervising and controlling the work of other supervisory, professional or managerial employees; - having the personal authority to hire and dismiss or recommend hiring, dismissal or other personnel actions.

"Specialists":

Persons working within a juridical person who possess uncommon knowledge essential to the establishment's production, research equipment, techniques or management. In assessing such knowledge, account shall be taken not only of knowledge specific to the establishment, but also of whether the person has a high level of qualification regarding a type of work or trade requiring specific technical knowledge, including membership of an accredited profession; b) "graduate trainees" means natural persons who have been employed by a juridical person of one Party for at least one year, hold a university degree and are temporarily transferred to an establishment of the juridical person in the territory of the other Party for career development purposes or to obtain training in business techniques or methods18; 18 The receiving establishment may be required to submit a training programme covering the duration of the stay and demonstrating that the purpose of the stay is training, for prior approval.

• c)"business services sellers" means natural persons who are representatives of a service supplier of one Party seeking temporary entry into the territory of the other Party for the purpose of negotiating the sale of services or entering into agreements to sell services on behalf of that service supplier. They do not engage in making direct sales to the general public and do not receive remuneration from a source located in the host Party; d) "contractual services suppliers" means natural persons employed by a juridical person of one Party which has no establishment in the territory of the other Party and which has concluded a bona fide contract (other than through an agency as defined by CPC code 872)19 to supply services with a final consumer in the latter Party, requiring the temporary presence of its employees in that Party in order to fulfil the contract to supply services; 19 CPC means the Central Product Classification as defined by the Statistical Office of the United Nations, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov, 1991.
• e)"independent professionals" means natural persons engaged in the supply of a service, established as self-employed in the territory of a Party, who have no establishment in the territory of the other Party and who have concluded a bona fide contract (other than through an agency as defined by CPC code 872) to supply services with a final consumer in the latter Party, requiring their temporary presence in that Party in order to fulfil the contract to supply services20; f) "qualifications" means diplomas, certificates or other evidence (of formal qualification) issued by an authority designated pursuant to legislative, regulatory or administrative provisions and certifying that professional training has been successfully completed.

20 The service contract referred to in subparagraphs (d) and (e) shall comply with the laws, regulations and requirements of the Party where the contract is executed.

Key personnel and graduate trainees 1. For every sector liberalised in accordance with Chapter 2 of this Title and subject to any reservations listed in Annex X (Lists of commitments on establishment) or in Annex XII (Reservations on key personnel and graduate trainees of the United Kingdom(*)), the United Kingdom(*) shall allow investors of the Republics of the CA Party to employ in their establishments natural persons of the Republics of the CA Party, provided that such employees are key personnel or graduate trainees, as defined in Article 173. The entry and temporary presence of key personnel and graduate trainees shall be for a maximum period of three years for intra-corporate transferees, ninety days in any twelve-month period for business visitors, and one year for graduate trainees.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

For every sector liberalised in accordance with Chapter 2 of this Title, unless otherwise specified in Annex XII, the measures which the United Kingdom(*) shall not maintain or adopt, whether on the basis of a regional subdivision or on the basis of its entire territory, are defined as limitations on the total number of natural persons that an investor may employ as key personnel and graduate trainees in a specific sector, in the form of numerical quotas or the requirement of an economic needs test, and as discriminatory limitations.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

2. For every sector listed in Annex XIII (Lists of commitments of the Republics of the CA Party on key personnel and graduate trainees) and subject to any reservations listed therein, the Republics of the CA Party shall allow investors of the United Kingdom(*) to employ in their establishment natural persons of the United Kingdom(*), provided that such employees are key personnel or graduate trainees, as defined in Article 173. The entry and temporary presence of key personnel and graduate trainees shall be for a maximum period of one year, renewable up to the maximum possible duration in accordance with the relevant provisions of the respective legislation of the Parties. The entry and temporary presence of business visitors shall be for a maximum period of up to ninety days in any twelve-month period.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

For every sector listed in Annex XIII and subject to any reservations and conditions set out therein, the measures which a Republic of the CA Party shall not maintain or adopt, whether on the basis of a regional subdivision or on the basis of its entire territory, are defined as limitations on the total number of natural persons that an investor may employ as key personnel and graduate trainees in a specific sector, in the form of numerical quotas or the requirement of an economic needs test, and as discriminatory limitations.

Business services sellers 1. For every sector liberalised in accordance with Chapters 2 or 3 of this Title and subject to any reservations listed in Annex X (Lists of commitments on establishment) and Annex XI (Lists of commitments on cross-border supply of services), the United Kingdom(*) shall allow the entry and temporary presence of business services sellers of the Republics of the CA Party for a maximum period of ninety days within any twelve-month period.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

2. For every sector listed in Annex XIV (Lists of commitments of the Republics of the CA Party on business services sellers) and subject to any reservations and conditions set out therein, the Republics of the CA Party shall allow the entry and temporary presence of business services sellers of the United Kingdom(*) for a maximum period of up to ninety days within any twelve-month period.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Contractual services suppliers and independent professionals The Parties reaffirm their respective obligations under the GATS regarding the entry and temporary presence of contractual services suppliers and independent professionals.

Mutual recognition 1. Nothing in this Title shall prevent a Party from requiring that natural persons possess the necessary qualifications and/or professional experience specified in the territory where the service is supplied, for the sector of activity concerned.

2. The Parties shall encourage the relevant professional bodies or competent authorities, as applicable, in their respective territories to jointly develop and submit recommendations on mutual recognition to the Association Committee, in order for investors and service suppliers to meet, in whole or in part, the criteria applied by each Party for the authorisation, licensing, operation and certification of investors and service suppliers, and in particular professional services.

3. Upon receipt of a recommendation under the preceding paragraph, the Association Committee shall review it, within a reasonable period of time, with a view to determining whether it is consistent with this Title.

4. When, in accordance with the procedure set out in paragraph 3, a recommendation referred to in paragraph 2 has been determined to be consistent with this Title and a sufficient level of correspondence exists between the relevant regulations of the Parties, they shall encourage their competent authorities to negotiate an agreement on mutual recognition of requirements, qualifications, licences and other regulations with a view to implementing that recommendation.

5. Any such agreement shall be in conformity with the relevant provisions of the WTO Agreement and, in particular, with Article VII of the GATS.

Transparency and disclosure of confidential information 1. Each Party shall respond promptly to all specific requests for information from the other Party on any of its measures of general application or international agreements that pertain to or affect this Title. Each Party shall also designate one or more enquiry points to provide specific information to investors and service suppliers of the other Party, upon request, on all such matters, no later than the entry into force of this Agreement. The enquiry points need not be depositories of laws and regulations.

2. No provision of Part IV of this Agreement shall be construed to require any Party to provide confidential information, the disclosure of which would impede law enforcement, or otherwise be contrary to the public interest, or which would prejudice the legitimate commercial interests of particular enterprises, whether public or private.

Procedures 1. Where authorisation is required for the supply of a service or for an establishment in respect of which a specific commitment has been undertaken, the competent authorities of a Party shall, within a reasonable period of time after the submission of an application considered complete under national laws and regulations, inform the applicant of the decision concerning their application. At the request of the applicant, the competent authorities of the Party shall provide, without undue delay, information concerning the status of the application.

2. Each Party shall maintain or establish judicial, arbitral or administrative tribunals or procedures which provide, at the request of an affected investor or service supplier, for the prompt review of administrative decisions affecting establishment, the cross-border supply of services or the temporary presence of natural persons for business purposes and, where justified, for the application of appropriate remedies. Where such procedures are not independent of the agency entrusted with the administrative decision concerned, the Parties shall ensure that the procedure in fact provides for an objective and impartial review.

Understanding on computer services 1. To the extent that trade in computer services is committed in the lists of commitments in accordance with Chapters 2, 3 and 4 of this Title, the Parties subscribe to the understanding defined in the following paragraphs.

2. The United Nations classification used to describe computer and related services, CPC 8421, covers the basic functions used to provide all computer and related services: computer programs, defined as the set of instructions required for the operation and communication of computers (including their development and implementation), data processing and storage, and related services, such as consultancy and training services for clients' staff. As a result of technological developments, these services are increasingly offered in the form of bundles or packages of related services that may include some or all of these basic functions. For example, services such as web hosting or domain hosting, data extraction services, and distributed computing (grid computing), each consisting of a combination of basic computer services functions.

21 CPC means the Central Product Classification as defined by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov, 1991.

3. Computer and related services, regardless of whether they are supplied via a network, including the Internet, include all services that provide:

• a)consultancy, strategy, analysis, planning, specification, design, development, installation, implementation, integration, testing, debugging, updating, support, technical assistance, or management of or for computers or computer systems; or b) computer programs, defined as the set of instructions required for the operation and communication of computers (internally and between them), plus consultancy, strategy, analysis, planning, specification, design, development, installation, implementation, integration, testing, debugging, updating, adaptation, maintenance, support, technical assistance, management or use of computer programs or for such programs; or c) data processing, data storage, data hosting or database services; or d) maintenance and repair services for office machinery and equipment, including computers; and e) training services for clients' staff, related to computer programs, computers or computer systems, and not elsewhere classified.

4. Computer and related services make it possible to supply other services (e.g., financial services) by both electronic and other means. However, there is an important distinction between enabling the service (e.g., web hosting, data processing, or application hosting) and the core content or service that is supplied electronically (e.g., financial services). In such cases, the core content or service is not covered by CPC 84.

Scope and Definitions 1. This section establishes the principles of the regulatory framework for courier services committed to in the lists of commitments in accordance with Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of this Title.

2. For the purposes of this section and Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of this Title, a "license" means an authorization, granted to an individual provider by a competent authority, which may be required before initiating the supply of a specific service.

Prevention of Anti-Competitive Practices in the Courier Sector 1. The Parties shall introduce or maintain appropriate measures to prevent providers who, individually or jointly, have the ability to substantially influence the conditions of participation (with respect to price and supply) in the relevant market for courier services as a result of using their market position, from engaging in or continuing to engage in anti-competitive practices.

2. Each Party shall ensure that, in the event that a monopolistic postal service provider of a Party competes, directly or through an affiliated company, in the supply of express delivery services outside the scope of its monopoly rights, it does not infringe upon its obligations under this Title.

Licenses 1. Where a license is required, the following shall be made available to the public:

• a)all licensing criteria and the time periods normally required to reach a decision concerning a license application; and b) the terms and conditions of the licenses.

2. The reasons for the denial of a license shall be communicated to the applicant upon request.

A provider affected by the decision shall have the right to appeal said decision before an independent and competent body in accordance with the respective legislation. Such procedure shall be transparent, non-discriminatory, and based on objective criteria.

Independence of Regulatory Bodies Where the Parties have regulatory bodies, such bodies shall be legally independent of and not accountable to any courier service provider. The decisions of the regulatory bodies and the procedures used by such bodies shall be impartial with respect to all market participants.

Definitions and Scope 1. This section establishes the principles of the regulatory framework for public telecommunications services, excluding broadcasting, committed to in accordance with Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of this Title, which include voice telephone services, packet-switched data transmission services, circuit-switched data transmission services, telex services, telegraph services, facsimile services, leased private circuit services, and mobile and personal communication services and systems.22 22 The Parties understand that these services are covered by this section to the extent that they are considered public telecommunications services in accordance with the applicable national legislation.

2. For the purposes of this Title:

• a)"telecommunications services" means all services consisting of the transmission and reception of electromagnetic signals through telecommunications networks, and does not include the economic activity consisting of the supply of content that requires telecommunications networks or services for its transport; b) "public telecommunications services" or "telecommunications services available to the public" means any telecommunications service that a Party requires to be offered to the general public in accordance with its respective legislation; c) "telecommunications regulatory authority" means the body or bodies responsible for any of the regulatory tasks assigned in accordance with the national legislation of each Party; d) "essential telecommunications facilities" means facilities of a public telecommunications network or service:
• i)supplied exclusively or predominantly by a single provider or by a limited number of providers; and ii) substitution of which for the purpose of supplying a service is not economically or technically feasible; e) "major supplier" in the telecommunications sector is a supplier of public telecommunications services that has the ability to materially affect the terms of participation (with respect to price and supply) in the relevant market for public telecommunications services, as a result of controlling essential facilities or leveraging its position in the market; and f) "interconnection" means the link between suppliers providing public telecommunications networks or services in order to enable users of one supplier to communicate with users of another supplier and to access services supplied by another supplier.

Regulatory Authority 1. A telecommunications services regulatory authority shall be legally distinct from and functionally independent of any telecommunications service provider.

2. Each Party shall endeavor to ensure that its regulatory authority has adequate resources to carry out its functions. The tasks of a regulatory authority shall be made public in a clear and easily accessible manner, in particular when those tasks are assigned to more than one body.

3. The decisions of the regulatory authority and the procedures used by such authority shall be impartial with respect to all market participants.

4. A provider affected by a decision of a regulatory authority shall have the right, in accordance with the respective legislation, to appeal said decision before a competent body independent of the providers involved. Where the competent body is not judicial in character, it shall always provide written reasons for its decisions, which shall also be subject to review by an impartial and independent judicial authority.

The decisions adopted by such competent bodies shall be effectively enforced in accordance with the applicable legal procedures. While the outcome of any such legal proceedings is pending, the decision of the regulatory authority shall be maintained, unless the competent body or the applicable legislation determines otherwise.

Authorization to Supply Telecommunications Services23 23 For the purposes of this section, the term authorization shall be understood to include licenses, concessions, permits, registrations, and any other authorizations that a Party may require to supply telecommunications services.

1. The supply of services shall be authorized, to the extent possible, through simple procedures and, where applicable, through a simple notification.

2. A specific license or authorization may be required to address issues of number and frequency allocation. The terms and conditions for such specific licenses or authorizations shall be made available to the public.

3. Where a license or authorization is required:

• a)all criteria for granting licenses or authorizations, as well as the reasonable period of time normally required to reach a decision concerning an application for a license or authorization, shall be made available to the public; b) the reasons for the denial of an application for a license or authorization shall be communicated in writing upon request of the applicant; and c) the applicant for a license or authorization may appeal before a competent body, in accordance with the respective legislation, in the event that an application for a license or authorization has been unduly denied.

Competition Safeguards Regarding Major Suppliers The Parties shall introduce or maintain appropriate measures with a view to preventing suppliers who, individually or jointly, are a major supplier from engaging in or continuing to engage in anti-competitive practices. These anti-competitive practices shall include, in particular:

• a)engaging in anti-competitive cross-subsidization24; 24 Only for the United Kingdom(*) "or margin squeeze".

(*) (Its denomination thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of the International Treaty, No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• b)using information obtained from competitors with anti-competitive results; and c) not making available to other service providers in a timely manner the technical information about essential facilities and the commercially relevant information necessary to supply services.

Interconnection25 25 Paragraphs 3, 4, and 5 do not apply with respect to mobile commercial service providers nor with respect to rural providers of telecommunications services. For greater certainty, no provision of this article shall be construed as preventing a Party from imposing the requirements set out in this article on mobile commercial service providers.

1. Any provider authorized to supply public telecommunications services shall have the right to negotiate interconnection with other providers of public telecommunications networks and services. In principle, interconnection should be agreed upon on the basis of a commercial negotiation between the providers involved, without prejudice to the authority of the regulatory authority to intervene in accordance with the respective legislation.

2. Providers that acquire information from another provider during the process of negotiating interconnection agreements shall be obliged to use that information solely for the purpose for which it was supplied and shall respect, at all times, the confidentiality of the information transmitted or stored.

3. Interconnection with a major supplier shall be ensured at any technically feasible point in the network. Such interconnection shall be supplied in accordance with the respective national legislation:

• a)under non-discriminatory terms, conditions (including technical standards and specifications) and rates, and with a quality no less favorable than that provided for its own similar services, for similar services of unaffiliated service providers, or for its subsidiaries or other affiliates; b) in a timely manner, on terms, conditions (including technical standards and specifications) and with cost-oriented rates that are transparent, reasonable, take into account economic viability, and are sufficiently unbundled so that the provider does not have to pay for network components or facilities that it does not need for the supply of the service; and c) upon request, at points in addition to the network termination points offered to the majority of users, subject to charges that reflect the cost of constructing the necessary additional facilities.

4. The procedures applicable to interconnection with a major supplier shall be made available to the public.

5. Major suppliers shall make available to the public their current interconnection agreements, or their reference interconnection offers, or both, in accordance with the respective legislation.

6. A service provider seeking interconnection with a major supplier may, after a reasonable period of time that has been made known publicly, have recourse to an independent national body, which may be a regulatory authority as referred to in Article 186, to resolve disputes regarding the appropriate terms, conditions, and rates for interconnection.

Scarce Resources Any procedure for the allocation and use of scarce resources, including frequencies, numbers, and rights of way, shall be carried out in an objective, timely, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner. The current state of allocated frequency bands shall be made available to the public, but it is not necessary to identify in detail the frequencies assigned to specific official uses.

Universal Service 1. Each Party has the right to define the type of universal service obligations it wishes to establish or maintain.

2. Such obligations shall not be considered anti-competitive per se, provided they are administered in a transparent, objective, and non-discriminatory manner. Furthermore, the administration of such obligations shall be neutral with regard to competition and no more burdensome than necessary for the type of universal service defined by the Party.

3. All providers may be eligible to ensure the universal service. The designation shall be made through an efficient, transparent, and non-discriminatory mechanism, in accordance with the respective legislation.

4. The Parties shall ensure that:

• a)the directories of all fixed telephony subscribers are available to users in accordance with the respective legislation; and b) organizations that supply the services referred to in subparagraph a) apply the principle of non-discrimination in the treatment of information supplied by other organizations.

Confidentiality of Information Each Party, in accordance with its respective legislation, shall ensure the confidentiality of telecommunications and related traffic data, by means of a public telecommunications network and publicly available telecommunications services, without prejudice to the requirement that such measures not be applied in a manner that would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade in services.

Disputes Between Providers In the event that a dispute arises between providers of telecommunications services or networks concerning rights and obligations arising from Articles 188 and 189, the national regulatory authority involved or another relevant authority shall issue, upon request of any provider and in accordance with the procedures established in their respective legislation, a binding decision to resolve the dispute in the shortest possible time.

Scope and Definitions 1. This section establishes the principles of the regulatory framework for all financial services committed to in the lists of commitments, in accordance with Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of this Title.

2. For the purposes of this chapter and Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of this Title:

• a)"financial service" means any service of a financial nature offered by a financial service provider of a Party. Financial services include the following activities:

A. Insurance and insurance-related services:

1. direct insurance (including co-insurance):

• a)life insurance; b) non-life insurance; 2. reinsurance and retrocession; 3. insurance intermediation activities, such as those of insurance brokers and agents; and 4. auxiliary insurance services, such as those of consultants, actuaries, risk assessment, and claim settlement.

B. Banking and other financial services (excluding insurance):

1. acceptance of deposits and other repayable funds from the public; 2. lending of all types, including personal credit, mortgage credit, factoring, and financing of commercial transactions; 3. financial leasing services; 4. all payment and money transfer services, including credit and debit cards, travelers' checks, and bankers' drafts; 5. guarantees and commitments; 6. trading for own account or for account of customers, whether on an exchange, an over-the-counter market, or otherwise, of the following:

• a)money market instruments (including checks, bills, and certificates of deposit); b) foreign exchange; c) derivative products, including, but not exclusively, futures and options; d) exchange rate and interest rate instruments, for example, swaps and forward rate agreements; e) transferable securities; f) other negotiable instruments and financial assets, including bullion; 7. participation in issues of all kinds of securities, including underwriting and placement as agents (publicly or privately) and the supply of services related to such issues; 8. money broking; 9. asset management, for example, cash or portfolio management, all forms of collective investment management, pension fund management, custodial and depository services, and fiduciary services; 10. payment and clearing services for financial assets, including securities, derivative products, and other negotiable instruments; 11. supply and transfer of financial information, and financial data processing and related software by providers of other financial services; and 12. advisory, intermediation, and other auxiliary financial services relating to any of the activities listed in points 1 to 11, including credit reference and analysis, investment and portfolio research and advice, and advice on acquisitions and on corporate restructuring and strategy; b) "financial service provider" means any natural or juridical person of a Party that wishes to supply or supplies financial services; the term "financial service provider" does not include public entities; c) "public entity" means:
• i)a government, a central bank, or a monetary authority of a Party, or an entity owned or controlled by a Party, that is principally engaged in carrying out governmental functions or activities for governmental purposes, excluding entities principally engaged in supplying financial services on commercial terms; or ii) a private entity performing the functions normally performed by a central bank or monetary authority, while exercising those functions; d) "new financial service" means a financial service not supplied in the territory of the Party, but supplied in the territory of the other Party, and includes any new form of supplying a financial service or the sale of a financial product not sold in the territory of the Party.

Prudential Measures 1. Each Party may adopt or maintain measures for prudential reasons, such as:

• a)the protection of investors, depositors, financial market users, policyholders or policy beneficiaries, or persons to whom a fiduciary obligation is owed by a financial service provider; b) the maintenance of the safety, soundness, integrity, or financial responsibility of financial service providers; and c) ensuring the integrity and stability of a Party's financial system.

2. When such measures do not conform with the provisions of this chapter, they shall not be used as a means of avoiding the commitments or obligations incurred by the Parties under this chapter.

3. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted as requiring a Party to disclose information relating to the affairs and accounts of individual clients or any confidential or proprietary information in the possession of public entities.

Effectiveness and Transparency of Regulation 1. Each Party shall make its best efforts to provide in advance, to all interested persons, any measure of general application that the Party proposes to adopt so that such persons may formulate comments on the measure. Said measure shall be provided:

• a)through an official publication; or b) through some other written or electronic means.

2. Each Party shall make available to interested persons its requirements for completing applications relating to the supply of financial services.

At the request of an applicant, the involved Party shall inform him of the status of his application. If the affected Party requires additional information from the applicant, it shall notify him without undue delay.

3. Each Party shall make its best efforts to implement and apply in its territory internationally accepted standards for the regulation and supervision in the financial services sector, for combating money laundering or other assets, against terrorist financing, and against tax evasion or avoidance.

New Financial Services 1. A Party shall allow financial service providers of the other Party established in its territory to offer in said territory any new financial service within the scope of the financial subsectors and services committed to in its lists of commitments and in accordance with the terms, limitations, conditions, and qualifications set out in said lists of commitments, provided that the introduction of said new financial service does not require a new law or the modification of an existing law.

2. In accordance with paragraph 1, a Party may determine the juridical form through which the service is supplied and may require an authorization for the supply of the financial service. Where such authorization is required, a decision shall be taken within a reasonable period of time, and the authorization may only be denied for prudential reasons.

Data Processing 1. Each Party shall allow a financial service provider of the other Party to transfer information in electronic or other form, into or out of its territory, for data processing, where such processing is necessary in the ordinary course of business of the financial service provider.26 26 For greater certainty, the obligation contained in this article shall not be considered a specific commitment under Article 194, paragraph 2, subparagraph a).

2. Each Party shall adopt or maintain adequate safeguards for the protection of privacy, as well as fundamental rights and individual freedoms, in particular with respect to the transfer of personal data.

Specific Exceptions 1. No provision of this Title shall prevent a Party, including its public entities, from conducting or supplying exclusively in its territory activities or services forming part of a public retirement plan or a statutory social security system, except where those activities are carried out, as established in the national regulation of the Party, by financial service providers in competition with public entities or private institutions.

2. No provision of this Agreement applies to activities conducted by a central bank or monetary authority or by any other public entity in pursuit of monetary or exchange rate policies.

3. No provision of this Title shall prevent a Party, including its public entities, from conducting or supplying exclusively in its territory activities or services for the account, or with the guarantee or using the financial resources, of the Party or its public entities.

Scope, Definitions, and Principles 1. This section establishes the principles relating to international maritime transport services committed to in the lists of commitments according to Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of this Title.

2. For the purposes of this section and Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of this Title:

• a)"international maritime transport" covers door-to-door and multimodal transport operations, that is, the transport of goods through more than one mode of transport, including a maritime leg, under a single transport document, and for this purpose includes the right of international maritime transport providers to contract directly with providers of other modes of transport27; 27. For greater certainty, the scope of application of this definition shall not imply the provision of a transport service. For the purposes of this definition, a single transport document shall be understood as a document that allows customers to conclude a single contract with a shipping company for a door-to-door transport operation.
• b)"cargo handling services" means the activities carried out by stevedoring companies, including terminal operators, but not including the direct activities of dockers when these workers are organised independently of the stevedoring companies or terminal operators; the activities covered include the organisation and supervision of:
• i)the loading/unloading of cargo from a vessel; ii) the lashing/unlashing of cargo; iii) the reception/delivery and custody of cargoes before shipment or after disembarkation; c) "customs clearance services" (alternatively "customs brokers' services") means the activities consisting of carrying out on behalf of another the customs formalities relating to the import, export or transport of cargoes, whether such services are the principal activity of the service provider or a usual complement to its principal activity; d) "container station and depot services" means the activities consisting of the storage of containers, whether in port areas or inland, with a view to their filling/emptying, repair and availability for shipment; e) "maritime agency services" means the activities consisting of the representation as an agent, in a given geographical area, of the commercial interests of one or more shipping lines or companies for the following purposes:
• i)marketing and sale of maritime transport services and related services, from quotation to invoicing, as well as issuance of bills of lading on behalf of the companies, acquisition and resale of the necessary related services, preparation of documentation and supply of commercial information; ii) organisation, on behalf of the companies, of the vessel's call or reception of the cargoes, as the case may be; f) "freight forwarding services" means the activity consisting of the organisation and monitoring of cargo operations on behalf of consignors, through the acquisition of transport and related services, the preparation of documentation and the supply of commercial information.

3. Considering the existing situation between the Parties in international maritime transport, each Party:

• a)shall effectively apply the principle of unrestricted access to international maritime markets and trade routes on a commercial and non-discriminatory basis; and b) shall grant to vessels flying the flag of the other Party, or operated by service providers of the other Party, treatment no less favourable than that accorded to its own vessels with respect to access to ports, use of infrastructure and auxiliary maritime services of the ports, as well as related fees and charges, customs facilities and the assignment of berths and facilities for loading and unloading28.

28 The provisions of this subparagraph refer only to access to services but do not permit the supply of services.

4. In applying these principles, each Party:

• a)shall not introduce cargo-sharing arrangements in future bilateral agreements with third countries concerning maritime transport services, including bulk, liquid and solid, and liner trade, and shall terminate, within a reasonable period, such cargo-sharing arrangements in the event that they exist in previous bilateral agreements; and b) in accordance with the lists of commitments under Chapters 2, 3 and 4 of this Title, shall ensure that any existing or future measures adopted with respect to international maritime transport services are non-discriminatory and do not constitute a disguised restriction on international maritime transport services.

5. Each Party shall permit international maritime service providers of the other Party to have an establishment in its territory in accordance with Article 165.

6. The Parties shall ensure that services supplied at ports are offered on non-discriminatory terms and conditions. Available services may include pilotage, towing, provisioning, fuelling and watering, garbage collection and ballast waste disposal, port captain's services, navigation aids, shore-based operational services essential to shipping operations, including communications, water and electricity supply, emergency repair facilities, anchorage, berths and berthing services.

Objective and principles 1. The Parties, recognising that electronic commerce increases commercial opportunities in many sectors, agree to promote the development of electronic commerce between them, in particular by cooperating on issues related to electronic commerce in accordance with the provisions of this Title.

2. The Parties recognise that the development of electronic commerce must be compatible with international data protection standards, with a view to ensuring the confidence of electronic commerce users.

3. The Parties agree not to impose customs duties on electronic transmissions.

Regulatory aspects of electronic commerce The Parties shall maintain a dialogue on regulatory issues related to electronic commerce, which shall include, among others, the following matters:

• a)the recognition of certificates of electronic signatures issued to the public and the facilitation of cross-border certification services; b) the treatment of unsolicited electronic commercial communications; c) the protection of consumers in the field of electronic commerce; and d) any other matter relevant to the development of electronic commerce.

General exceptions 1. Provided that measures are not applied in a manner that would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between the Parties where like conditions prevail, or a disguised restriction on the establishment or cross-border supply of services, no provision of this Title shall be construed as preventing a Party from adopting or enforcing measures that are:

• a)necessary to protect public security or public morals or to maintain public order; b) necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or health; c) relating to the conservation of exhaustible natural resources, if such measures are applied together with restrictions on domestic investors or on domestic providers or on the consumption of services; d) necessary for the protection of national treasures of artistic, historical or archaeological value; e) necessary to secure compliance with laws or regulations which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Title, including those relating to:
• i)the prevention of deceptive and fraudulent practices or the means to deal with the effects of a default on contracts; ii) the protection of the privacy of individuals in relation to the processing and dissemination of personal data and the protection of the confidentiality of individual records and accounts; iii) safety; f) inconsistent with Articles 165 and 171 of this Title, provided that the difference in treatment is aimed at ensuring the equitable or effective imposition or collection of direct taxes with respect to economic activities, investors, services or service providers of the other Party29.

29 Measures that are aimed at ensuring the equitable or effective imposition or collection of direct taxes include measures taken by a Party under its taxation system that:

• a)apply to non-resident investors and service providers in recognition of the fact that the tax obligation of non-residents is determined with respect to taxable items whose source or location is in the territory of the Party; or b) apply to non-residents in order to secure the imposition or collection of taxes in the territory of the Party; or c) apply to non-residents or residents in order to prevent the avoidance or evasion of taxes, including compliance measures; or d) apply to consumers of services supplied in or from the territory of another Party in order to secure the imposition or collection of, with respect to such consumers, taxes derived from sources located in the territory of the Party; or e) distinguish between investors and service providers subject to tax on taxable items worldwide, and other investors and service providers, in recognition of the difference in the nature of the tax base between them; or f) determine, allocate or apportion income, profits, gains, losses, deductions or credits of resident persons or branches, or between related persons or branches of the same person, in order to safeguard the Party's tax base.

The tax terms or concepts in paragraph (f) of this provision and in this footnote are determined according to tax definitions and concepts, or equivalent or similar definitions and concepts, under the domestic law of the Party adopting the measure.

2. The provisions of this Title and the corresponding annexes on lists of commitments shall not apply to the respective social security systems of the Parties or to activities in the territory of each Party, which are related, even occasionally, to the exercise of official authority.

Objective and scope of application 1. The Parties shall endeavour to liberalise current payments and capital movements between them, in accordance with the commitments assumed within the framework of international financial institutions and with due regard for the monetary stability of each Party.

2. This Title applies to all current payments and capital movements between the Parties.

Current account The Parties shall permit or authorise, as appropriate, any current account payments and transfers between the Parties, in freely convertible currencies and in accordance with the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund, in particular the provisions of Article VIII.

Capital account With respect to transactions on the capital and financial account of the balance of payments, as from the entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall permit or guarantee, where applicable, the free movement of capital relating to direct investments made in legal persons constituted in accordance with the legislation of the host country, and investments and other transactions carried out in accordance with the provisions of Title III (Establishment, trade in services and electronic commerce)30 of Part IV of this Agreement, as well as the liquidation and repatriation of these investments and of any profit they have generated.

30 For greater certainty, the exceptions included in Part V of this Agreement, as well as the exceptions included in Title III (Establishment, trade in services and electronic commerce) of Part IV of this Agreement, shall also apply to this Title.

Safeguard measures When, in exceptional circumstances, capital movements between the Parties cause, or threaten to cause, serious difficulties for the operation of exchange rate policy or monetary policy in a Party, the Party affected may adopt safeguard measures with respect to capital movements for a period not exceeding one year. The application of safeguard measures may be extended through their formal reintroduction in the event of extremely exceptional circumstances and after prior coordination between the Parties regarding the implementation of any proposed formal reintroduction31.

31 The reintroduction of safeguard measures shall not be subject to authorisation between the Parties.

Final provisions 1. With respect to this Title, the Parties confirm the rights and obligations established by the International Monetary Fund or any other agreements between the Member States of the European Union and a Republic of the CA Party.

2. The Parties shall consult to facilitate the movement of capital between them in order to promote the objectives of this Agreement.

Introduction 1. The Parties recognise the contribution that transparent, competitive and open procurement makes to sustainable economic development, and set as their objective the effective, reciprocal and gradual opening of their respective procurement markets.

2. For the purposes of this Title:

• a)"commercial goods and services" means goods and services of the type generally sold or offered for sale on the commercial market to, and usually purchased by, non-governmental buyers for non-governmental purposes; b) "conformity assessment procedure" means any procedure used, directly or indirectly, to determine that the relevant requirements of technical regulations or standards are met; c) "construction service" means a service that has as its objective the realisation, by any means, of civil works or construction, based on Division 51 of the United Nations Provisional Central Product Classification; d) "electronic auction" means an iterative process involving the use of electronic means for the presentation by suppliers of new prices, or new values for quantifiable non-price attributes related to the evaluation criteria, or both, resulting in a ranking or re-ranking of tenders; e) "in writing" or "written" means any expression in words or figures that can be read, reproduced and subsequently communicated; it may include electronically transmitted and stored information; f) "limited tendering" means a procurement method whereby a procuring entity contacts a supplier or suppliers of its choice; g) "list of suppliers" means a list of suppliers that a procuring entity has determined satisfy the conditions for inclusion on that list and/or the formal requirements to be included therein, and that the procuring entity intends to use more than once; h) "measure" means any law, regulation, procedure, administrative guidance or practice of a procuring entity relating to a covered procurement activity; i) "notice of intended procurement" means a notice published by a procuring entity inviting interested suppliers to submit a request for participation, a tender, or both, in accordance with the legislation of each Party; j) "offset condition" means a condition or commitment that encourages local development or improves a Party's balance of payments accounts, such as the use of domestic content, the licensing of technology, investment, counter-trade and similar actions or requirements; k) "open tendering" means a procurement method whereby all interested suppliers may submit a tender; l) "procuring entity" means an entity covered by a Party in Sections A, B or C of Appendix 1 (Coverage) of Annex XVI (Government Procurement); m) "qualified supplier" means a supplier that a procuring entity recognises as meeting the conditions for participation; n) "selective tendering" means a procurement method whereby a procuring entity invites only qualified or registered suppliers to tender; o) "services" includes construction services, unless otherwise specified; and p) "technical specification" means a tendering requirement that:
• i)sets out the characteristics of goods or services to be procured, including quality, performance, safety and dimensions, or the processes and methods for their production or supply; or ii) refers to requirements for terminology, symbols, packaging, marking or labelling, applicable to a good or a service.

Scope of application and coverage 1. This Title applies to any measure regarding a covered procurement. For the purposes of this Title, covered procurement means procurement for governmental purposes:

• a)of goods, services, or any combination of both:
• i)as specified for each Party in the relevant sections of Appendix 1 (Coverage) of Annex XVI; and ii) not procured for commercial sale or resale, nor for use in the production or supply of goods or services for commercial sale or resale; b) by any contractual means, including: purchase, lease and rental or hire purchase, with or without an option to buy; c) whose value equals or exceeds the relevant threshold specified for each Party in Appendix 1 (Coverage) of Annex XVI, at the time of the publication of a notice in accordance with Article 213; d) by a procuring entity; and e) that is not otherwise excluded from coverage.

2. Except as otherwise provided, this Title does not apply to:

• a)the acquisition or rental of land, buildings or other immovable property or the rights thereto; b) non-contractual agreements or any form of assistance that a Party provides, including cooperative agreements, grants, loans, equity infusions, guarantees and fiscal incentives, governmental supply of goods and services to state, regional or local government entities; c) the procurement or acquisition of fiscal agency or depository services, liquidation and management services for regulated financial institutions, or services related to the sale, redemption and distribution of public debt, including government loans and bonds, notes and other securities; d) public employment contracts and measures related to employment; e) procurement conducted:
• i)for the specific purpose of providing international assistance, including development aid; ii) in accordance with a particular procedure or condition of an international agreement relating to the stationing of troops or the joint implementation by the signatory countries of a project; iii) in accordance with a particular procedure or condition of an international organisation, or funded by international grants, loans or other assistance, where the applicable procedure or condition is inconsistent with this Title; f) purchases made under exceptionally advantageous conditions that only arise for a very short period, such as extraordinary disposals by companies that are not normally suppliers, or the disposal of assets of companies in liquidation or receivership.

3. Each Party shall specify the following information in Appendix 1 (Coverage) of Annex XVI as indicated:

• a)in Section A, the central government entities whose procurement is covered by this Title; b) in Section B, the sub-central government entities whose procurement is covered by this Title; c) in Section C, all other entities whose procurement is covered by this Title; d) in Section D, the services, other than construction services, covered by this Title; e) in Section E, the construction services covered by this Title; and f) in Section F, any general notes.

4. Where the domestic legislation of a Party permits a covered procurement to be conducted on behalf of the procuring entity by other entities or persons, the provisions of this Title shall apply equally.

5. a) No procuring entity may prepare, design, structure or otherwise divide a procurement in order to avoid the obligations of this Title.

• b)Where a procurement may result in contracts awarded at the same time in the form of separate lots, the total estimated value of such lots shall be accounted for. If the aggregate value of the lots equals or exceeds the thresholds of a Party set out in the relevant section, this Title shall apply to the award of such lots, with the exception of those lots whose value is less than 80,000 euros.

6. No provision of this Title shall be construed as preventing a Party from adopting or maintaining measures relating to goods or services of persons with disabilities, philanthropic institutions or prison labour, or measures necessary to protect public morals, safety or order, human, animal or plant health or life, including environmental measures, and intellectual property.

The Republics of the CA Party may adopt, develop, maintain or implement measures to promote opportunities or programmes for procurement policies for the development of their minorities and their MSMEs, including preferential rules, such as:

• a)identification of MSMEs registered as State suppliers; b) establishment of tie-breaking criteria to award a contract to national MSMEs that, participating individually or in consortium, have submitted a tender of equal rating to other suppliers.

7. No provision of this Title shall prevent a Party from developing new procurement policies, procedures, or contractual modalities, provided they are not inconsistent with this Title.

General principles 1. With respect to any measure and any covered procurement, each Party, including its procuring entities, shall accord to the goods and services of the other Party, and to the suppliers of another Party offering goods and services of any Party, treatment no less favourable than the Party, including its procuring entities, accords to domestic goods, services and suppliers.

2. With respect to any measure regarding a covered procurement, no Party, including its procuring entities:

• a)shall treat a locally established supplier less favourably than any other locally established supplier on the basis of the degree of foreign affiliation or ownership; nor b) shall discriminate against a locally established supplier on the basis that the goods or services offered by that supplier for a particular procurement are goods or services of the other Party.

3. Any supplier or service provider of the United Kingdom(*) established in a Republic of the CA Party shall receive in all other Republics of the CA Party treatment no less favourable than that which the latter accords to its own suppliers of goods or providers of services with respect to any measure regarding a covered procurement.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Subsection 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Any supplier of goods or provider of services of a Republic of the CA Party established in any Member State of the European Union shall receive, in all other Member States of the European Union, treatment no less favourable than that which the latter accords to their own suppliers of goods or providers of services with respect to any measure regarding a covered procurement.

The Parties shall not introduce, for suppliers and service providers wishing to submit a tender in a covered procurement, new local establishment or registration requirements that could constitute a competitive disadvantage for suppliers and service providers of the other Party. Existing requirements shall be subject to review within ten years following the entry into force of this Agreement32.

32 For greater certainty, no provision of this Article shall affect trade in services covered by Title III (Establishment, trade in services and electronic commerce) and its annexes on lists of commitments on establishment, lists of commitments on cross-border supply of services, reservations of the United Kingdom(*) on key personnel and graduate trainees, lists of commitments of the Republics of the CA Party on business service sellers, and lists of commitments of the Republics of the CA Party on key personnel and graduate trainees.

(*) (Its name thus substituted by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty, No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Subsection 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Use of electronic means 4. If a procuring entity conducts a covered procurement by electronic means:

• a)it shall ensure that the procurement is conducted using information technology systems and software, including those related to the authentication and encryption of information, that are generally available and interoperable with other generally available information technology systems and software; and b) it shall maintain mechanisms that ensure the integrity of requests for participation and tenders, including mechanisms relating to deadlines and receipt, and that prevent inappropriate access.

Procurement management 5. A procuring entity shall manage covered procurements in a transparent and impartial manner that avoids conflicts of interest, prevents corrupt practices and is consistent with this Title, using methods such as open tendering, selective tendering and limited tendering. Additionally, the Parties shall establish or maintain sanctions against such corrupt practices.

Rules of origin 6. For the purposes of covered procurement, no Party shall apply rules of origin to goods or services imported from the other Party or supplied by the other Party that are different from the rules of origin that Party applies, in the normal course of trade, to imports or supplies of the same goods or services from the same Party. Compensatory conditions 7. Subject to the exceptions set out in this Title or in the corresponding Annexes, no Party may seek, take into account, impose, or enforce compensatory conditions.

Publication of procurement information 1. Each Party shall:

• a)promptly publish any law, regulation, judicial decision, or administrative ruling of general application, standard contractual clauses required by laws or regulations and incorporated by reference in notices and procurement documents, as well as procedures relating to covered procurement and any modification thereof, in officially designated electronic or print media that are widely disseminated and remain readily accessible to the public; b) provide, if requested by any Party, additional information on the application of such provisions; c) indicate in Appendix 2 (Means for the publication of procurement information) of Annex XVI, the electronic or print medium in which each Party publishes the information described in subparagraph a); and d) indicate in Appendix 3 (Means for the publication of notices) of Annex XVI the means in which the Party publishes the notices required by Article 213, Article 215, paragraph 4, and Article 223, paragraph 2.

2. The CA Party shall make all reasonable efforts to develop a single regional access point. The United Kingdom(*) shall provide technical and financial assistance to develop, establish, and maintain such single access point. This cooperation is addressed in Title VI (Economic and Trade Development) of Part III of this Agreement. The implementation of this provision is subject to the materialization of the initiative on technical and financial assistance for the development, establishment, and maintenance of a single access point at the Central American level.

(*) (Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated "EU Party")

3. Each Party shall promptly notify the other Party of any modification to the Party's information set out in Appendix 2 (Means for the publication of procurement information) or in Appendix 3 (Means for the publication of notices) of Annex XVI.

Publication of notices Notice of intended procurement 1. For each covered procurement, except in the circumstances described in Article 220, a contracting entity shall publish a notice of intended procurement in the appropriate media listed in Appendix 3 (Means for the publication of notices) of Annex XVI. Each notice shall include the information set out in Appendix 4 (Notice of intended procurement) of Annex XVI. These notices shall be accessible through electronic means free of charge via a single access point at the regional level, when and where such exists.

Notice of planned procurement 2. Contracting entities are encouraged to publish annually, as early as possible, a notice regarding their future procurement plans (hereinafter, "notice of planned procurement"). The notice shall include the subject matter of the procurement and the approximate date of the publication of the notice of intended procurement or on which the procurement will take place.

3. A contracting entity may, if so provided by domestic legislation, use a notice of planned procurement as a notice of intended procurement, provided that it includes as much of the information set out in Appendix 4 (Notice of intended procurement) as is available and an indication that interested suppliers should express their interest in the procurement to the contracting entity.

Conditions for participation 1. A contracting entity shall limit the conditions for participation in a procurement to those that are essential to ensure that a supplier has the legal, financial, commercial, and technical capacities to undertake the relevant procurement.

2. In determining whether a supplier satisfies the conditions for participation, a contracting entity shall evaluate the financial, commercial, and technical abilities of a supplier on the basis of that supplier's business activities both inside and outside the territory of the Party of the contracting entity, and may not condition the participation of a supplier in a procurement on that supplier having previously been awarded one or more contracts by a contracting entity of a Party or on the supplier having prior work experience in the territory of a Party.

3. In making such assessment, the contracting entity shall base its evaluation on the conditions that it has specified in advance in the notices or procurement documents.

4. A contracting entity may exclude a supplier on grounds such as bankruptcy, false declarations, significant deficiencies in the performance of any substantive requirement or obligation under a prior contract or contracts, judicial decisions concerning crimes or other judicial decisions regarding serious offences, professional misconduct, failure to pay taxes, or similar reasons.

Each Party may adopt or maintain procedures to declare ineligible to participate in the Party's procurements, either indefinitely or for a specified period of time, those suppliers that the Party has determined to have engaged in fraudulent or illegal activities in relation to procurement. Upon request of the other Party, a Party shall identify, to the extent possible, the suppliers determined to be ineligible under these procedures and, where appropriate, exchange information regarding those suppliers or the fraudulent or illegal activity.

5. A contracting entity may request that a tenderer indicate in its tender any part of the contract it intends to subcontract to third persons and the proposed subcontractors.

This indication shall be without prejudice to the principle of the liability of the economic operator.

Qualification or registration of suppliers Selective tendering 1. Where a contracting entity intends to use selective tendering, it shall:

• a)include in the notice of intended procurement at least the information specified in paragraph 1 of Appendix 4 (Notice of intended procurement) of Annex XVI and invite suppliers to submit a request for participation; and b) make available, at the commencement of the time period for tendering, at least the information specified in paragraph 2 of Appendix 4 (Notice of intended procurement) of Annex XVI to the qualified or registered suppliers.

2. A contracting entity shall recognize any domestic supplier and any supplier of the other Party that satisfies the conditions for participation in a particular procurement as qualified suppliers, unless the contracting entity states in the notice of intended procurement any limitation on the number of suppliers that will be permitted to tender and the criteria for selecting that limited number of suppliers.

3. Where the procurement documents are not made publicly available from the date of publication of the notice referred to in paragraph 1, the contracting entity shall ensure that those documents are made available to the public at the same time for all qualified suppliers selected in accordance with paragraph 2. Supplier lists 4. A contracting entity may maintain a supplier list, provided that an invitation to interested suppliers to apply for inclusion on the list is published annually and, where published by electronic means, is kept available on a continuous basis in the appropriate medium listed in Appendix 3 (Means for the publication of notices) of Annex XVI. Such notice shall include the information set out in Appendix 5 (Notice inviting interested suppliers to apply for inclusion on a supplier list) of Annex XVI.

5. Notwithstanding paragraph 4, where a supplier list is valid for three years or less, a contracting entity may publish the notice referred to in that paragraph only once, at the beginning of the period of validity of the list, provided that the notice states the period of validity and that no further notices will be published.

6. A contracting entity shall allow suppliers to apply at any time for inclusion on a supplier list and shall include on the list, within a reasonably short time, all suppliers that satisfy the relevant requirements.

7. A contracting entity may, if permitted by the legislation of the Party, use an invitation to suppliers to apply for inclusion on a supplier list as a notice of intended procurement, provided that:

• a)the notice is published in accordance with paragraph 4 and includes the information required in Appendix 5 (Notice inviting interested suppliers to apply for inclusion on a supplier list), as well as as much of the information required in Appendix 4 (Notice of intended procurement) of Annex XVI as is available, and contains a statement that it constitutes a notice of intended procurement; b) the contracting entity promptly provides to suppliers that have expressed an interest to the entity in a particular procurement, sufficient information to permit them to assess their interest in the procurement, including all other information required in Appendix 4 (Notice of intended procurement) of Annex XVI, to the extent such information is available; and c) a supplier that has applied for inclusion on a supplier list in accordance with paragraph 6 may be permitted to tender in a given procurement where there is sufficient time for the contracting entity to examine whether it satisfies the conditions for participation.

8. A contracting entity shall promptly communicate to any supplier that submits a request for participation or inclusion on a supplier list its decision with respect to the request.

9. Where a contracting entity rejects a supplier's application for qualification or inclusion on a supplier list, ceases to recognize a supplier as qualified, or removes a supplier from a supplier list, it shall inform the supplier and, upon request of the supplier, promptly provide it with a written explanation of the reasons for its decision.

10. The Parties shall indicate, in Section F (General notes) of Appendix 1 (Coverage) of Annex XVI, the entities that will use supplier lists.

Technical specifications 1. A contracting entity shall not prepare, adopt, or apply any technical specification or prescribe any conformity assessment procedure with the purpose or effect of creating unnecessary obstacles to international trade.

2. Where appropriate, in setting the technical specifications for the goods or services being tendered, the contracting entity shall:

• a)define the technical specifications in terms of performance and functional requirements, rather than descriptive or design characteristics; and b) base the technical specifications on international standards, where such exist; otherwise, on national technical regulations, recognized national standards, or building codes.

3. Where descriptive or design characteristics are used in the technical specifications, the contracting entity shall indicate, where appropriate, that it will consider tenders of equivalent goods or services that demonstrably fulfill the procurement requirements by including terms such as "or equivalent" in the procurement documents.

4. A contracting entity shall not prescribe technical specifications that require or refer to a particular trademark or trade name, patent, copyright, design, type, specific origin, producer, or supplier, unless there is no other sufficiently precise or intelligible way of describing the procurement requirements and provided that, in such cases, the entity includes terms such as "or equivalent" in the procurement documents.

5. A contracting entity shall not seek or accept, in a manner that could have the effect of precluding competition, advice for the preparation or adoption of any technical specification for a specific procurement from a person that may have a commercial interest in the procurement.

6. For greater certainty, this Article is not intended to prevent a contracting entity from preparing, adopting, or applying technical specifications to promote the conservation of natural resources or protect the environment.

Procurement documents 1. A contracting entity shall provide suppliers with procurement documents that include all the information necessary to permit suppliers to submit responsive tenders.

Unless already provided in the notice of intended procurement, such documentation shall include a complete description of the elements set out in Appendix 8 (Procurement documents) of Annex XVI.

2. The contracting entity shall provide, upon request, the procurement documents without delay to any supplier participating in the procurement, and shall reply to any reasonable request for pertinent information made by a supplier participating in the procurement, provided that such information does not give that supplier an advantage over its competitors in the procurement and the request was submitted within the relevant timeframes.

3. Where, in the course of a procurement, a contracting entity modifies the criteria or requirements set out in the notice of intended procurement or in the procurement documents provided to suppliers, it shall transmit in writing such modifications:

• a)to all suppliers that are participating at the time the information is modified, if known, and in all other cases in the same manner as the original information was made available; and b) in adequate time to allow such suppliers to modify and resubmit amended tenders, as appropriate.

Time periods A contracting entity shall, consistent with its own reasonable needs, provide suppliers sufficient time to prepare and submit adequate requests for participation and tenders, taking into account factors such as the nature and complexity of the procurement, the extent of anticipated subcontracting, and the time for transmitting tenders from foreign as well as domestic points when electronic means are not used. Such periods, including any extension of the time periods, shall be the same for all interested or participating suppliers.

The applicable time periods are set out in Appendix 6 (Time periods) of Annex XVI.

Negotiations 1. Each Party may provide for its contracting entities to conduct procurements through negotiation, in the following cases:

• a)in the context of procurements in which such an intention was indicated in the notice of intended procurement; or b) where, as a result of an evaluation, it is determined that no tender is obviously the most advantageous in terms of the specific evaluation criteria set out in the notices or procurement documents.

2. A contracting entity shall:

• a)ensure that any elimination of suppliers participating in negotiations is carried out in accordance with the evaluation criteria set out in the notices or procurement documents; and b) when negotiations have concluded, establish a common deadline for the remaining suppliers to submit any new or revised tenders.

Use of restricted tendering or other equivalent procurement procedures 1. Provided that the procurement procedures are not used as a means to avoid competition or to protect domestic suppliers, a contracting entity may award contracts by direct contracting or other equivalent procurement procedures in the following circumstances:

• a)where:
• i)no tenders were submitted, or no supplier requested participation; ii) no tenders that conform to the essential requirements of the procurement documents were submitted; iii) no supplier satisfied the conditions for participation; or iv) the submitted tenders were collusive; provided that the requirements of the procurement documents are not substantially modified; b) in the case of works of art, or for reasons connected with the protection of exclusive intellectual property rights, such as patents or copyrights, or proprietary information, or where there is no competition for technical reasons, the goods or services can be supplied only by a particular supplier and no reasonable alternative or substitute exists; c) for additional deliveries by the original supplier of goods or services that were not included in the initial procurement, where a change of supplier for such additional goods or services:
• i)cannot be made for economic or technical reasons such as requirements of interchangeability or interoperability with existing equipment, software, services, or installations procured under the initial procurement; and ii) would cause significant inconvenience or substantial duplication of costs for the contracting entity; d) for goods purchased on a commodity market; e) where a contracting entity purchases a prototype or a first product or service that is developed at its request in the course of a specific contract for research, experimentation, study, or original development. Once such contracts have been performed, subsequent contracts for goods or services shall be subject to the provisions of this Title; f) in the case of additional construction services, which were not included in the initial contract but which were within the objectives of the original procurement documentation and which, due to unforeseen circumstances, become necessary to complete the construction services described therein.

However, the total value of contracts awarded for such additional construction services shall not exceed fifty percent of the amount of the original contract; g) insofar as is strictly necessary where, for reasons of extreme urgency brought about by events unforeseeable by the contracting entity, the goods or services could not be obtained in time using an open tendering procedure, and the use of such procedure would result in serious injury to the contracting entity, the contracting entity's program responsibilities, or the Party; h) where a contract is awarded to the winner of a design contest, provided that the contest was organized in a manner consistent with the principles of this Title and the participants were evaluated by an independent jury with a view to a design contract being awarded to the winner; or i) in the cases established by each Party in Section F (General notes) of Appendix 1 (Coverage) of Annex XVI.

2. The contracting entity shall maintain records or prepare written reports providing the specific justification for any contract awarded under paragraph 1.

Electronic auctions Where a contracting entity intends to conduct a covered procurement using an electronic auction, the entity shall provide each participant, before commencing the electronic auction, with:

• a)the automatic evaluation method, including the mathematical formula, that is based on the evaluation criteria set out in the procurement documents and will be used in the automatic ranking or re-ranking during the auction; b) the results of an initial evaluation of the elements of its tender where the contract is to be awarded on the basis of the most advantageous tender; and c) any other relevant information relating to the conduct of the auction.

Treatment of tenders and awarding of contracts 1. A contracting entity shall receive, open, and treat all tenders in accordance with procedures that guarantee the fairness and impartiality of the procurement process, as well as the confidentiality of tenders.

2. To be considered for award, a tender shall be in writing and shall, at the time of opening, comply with the essential requirements set out in the procurement documents and, where applicable, in the notices, and be from a supplier that satisfies the conditions for participation.

3. Unless the contracting entity determines that it is not in the public interest to award a contract, it shall award the contract to the supplier that the entity has determined is capable of fulfilling the terms of the contract and that, based solely on the evaluation criteria specified in the notices and procurement documents, has submitted the most advantageous tender or, where price is the sole criterion, the lowest price.

4. Where a contracting entity receives a tender with a price abnormally lower than the prices in other tenders submitted, it may verify that the supplier satisfies the conditions for participation and is capable of fulfilling the terms of the contract.

Transparency of procurement information 1. A contracting entity shall promptly inform participating suppliers of its contract award decisions and, upon request, shall do so in writing. Without prejudice to Article 224, paragraphs 2 and 3, the contracting entity shall provide, upon request, to any unsuccessful supplier an explanation of the reasons why the entity did not select its tender and the relative advantages of the successful supplier's tender.

2. Following the award of each contract covered by this Title, the contracting entity shall publish, as soon as possible, in accordance with the time periods established in the legislation of each Party, a notice in the appropriate paper or electronic medium listed in Appendix 3 (Means for the publication of notices) of Annex XVI. Where only an electronic medium is used, the information shall remain readily available for a reasonable period of time. The notice shall include at least the information set out in Appendix 7 (Award notices) of Annex XVI.

Disclosure of information 1. Each Party shall provide, upon request of the other Party, without delay, all pertinent information regarding the award of a covered procurement in order to determine whether it was conducted in accordance with the rules of this Title. In cases where the release of such information could prejudice competition in future procurements, the Party that receives the information shall not disclose it to any supplier, except after consulting with and in accordance with the Party that provided the information.

2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Title, no Party, including its contracting entities, shall provide any supplier with information that might prejudice fair competition between suppliers.

3. Nothing in this Title shall be construed as requiring a Party, including its contracting entities, authorities, and review bodies, to disclose confidential information, where such disclosure would impede law enforcement, might prejudice fair competition between suppliers, might prejudice the legitimate commercial interests of particular persons, including the protection of intellectual property, or would otherwise be contrary to the public interest.

Domestic review procedures 1. Each Party shall establish or maintain timely, effective, transparent, and non-discriminatory administrative or judicial review procedures through which a supplier may submit a challenge, with respect to the obligations of a Party and its entities under this Title, arising in the context of a covered procurement in which the supplier has or has had an interest. The procedural rules applicable to all challenges shall be in writing and made generally available.

2. Each Party may provide in its domestic legislation that, in the event that a supplier submits a complaint in the context of a covered procurement, it shall encourage its contracting entity and the supplier to seek resolution of the complaint through consultations. The contracting entity shall examine any complaint in an impartial and timely manner in a way that does not prejudice the supplier's participation in ongoing or future procurements or its right to seek corrective measures under the administrative or judicial review procedure.

3. Each supplier shall be allowed a sufficient period of time to prepare and submit a challenge, which in no case shall be fewer than ten days from the time when the supplier knew or reasonably should have known the basis of the challenge.

4. Each Party shall establish or designate at least one impartial administrative or judicial authority that is independent of its contracting entities to receive and review challenges by suppliers arising in the context of a covered procurement.

5. Where a review body other than the authority referred to in paragraph 4 initially reviews a challenge, the Party shall ensure that the supplier may appeal the initial decision before an impartial administrative or judicial authority that is independent of the contracting entity whose procurement is the subject of the challenge. A review body that is not a court shall be subject to judicial review or shall offer procedural guarantees that provide that:

• a)the contracting entity shall respond in writing to the challenge and make all relevant documents available to the review body; b) the participants in the proceedings (hereinafter, "the participants") shall have the right to be heard before the review body makes a decision on the challenge; c) the participants shall have the right to be represented and accompanied; d) the participants shall have access to all proceedings; and e) decisions or recommendations relating to challenges by suppliers shall be provided within a reasonable time, in writing, with an explanation of the basis for each decision or recommendation.

6. Each Party shall adopt or maintain procedures that provide for:

• a)urgent interim measures to provide the supplier with an opportunity to participate in the procurement. Such interim measures may result in suspension of the procurement process. The procedures may provide that, when deciding whether such measures should be applied, account may be taken of overriding adverse consequences for interests concerned, including the public interest. The just cause for not taking measures shall be provided in writing; and b) corrective action or compensation for loss or damages suffered in accordance with the legislation of each Party, in cases where a review authority has determined that there has been a non-compliance or a failure, in accordance with paragraph 1.

Modifications and rectifications to coverage 1. The United Kingdom(*) shall carry out the modifications and rectifications of the coverage through bilateral negotiations with each CA Party Republic in question. Conversely, each CA Party Republic shall carry out the modifications and rectifications of the coverage through bilateral negotiations with the United Kingdom(*).

(*) (Thus its name substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Formerly indicated as "Parte UE")

When a Party intends to modify its procurement coverage under this title, the Party shall:

• a)notify the other interested Party or Parties in writing; and b) include in its notification a proposal for appropriate compensatory adjustments to the other Party to maintain a level of coverage comparable to that existing before the modification.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1(b), a Party does not need to provide compensatory adjustments when:

• a)the modification in question is a change of minor importance or a rectification of a purely formal nature; or b) the proposed modification concerns an entity over which the Party has effectively eliminated its control or influence.

The Parties may carry out minor changes or rectifications of a purely formal nature to their coverage in accordance with this title, in accordance with the provisions of Title XIII (Specific Tasks in Commercial Matters of the Bodies Established under this Agreement) of Part IV of this Agreement.

3. If the United Kingdom(*) or the CA Party Republic in question do not agree that:

(*) (Thus its name substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Formerly indicated as "Parte UE")

• a)the adjustment proposed under paragraph 1(b) is adequate to maintain a comparable level of mutually agreed coverage; b) the proposed modification is a change of minor importance or a rectification in accordance with paragraph 2(a); or c) the proposed modification concerns an entity over which the Party has effectively eliminated its control or influence in accordance with paragraph 2(b), they shall object in writing within thirty days of receiving the notification provided for in paragraph 1, or they shall be deemed to have agreed to the proposed adjustment or modification, including for the purposes of Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement.

4. When the Parties in question have agreed on the proposed modification, rectification, or minor change, including when no objection has been raised within a period of thirty days in accordance with paragraph 3, the modifications shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 6.

5. The United Kingdom(*) and each CA Party Republic may, at any time, participate in bilateral negotiations related to the expansion of the market access they grant mutually under this title, in accordance with the relevant institutional or procedural arrangements established in this Agreement.

(*) (Thus its name substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Formerly indicated as "Parte UE")

6. The Association Council shall modify the relevant parts of Sections A, B, or C of Appendix 1 (Coverage) of Annex XVI to reflect any modification agreed upon by the Parties, technical rectification, or change of minor importance.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance in Government Procurement The Parties agree that it is in their common interest to promote mutual cooperation and technical assistance initiatives in matters related to government procurement. In this regard, the Parties have identified a number of cooperation activities set out in Article 58 of Title VI (Economic and Trade Development) of Part III of this Agreement.

Objectives The objectives of this title are:

• a)to ensure adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights in the territories of the Parties, taking into consideration the economic situation and the social or cultural needs of each Party; b) to promote and encourage the transfer of technology between the United Kingdom and the CA Party Republics(*) in order to enable the establishment of a sound and viable technological base in the CA Party Republics; and c) to promote technical and financial cooperation in the field of intellectual property rights between the United Kingdom and the CA Party Republics(*).

(*) (Thus its name substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Formerly indicated as "ambas regiones")

Nature and Scope of Obligations 1. The Parties shall ensure adequate and effective implementation of the international agreements on intellectual property to which they are party, including the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (hereinafter, the "TRIPS Agreement"). The provisions of this title shall complement and specify the rights and obligations between the Parties under the TRIPS Agreement and other international agreements in the field of intellectual property.

2. Intellectual Property and Public Health:

• a)the Parties recognize the importance of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health adopted on 14 November 2001 by the WTO Ministerial Conference. In interpreting and implementing the rights and obligations under this title, the Parties shall ensure consistency with that Declaration; b) the Parties shall contribute to the implementation and respect of the WTO General Council Decision of 30 August 2003 on the Implementation of Paragraph 6 of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health, as well as the Protocol Amending the TRIPS Agreement, done at Geneva on 6 December 2005.

3. a) For the purposes of this Agreement, intellectual property rights encompass copyright, including copyright in computer programs and databases, and related rights; rights related to patents; trademarks; trade names; industrial designs; layout-designs (topographies) of integrated circuits; geographical indications, including appellations of origin; plant varieties; and protection of undisclosed information; b) for the purposes of this Agreement, in relation to unfair competition, protection shall be granted in accordance with Article 10bis of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (Stockholm Act of 1967) (hereinafter, the "Paris Convention").

4. The Parties recognize the sovereign right of States over their natural resources and access to their genetic resources, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (1992). No provision of this title shall prevent the Parties from adopting or maintaining measures to promote the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, in accordance with the provisions of that Convention.

5. The Parties recognize the importance of respecting, preserving, and maintaining the knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

Most-Favoured-Nation and National Treatment In accordance with Articles 3 and 4 of the TRIPS Agreement and subject to the exceptions provided for in those provisions, each Party shall accord to the nationals of the other Party:

• a)treatment no less favourable than that it accords to its own nationals with regard to the protection of intellectual property; and b) any advantage, favour, privilege, or immunity granted by it to the nationals of any other country with regard to the protection of intellectual property.

Transfer of Technology 1. The Parties agree to exchange views and information on their practices and policies affecting the transfer of technology, both within their respective regions and with third countries, with the aim of creating measures to facilitate flows of information, business partnerships, licensing, and subcontracting. Special attention shall be paid to the conditions necessary to create an adequate environment that facilitates the transfer of technology between the Parties, including, among others, aspects such as human capital development and the legal framework.

2. The Parties recognize the importance of education and professional training for the transfer of technology, which may be achieved through academic, professional, and/or business exchange programmes aimed at the transmission of knowledge between the Parties33.

33 The United Kingdom(*) shall promote that academic exchanges take the form of scholarships and that professional and business exchanges take the form of internships in organizations of the European Union, strengthening of MSMEs, development of innovative industries, and creation of professional clinics so that the knowledge acquired can be applied in the Central American region.

(*) (Thus its name substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Formerly indicated as "Parte UE")

3. The Parties shall adopt measures, as appropriate, to prevent or control licensing practices or conditions pertaining to intellectual property rights that may adversely affect the international transfer of technology and that constitute an abuse of intellectual property rights by their holders or an abuse of obvious asymmetries of information in licensing negotiations.

4. The Parties recognize the importance of creating mechanisms that strengthen and promote investment in the CA Party Republics, especially in innovative and high-technology sectors. The United Kingdom(*) shall use its best efforts to offer institutions and enterprises in its territory incentives aimed at promoting and favouring the transfer of technology to institutions and enterprises of the CA Party Republics, in such a way as to enable them to establish a viable technological platform.

(*) (Thus its name substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Formerly indicated as "Parte UE")

5. The actions described to achieve the objectives set out in this article are developed in Article 55 of Title VI (Economic and Trade Development) of Part III of this Agreement.

Exhaustion The Parties shall be free to establish their own regime for the exhaustion of intellectual property rights, subject to the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement.

Protection Granted The Parties shall comply with:

• a)the International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations (Rome, 1961) (hereinafter, the "Rome Convention"); b) the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886, last amended in 1979) (hereinafter, the "Berne Convention"); CENTR-AM/EU/es 296 c) the World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty (Geneva, 1996) (hereinafter, the "WCT"); and d) the World Intellectual Property Organization Performances and Phonograms Treaty (Geneva, 1996) (hereinafter, the "WPPT").

Duration of Copyright The Parties agree that, for calculating the term of protection of copyright, the provisions set out in Articles 7 and 7bis of the Berne Convention shall apply to the protection of literary and artistic works, with the condition that the minimum term of the duration of the protection conditions defined in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 7 of the Berne Convention shall be seventy years.

Duration of Related Rights The Parties agree that, for calculating the term of protection of the rights of performers, producers of phonograms, and broadcasting organizations, the provisions set out in Article 14 of the Rome Convention shall apply, with the condition that the minimum term of the duration of the protection conditions defined in Article 14 of the Rome Convention shall be fifty years.

Collective Management of Rights The Parties recognize the importance of the performance of collective management societies and of the establishment of agreements among them, for the purpose of mutually fostering easier access and delivery of content between the territories of the Parties, as well as achieving a high level of development in the execution of their tasks.

Broadcasting and Communication to the Public34 34 A Party may maintain the reservations formulated under the Rome Convention and the WPPT in relation to the rights conferred in this article, and this shall not be understood as a breach of this provision.

1. For the purposes of this provision, communication to the public of a performance or a phonogram means the transmission to the public by any medium, other than broadcasting, of sounds of a performance or the sounds or the representations of sounds fixed in a phonogram. For the purposes of this article, "communication to the public" includes making the sounds or the representations of sounds fixed in a phonogram audible to the public.

2. In accordance with their national legislation, the Parties shall grant performers the exclusive right to authorize or prohibit the broadcasting and the communication to the public of their performances, except where the performance is itself already a broadcast performance or is made from a fixation.

3. Performers and producers of phonograms shall enjoy the right to a single equitable remuneration for the direct or indirect use of phonograms published for commercial purposes for broadcasting or for any communication to the public. In the absence of agreement between the performers and the producers of phonograms, the Parties may lay down the conditions as to the sharing of such remuneration between both categories of right holders.

4. The Parties shall grant broadcasting organizations the exclusive right to authorize or prohibit the rebroadcasting by wireless means of their broadcasts, as well as the communication to the public of their television broadcasts when such communication is made in places accessible to the public against payment of an entrance fee.

5. The Parties may provide, in their domestic legislation, limitations or exceptions to the rights set out in paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 only in certain special cases which do not conflict with a normal exploitation of the protected subject matter and do not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the right holders.

International Agreements The European Union and the CA Party Republics shall make all reasonable efforts to:

• a)ratify or accede to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid, 1989); and b) comply with the Trademark Law Treaty (Geneva, 1994).

Registration Procedure The United Kingdom(*) and the CA Party Republics shall establish a trademark registration system in which each final decision taken by the trademark administration is duly reasoned in writing. Thus, the reasons for refusing the registration of a trademark shall be communicated in writing to the applicant, who shall have the opportunity to contest such refusal and to judicially appeal the final refusal before the courts. The United Kingdom(*) and the CA Party Republics shall also introduce the possibility of opposing trademark registration applications. Such opposition procedure shall be adversarial.

(*) (Thus its name substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Formerly indicated as "Parte UE")

Well-Known Trademarks Article 6bis of the Paris Convention shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to goods or services which are not identical or similar to those identified by a well-known trademark, provided that use of that trademark in relation to those goods or services would indicate a connection between those goods or services and the owner of the trademark, and provided that it is likely that such use would damage the interests of the owner of the trademark. For greater certainty, the Parties may also apply this protection to unregistered well-known trademarks.

Exceptions to the Rights Conferred by a Trademark The Parties may provide limited exceptions to the rights conferred by a trademark, such as the fair use of descriptive terms. Such exceptions shall take account of the legitimate interests of the owner of the registered trademark and of third parties.

General Provisions 1. The following provisions shall apply to the recognition and protection of geographical indications originating in the territories of the Parties.

2. For the purposes of this Agreement, geographical indications are those that identify a product as originating in the territory of a Party, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of the product is essentially attributable to its geographical origin.

Scope of Application and Coverage 1. The Parties reaffirm the rights and obligations set out in Part II, Section 3, of the TRIPS Agreement.

2. The geographical indications of a Party to be protected by the other Party shall only be subject to this article if they are recognized and declared as such in their country of origin.

Protection System 1. The Parties shall maintain in their legislation systems for the protection of geographical indications (Thus reformed the preceding paragraph by subsection 13) subparagraph a) of the annex of International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019") 2. The legislation of the Parties shall contain elements such as:

• a)a register listing the geographical indications protected in their respective territories; b) an administrative process allowing verification that the geographical indications identify a product as originating in a territory, region, or locality of one of the Parties, where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of the product is essentially attributable to its geographical origin; c) a requirement that a registered name corresponds to a specific product or products for which a product specification is foreseen, which can only be amended through the corresponding administrative process; d) control provisions applicable to the production of the product or products; e) a right for any operator established in the area and who submits to the control system to use the protected name provided the product complies with the corresponding specifications; f) a procedure, including the publication of the application, that enables taking into account the legitimate interests of prior users of the names, whether or not those names are protected under a form of intellectual property.

Established Geographical Indications The geographical indications listed in Annex XVII shall be processed according to the applicable protection procedures of the United Kingdom, once such application for protection has been filed.

(Thus reformed by subsection 13) subparagraph b) of the annex of International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019")

Protection Granted 1. The geographical indications listed in Annex XVIII (Protected Geographical Indications), as well as those added in accordance with Article 247, shall be protected, at minimum, against:

• a)the use of any means in the designation or presentation of a product that indicates or suggests that the product in question originates in a geographical area other than the true place of origin, in a manner which misleads the public as to the geographical origin of the product; b) the use of a protected geographical indication for the same products not originating in the place indicated by the geographical indication in question, even where the true origin of the product is indicated or the geographical indication is used in translation or accompanied by expressions such as "style", "type", "imitation", "like" or similar; c) any other practice that misleads the consumer as to the true origin of the product or any other use which constitutes an act of unfair competition within the meaning of Article 10bis of the Paris Convention.

2. A geographical indication that has been granted protection in one of the Parties, in accordance with Annex XVIII, may not be considered to have become generic in that registering Party, as long as it is protected as a geographical indication in the Party of origin.

(Thus amended the foregoing subparagraph by item 13) sub-item c) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019") 3. When a geographical indication contains a name that is considered generic in a Party, the use of that generic name on the appropriate product in that Party shall not be considered contrary to this article.

4. For geographical indications other than wines and spirits, nothing provided in this Agreement shall be interpreted as requiring a Party to prevent the continued and similar use of a particular geographical indication of another Party in relation to products or services, by any of its nationals or domiciliaries who have used that geographical indication in good faith and continuously for those same products or services, or related ones, in the territory of that Party, before the date on which Part IV of the EU-Central America Agreement was applied.

(Thus amended the foregoing subparagraph by item 13) sub-item d) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019")

Addition of new geographical indications 1. The Parties agree on the possibility of adding additional geographical indications for wines, spirits, agricultural products and foodstuffs to be protected on the basis of the provisions and procedures established in this Title, as applicable.

Such geographical indications, after their successful examination by the national authority, shall be included in Annex XVIII (Protected geographical indications) in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures for the Association Council.

(Thus amended the foregoing paragraph by item 13) sub-item f) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019") 2. The date of application for protection shall be the date of transmission of the request to the other Party to protect a geographical indication, provided that the formal requirements for such applications are met.

Relationship between geographical indications and trademarks 1. The legislation of the Parties shall ensure that the application for registration of a trademark that corresponds to any of the situations set out in Article 246 for similar products36 shall be refused when such application for registration is filed after the date of application for registration of the geographical indication in the territory concerned37.

36 For the purposes of this article, the Republics of the CA Party consider that the term "similar product" may be understood as "identical or confusingly similar".

37 For the United Kingdom(*), the date of application for protection shall be the date of entry into force of this Agreement for the names listed in Annex XVII.

(Note by Sinalevi: By means of item 13) sub-item f) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the foregoing footnote is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement)

(*) (Thus substituted its designation by the section of the Joint Declarations "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Previously it stated "EU Party")

2. Likewise, the Parties may, in accordance with their national or regional legislation, establish the circumstances for refusing the protection of geographical indications, including the possibility of not granting protection to a geographical indication when, in light of a well-known or reputed trademark, its protection may mislead consumers as to the true identity of the product.

3. The Parties shall maintain the legal means so that any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest may request the cancellation or invalidation of a trademark or a geographical indication by substantiating their request.

Right to use geographical indications Once a geographical indication is protected under this Agreement in a Party different from the Party of origin, the use of the protected name shall not be subject to any registration of users of that Party.

Dispute settlement No Party shall have any recourse to challenge the final decision of a competent national or regional authority regarding the registration or protection of a geographical indication under Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement. Any claim against the protection of a geographical indication shall be brought before the available judicial instances established in accordance with the national or regional legislation of each Party.

International agreements The European Union and the Republics of the CA Party shall make all reasonable efforts to accede to the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (Geneva Act, 1999).

Requirements for protection 1. The Parties shall grant protection to industrial designs created independently that are new38 or original.

38 Where the legislation of a Party so provides, the individual character of such industrial design may also be required.

2. An industrial design shall be considered new when it differs significantly from known designs or from combinations of known design features.

3. Such protection shall be granted through registration and shall confer exclusive rights upon their owners in accordance with the provisions of this article. Each Party may provide that unregistered industrial designs made available to the public confer exclusive rights, but only if the contested use results from copying the protected design.

(Note by Sinalevi: By means of item 13) sub-item g) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019", it is established that for the purposes of Article 252, and for the avoidance of doubt, in the United Kingdom an "unregistered industrial design" is one that is protected by Council Regulation (EC) No 6/2002 of 12 December 2001 on Community designs.)

Exceptions 1. The Parties may provide for limited exceptions to the protection of industrial designs, provided that such exceptions do not unreasonably conflict with the normal exploitation of protected industrial designs and do not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the owner of the protected design, taking into account the legitimate interests of third parties.

2. The protection of industrial designs shall not extend to designs dictated essentially by technical or functional considerations.

3. An industrial design shall not confer rights when it is contrary to public order or morality.

Rights conferred 1. The owner of a protected industrial design shall have the right to prevent third parties not having the owner's consent from making, selling, or importing articles bearing or embodying the protected design when such acts are carried out for commercial purposes.

2. Additionally, the Parties shall ensure effective protection of industrial designs to prevent acts that unjustifiably harm the normal exploitation of the design or that are not compatible with fair trade practices, consistent with the provisions of Article 10bis of the Paris Convention.

Term of protection 1. The duration of protection available in the United Kingdom(*) and in the Republics of the CA Party shall be at least ten years. Each Party may provide that the right holder may have the term of protection renewed for one or more periods of five years each, up to the maximum term of protection established in the legislation of each Party.

(*) (Thus substituted its designation by the section of the Joint Declarations "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Previously it stated "EU Party")

2. Where a Party provides protection for unregistered industrial designs, the duration of such protection shall be at least three years.

Invalidity or refusal of registration 1. The registration of an industrial design may only be refused or declared invalid for compelling and important reasons that, subject to the national legislation of each Party, may include:

• a)if the industrial design does not conform to the definition in Article 252, paragraph 1; b) if, by virtue of a judicial decision, the owner of the industrial design is not entitled to it; c) if the industrial design conflicts with a prior design that has been made available to the public after the date of filing of the application or, if priority is claimed, the priority date of the design, and which is protected from a date prior to the aforementioned one by a registered design or an application for a design; d) if a distinctive sign is used in a subsequent industrial design and the legislation of the relevant Party governing that sign confers on the right holder of the sign the right to prohibit such use; e) if the industrial design constitutes an unauthorized use of a work protected by the copyright legislation of the relevant Party; f) if the industrial design constitutes an improper use of any of the items listed in Article 6ter of the Paris Convention, or of badges, emblems, and armorial bearings other than those covered by said Article 6ter and which are of particular public interest in a Party; g) if the disclosure of the industrial design is contrary to public order or morality.

2. A Party may establish, as an alternative to invalidity, that an industrial design subject to the grounds set out in paragraph 1 may have limitations imposed on its use.

Relationship with copyright An industrial design protected by an industrial design right, registered in a Party in accordance with this section, may also be eligible for the protection conferred by the copyright legislation of that Party from the date on which the design was created or fixed in any medium.

International agreements 1. The Parties shall comply with the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure (1977, amended in 1980).

2. The European Union shall make all reasonable efforts to comply with the Patent Law Treaty (Geneva, 2000), and the Republics of the CA Party shall make reasonable efforts to ratify or accede to that Treaty.

Plant varieties 1. The Parties shall grant protection to plant varieties, either through patents, or through an effective sui generis system, or through a combination thereof.

2. The Parties understand that there is no contradiction between the protection of plant varieties and a Party's capacity to protect and conserve its genetic resources.

3. The Parties shall have the right to establish exceptions to the exclusive rights granted to plant breeders to allow farmers to save, use, and exchange protected seeds or propagating material.

General obligations 1. The Parties reaffirm their rights and commitments under the TRIPS Agreement and, in particular, its Part III, and shall establish the following complementary measures, procedures, and remedies necessary to ensure the enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Such measures, procedures, and remedies shall be fair, proportionate, and equitable, and shall not be unnecessarily complex or costly, nor shall they entail unreasonable time limits or unwarranted delays39.

39 For the purposes of Articles 260 to 272, the notion of "intellectual property rights" shall cover at least the following rights: copyright, including copyright in computer programs and databases, and related rights; rights related to patents; trademarks; industrial designs; layout-designs (topographies) of integrated circuits; geographical indications; plant varieties; and trade names, insofar as they are protected as exclusive rights in the relevant national legislation.

2. Such measures and remedies shall also be effective and deterrent, and shall be applied in such a manner as to avoid the creation of barriers to legitimate trade and to provide for safeguards against their abuse.

Entitled applicants The Parties shall recognize as persons entitled to seek application of the measures, procedures, and remedies referred to in this section and in Part III of the TRIPS Agreement:

• a)the holders of intellectual property rights in accordance with the provisions of the applicable legislation; and b) federations and associations, as well as exclusive licensees and other duly authorized licensees, to the extent permitted by and in accordance with the provisions of the applicable legislation. The term "licensee" shall include the licensee of one or more of the exclusive intellectual property rights comprised in a given intellectual property.

Evidence Where a right holder presents reasonably available evidence to support its claims that its intellectual property right has been infringed on a commercial scale and to substantiate its claims specifies relevant evidence that lies under the control of the opposing party, the Parties shall take the measures necessary to enable the competent judicial authorities to order, upon application, where appropriate and if provided for by the applicable legislation, that the opposing party produce such evidence, subject to the protection of confidential information.

Measures for the protection of evidence At the request of a party that has presented reasonably available evidence to support its claims that its intellectual property right has been or will be infringed, the judicial authorities shall be empowered to order prompt and effective provisional measures to protect relevant evidence in respect of the alleged infringement, subject to the protection of confidential information. Such measures may include the detailed description, with or without the taking of samples, or the physical seizure of the infringing goods and, in appropriate cases, the materials and implements used in the production and/or distribution of those goods and the documents relating thereto. These measures may be adopted, if necessary, without the other party being heard, in particular where any delay is likely to cause irreparable harm to the right holder or where there is a demonstrable risk of evidence being destroyed.

Right of information The Parties may provide that, unless it would be out of proportion to the seriousness of the infringement, the judicial authorities may order the infringer to inform the right holder of the identity of third persons involved in the production and distribution of the infringing goods or services and of their channels of distribution.

Provisional and precautionary measures 1. Each Party shall provide that its judicial authorities have the authority to order provisional and precautionary measures and carry them out expeditiously to prevent imminent infringements of intellectual property rights or to prohibit the continuation of alleged infringements. Such measures may be ordered at the request of the right holder, inaudita altera parte or after hearing the defendant, in accordance with the rules of judicial procedure of each Party.

2. Each Party shall ensure that its judicial authorities are empowered to require the applicant to present reasonably available evidence in order to establish to their satisfaction, with a sufficient degree of certainty, that the applicant's right is being infringed or that such infringement is imminent, and to order the applicant to provide a reasonable security or equivalent assurance sufficient to protect the defendant and to prevent abuse, and not to unreasonably deter recourse to such procedures.

Corrective measures 1. Each Party shall ensure that:

• a)its judicial authorities are empowered to order, at the request of the applicant, and without prejudice to any damages due to the right holder by reason of the infringement, the destruction of goods that have been found to be pirated or counterfeit, or other appropriate measure to definitively remove those goods from the channels of commerce; b) its judicial authorities are empowered to order, in appropriate cases, that materials and implements predominantly used in the manufacture or creation of such pirated or counterfeit goods be destroyed without compensation of any sort or, in exceptional circumstances, disposed of outside the channels of commerce in such a manner as to minimize the risks of further infringements. In considering requests for such corrective measures, the judicial authorities of the Party may take into account, among other things, the seriousness of the infringement, as well as the interests of third parties holding rights in rem, rights of possession, or a contractual or secured interest.

2. Each Party may provide that the donation for charitable purposes of counterfeit trademark goods and goods infringing copyright and related rights, if national legislation so permits, shall not be ordered by the judicial authorities without the authorization of the right holder or that such goods may be donated for charitable purposes only under certain conditions that may be established in accordance with national legislation. In no case shall the simple removal of the unlawfully affixed trademark suffice to permit the release of goods into the channels of commerce, except in cases established in national legislation and other international obligations.

3. In considering requests for corrective measures, the Parties may grant their judicial authorities the authority to take into account, among other things, the seriousness of the infringement, as well as the interests of third parties, holders of rights in rem, rights of possession, or a contractual or secured interest.

4. The judicial authorities shall order that these measures be carried out at the expense of the infringer, except in exceptional circumstances.

5. In accordance with national legislation, the Parties may establish other corrective measures related to goods that have been found to be pirated or counterfeit, as well as with respect to materials and implements predominantly used in the manufacture or creation of such goods.

Damages The judicial authorities shall be empowered to order the infringer to pay the right holder adequate damages to compensate for the injury the right holder has suffered because of an infringement of that person's intellectual property right, caused by an infringer who knowingly, or with reasonable grounds to know, engaged in infringing activity. In appropriate cases, the Parties may authorize the judicial authorities to order recovery of profits and/or payment of pre-established damages, even where the infringer did not know, or had no reasonable grounds to know, that it was engaging in infringing activity.

Legal costs The Parties shall ensure that reasonable and proportionate legal costs and other expenses incurred by the successful party shall, as a general rule, be borne by the unsuccessful party, unless equity does not allow this, in accordance with national legislation.

Publication of judicial decisions The Parties may provide that, in the context of judicial proceedings instituted for infringement of an intellectual property right, the judicial authorities may order, at the request of the applicant and at the expense of the infringer, appropriate measures for the dissemination of the information concerning the decision, including displaying the decision and publishing it in full or in part. The Parties may establish other additional publicity measures that are appropriate to the circumstances of each case, including prominent advertising.

Presumption of ownership For the purposes of applying the measures, procedures, and remedies provided for in this Title, it shall be sufficient for holders of copyright or related rights, with respect to their protected material, for their name to appear on the work in the usual manner in order to be regarded as such and, consequently, be entitled to institute infringement proceedings, in the absence of proof to the contrary.

Criminal sanctions The Parties shall provide for criminal procedures and penalties at least in cases of wilful trademark counterfeiting or copyright piracy on a commercial scale. The remedies available shall include imprisonment and/or the imposition of monetary fines sufficiently deterrent to be consistent with the level of penalties applied for crimes of corresponding gravity. When appropriate, the remedies available shall also include the seizure, forfeiture, and destruction of the infringing goods and of all materials and accessories predominantly used for the commission of the offence. The Parties may provide for the application of criminal procedures and penalties in other cases of infringement of intellectual property rights, in particular when committed wilfully and on a commercial scale.

Limitations on the liability of service providers The Parties agree to maintain the limitations on the liability of service providers currently provided for in their respective legislation, fundamentally:

• a)for the United Kingdom(*): those provided for in Directive 2000/31/EC, on electronic commerce;

(*) (Thus substituted its designation by the section of the Joint Declarations "Declaración Conjunta sobre Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019". Previously it stated "EU Party")

• b)for the Republics of the CA Party: those adopted at the national level in order to comply with their international obligations.

A Party may defer the implementation of the provisions of this article for a period not exceeding three years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

Border measures 1. The Parties acknowledge the importance of coordination in customs matters and, therefore, undertake to promote the application of customs enforcement in relation to counterfeit trademark and pirated goods, specifically through the exchange of information and coordination between the customs administrations of the Parties.

2. Unless otherwise provided in this Chapter, the Parties shall adopt procedures enabling a right holder who has valid grounds to suspect the importation, exportation, re-exportation, entry or exit from the customs territory, placement under a suspensive procedure, or placement in a free zone or customs warehouse of goods infringing trademarks or copyright, to submit a written application to the competent authorities, whether administrative or judicial, for the customs authorities to suspend the release of such goods for free circulation or to detain them. It is understood that there is no obligation to apply these procedures to imports of goods placed on the market in another country by the right holder or with its consent.

3. Any rights or obligations established in Section 4 of the TRIPS Agreement relating to the importer shall apply to the exporter or the holder of the goods.

4. Each Party shall provide that its competent authorities may initiate border measures ex officio in cases of importation, exportation, and transit.

Intellectual Property Subcommittee 1. The Parties hereby establish the Intellectual Property Subcommittee, in accordance with Article 348 and as set out in Annex XXI (Subcommittees), for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of Article 231 and Section C (Geographical indications) of Chapter 2 of this Title.

2. The functions of the Subcommittee include:

• a)recommending to the Association Committee, for approval by the Association Council, the modification of the list of geographical indications in Annex XVIII (Protected geographical indications); b) exchanging information on geographical indications for the purpose of considering their protection in accordance with this Agreement, as well as on geographical indications whose protection ceases in their country of origin; c) promoting the transfer of technology from the United Kingdom(*) to the Republics of the CA Party;

(*) (Thus replaced its designation by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019." Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• d)defining the priority areas for directing technology transfer, research and development, and human capital development initiatives; e) maintaining an inventory or register of ongoing programs, activities, or initiatives in the field of intellectual property, particularly regarding technology transfer; f) making relevant recommendations to the Association Committee on matters within its competence; and g) any other matter instructed by the Association Committee.

Cooperation and technical assistance in intellectual property matters The Parties agree that it is in their common interest to promote mutual cooperation and technical assistance initiatives on matters related to this Title. In this regard, the Parties have identified various cooperation activities, which are set out in Article 55 of Title VI (Economic and commercial development) of Part III of this Agreement.

Final provisions 1. Panama may delay the implementation of the provisions of Articles 233, subparagraphs c) and d); 234; 238, subparagraph b); 240; 252, paragraphs 1 and 2; 255, paragraph 2; 256; 258, paragraph 1; 259; 266, paragraph 4; and 271, for a period not exceeding two years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

2. Panama shall accede to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (Washington 1970, amended in 2001) within a period not exceeding two years from the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

Definitions For the purposes of this Title:

1. "Competition laws" means:

• a)for the United Kingdom(*), Articles 101, 102, and 106 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Council Regulation (EC) No. 139/2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings, and their implementing regulations and amendments;

(*) (Thus replaced its designation by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019." Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• b)for the CA Party, the Central American Regulation on Competition (hereinafter, "the Regulation"), which shall be established in accordance with Article 25 of the Protocol to the General Treaty on Central American Economic Integration (Protocol of Guatemala) and Article 21 of the Framework Convention for the Establishment of the Central American Customs Union (Guatemala, 2007); CENTR-AM/EU/en 333 c) until such time as the Regulation is adopted in accordance with Article 279, "competition laws" means the national competition laws that each of the Republics of the CA Party has adopted or maintained in accordance with Article 279; and d) any amendment that may occur to the aforementioned instruments after the entry into force of this Agreement.

2. "Competition authority" means:

• a)for the United Kingdom Party, the Competition and Markets Authority;

(Thus amended the preceding subparagraph by section 14 of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019")

• b)for the CA Party, the Central American Competition Body, which the CA Party shall establish and designate in its Competition Regulation; and c) until such time as the Central American Competition Body is established and enters into operation in accordance with Article 279, "competition authority" means the national competition authority of each of the Republics of the CA Party.

Principles 1. The Parties recognise the importance of free and undistorted competition in their trade relations. The Parties recognise that anti-competitive practices may affect the proper functioning of markets and the benefits of trade liberalisation.

2. Therefore, the Parties agree that the following are incompatible with this Agreement, to the extent that they may affect trade between the Parties:

• a)agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings, and concerted practices between undertakings, which have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition40 as specified in their respective competition laws; 40 For greater certainty, this subparagraph shall not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the analyses to be carried out in cases of application of agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings, and concerted practices between undertakings, as set out in the national competition laws of the Parties.
• b)any abuse by one or more undertakings of a dominant position or substantial market power or notable market share, as specified in their respective competition laws; and c) concentrations between undertakings that significantly impede effective competition, as specified in their respective competition laws.

Implementation 1. The Parties shall adopt or maintain in force comprehensive competition laws to effectively address the anti-competitive practices referred to in Article 278, paragraph 2, subparagraphs a) to c). The Parties shall establish or maintain designated competition authorities adequately equipped for the transparent and effective implementation of competition laws.

2. If, upon the entry into force of this Agreement, any of the Parties has not yet adopted competition laws in accordance with Article 277, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a) or b), or has not designated a competition authority in accordance with Article 277, paragraph 2, subparagraphs a) or b), they shall do so within a period of seven years. Once this transitional period has ended, the terms "competition laws" and "competition authority" referred to in this Title shall be understood only as those defined in Article 277, paragraph 1, subparagraphs a) and b), and paragraph 2, subparagraphs a) and b).

3. If, at the time of the entry into force of this Agreement, a Republic of the CA Party has not yet adopted competition laws in accordance with Article 277, paragraph 1, subparagraph c), nor designated a competition authority in accordance with Article 277, paragraph 2, subparagraph c), it shall do so within a period of three years.

4. No provision of this Title shall prejudge the competences assigned by the Parties to their respective regional and national authorities for the effective and coherent implementation of their competition laws.

Public undertakings or undertakings granted special or exclusive rights, including designated monopolies 1. No provision of this Title shall prevent a Republic of the CA Party or a Member State of the European Union from designating or maintaining public undertakings, undertakings granted special or exclusive rights, or monopolies in accordance with its national legislation.

2. The entities mentioned in paragraph 1 shall be subject to competition laws to the extent that the application of such laws does not obstruct the performance, in fact or in law, of the particular tasks assigned to them by a Republic of the CA Party or by a Member State of the European Union.

3. The Parties shall ensure that, as from the entry into force of this Agreement, no discrimination41 is exercised by such entities, regarding the conditions under which goods and services are bought and sold, either between natural or legal persons of either Party or between goods originating in either Party.

41 "Discrimination" means a measure that does not comply with national treatment, as set out in the relevant provisions of this Agreement.

4. No provision of this Title shall affect the rights and obligations of the Parties established under Title V (Public procurement) of Part IV of this Agreement.

Exchange of non-confidential information and enforcement cooperation 1. In order to facilitate the effective enforcement of their respective competition laws, the competition authorities may exchange non-confidential information.

2. The competition authority of a Party may request cooperation from the competition authority of the other Party with respect to enforcement activities. Such cooperation shall not prevent the Parties from making decisions autonomously.

3. No Party is obliged to communicate information to the other Party. In the event that a Party decides to communicate information, such Party may withhold information if the communication of such information is prohibited by the laws and regulations of the Party possessing the information or if such communication is incompatible with its interests. A Party may require that information communicated under this Article be used in accordance with the terms and conditions it specifies.

Cooperation and technical assistance The Parties agree that it is in their common interest to promote technical assistance initiatives related to competition policy and law enforcement activities. This cooperation is addressed in Article 52 of Title VI (Economic and commercial development) of Part III of this Agreement.

Dispute settlement The Parties may not have recourse to the dispute settlement procedure under Title X (Dispute settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement for matters arising under this Title.

Context and objectives 1. The Parties recall Agenda 21 on Environment and Development of 1992, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation on Sustainable Development of 2002, as well as the 2006 Ministerial Declaration on Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for All of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. The Parties reaffirm their commitment to promoting the development of international trade as a way to contribute to the objective of sustainable development and to ensuring that this objective is integrated and reflected at all levels of their trade relationship. To this end, the Parties recognise the importance of taking into consideration the best economic, social, and environmental interests, not only of their respective populations, but also of future generations.

2. The Parties reaffirm their commitment to achieving sustainable development, whose pillars—economic development, social development, and environmental protection—are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. The Parties highlight the benefit of considering trade-related social and environmental issues as part of a comprehensive approach to trade and sustainable development.

3. The Parties agree that this Title incorporates a cooperative approach based on common values and interests, taking into account the differences in their levels of development, as well as respect for their present and future needs and aspirations.

4. The Parties may not have recourse to the dispute settlement procedures under Title X (Dispute settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement, nor to the mediation mechanism for non-tariff measures provided for in Title XI (Mediation mechanism for non-tariff measures) of Part IV of this Agreement, for matters arising in relation to this Title.

Right to regulate and levels of protection 1. The Parties reaffirm respect for their respective Constitutions42 and for their rights established therein to regulate in order to set their own sustainable development priorities, their own domestic levels of environmental and social protection, and to adopt or modify their relevant legislation and policies accordingly.

42 For the United Kingdom(*), this refers to the Constitutions of the Member States of the European Union, the Treaty on European Union, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

(*) (Thus replaced its designation by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019." Previously indicated as "EU Party")

2. Each Party shall seek to ensure that its legislation and policies provide for and encourage high levels of environmental and labour protection, appropriate to its social, environmental, and economic conditions, and consistent with the internationally recognised standards and agreements referred to in Articles 286 and 287 to which they are party, and shall seek to improve such legislation and policies, provided that these are not applied in a manner that would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between the Parties or a disguised restriction on international trade.

Multilateral labour standards and agreements 1. Recalling the 2006 Ministerial Declaration on Full and Productive Employment and Decent Work for All of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, the Parties recognise that full and productive employment and decent work for all, which encompass social protection, fundamental principles and rights at work, and social dialogue, are key elements of sustainable development for all countries and, consequently, a priority objective of international cooperation. In this context, the Parties reaffirm their will to promote the development of macroeconomic policies conducive to the generation of full and productive employment and decent work for all, including men, women, and young people, with full respect for the fundamental principles and rights at work, under conditions of equity, equality, security, and dignity.

The Parties, in accordance with their obligations as members of the ILO, reaffirm their commitments to respect, promote, and realise, in good faith and in accordance with the ILO Constitution, the principles concerning the fundamental rights which are the subject of the ILO Fundamental Conventions, namely:

• a)freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; b) the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; c) the effective abolition of child labour; and d) the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

2. The Parties reaffirm their commitment to effectively implement, in their laws and practice, the ILO Fundamental Conventions contained in the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which are the following:

• a)Convention 138, concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment; b) Convention 182, concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour; c) Convention 105, concerning the Abolition of Forced Labour; d) Convention 29, concerning Forced or Compulsory Labour; e) Convention 100, concerning Equal Remuneration for Men and Women Workers for Work of Equal Value; f) Convention 111, concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment and Occupation; g) Convention 87, concerning Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise; and h) Convention 98, concerning the Application of the Principles of the Right to Organise and to Bargain Collectively.

3. The Parties will exchange information on their respective situation and progress regarding the ratification of other ILO Conventions.

4. The Parties stress that labour standards should never be invoked or otherwise used for protectionist trade purposes and that the comparative advantage of any Party should not be called into question.

5. The Parties undertake to consult and cooperate, as appropriate, on trade-related labour issues of mutual interest.

Multilateral environmental standards and agreements 1. The Parties recognise that international environmental governance and agreements are important elements for addressing global or regional environmental problems, and stress the need to enhance mutual supportiveness between trade and the environment. The Parties undertake to consult and cooperate, as appropriate, on trade-related environmental issues of mutual interest.

2. The Parties reaffirm their commitment to effectively implement in their laws and practice the multilateral environmental agreements to which they are party, including:

• a)the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer; b) the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal; c) the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants; d) the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (hereinafter, "CITES"); e) the Convention on Biological Diversity; f) the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity; and g) the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change43.

43 For greater certainty, the reference to the multilateral environmental agreements in Article 287, paragraph 2, shall encompass the protocols, amendments, annexes, and modifications ratified by the Parties.

3. The Parties undertake to ensure that they will have ratified, by the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Amendment to Article XXI of CITES, adopted at Gaborone (Botswana) on 30 April 1983.

4. The Parties also undertake, to the extent they have not already done so, to ratify and effectively implement, no later than the date of entry into force of this Agreement, the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

5. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prevent the adoption or enforcement by any Party of measures to implement the agreements referred to in this Article, provided that such measures are not applied in a manner that would constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination between countries where the same conditions prevail or a disguised restriction on international trade.

Trade favouring sustainable development 1. The Parties reconfirm that trade should promote sustainable development in all its dimensions. In this context, they recognise the value of international cooperation as support for efforts to develop trade schemes and practices that favour sustainable development and agree to work jointly within the framework of Articles 288, 289, and 290, with the aim of developing collaborative approaches, as appropriate.

2. The Parties shall seek to:

• a)consider those situations where the elimination or reduction of obstacles to trade would benefit trade and sustainable development, taking into consideration, in particular, the interactions between environmental measures and market access; b) facilitate and promote trade and foreign direct investment in environmental technologies and services, renewable energy, and energy-efficient products and services, including by addressing related non-tariff barriers; c) facilitate and promote trade in products that respond to sustainability considerations, including products subject to schemes such as fair and ethical trade, eco-labelling, and organic production, corporate social responsibility, and accountability; and d) facilitate and promote the development of practices and programs aimed at fostering appropriate economic returns from the conservation and sustainable use of the environment, such as ecotourism.

Trade in forest products In order to promote the sustainable management of forest resources, the Parties undertake to work jointly to improve forest law enforcement and governance, as well as to promote legal and sustainable trade in forest products, through instruments that may include, among other things: the effective use of CITES with respect to endangered timber species; certification schemes for sustainably harvested forest products; and regional or bilateral voluntary partnership agreements on forest law enforcement, governance, and trade (hereinafter, "FLEGT").

Trade in fishery products 1. The Parties recognise the need to promote sustainable fisheries in order to contribute to the conservation of fish stocks and the sustainable trade of fishery resources.

2. To this end, the Parties undertake to:

• a)adhere to the principles of the Agreement for the Implementation of the Provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, and implement them effectively, in relation to: the sustainable use, conservation, and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish species; international cooperation among States; support for scientific advice and research; the implementation of effective monitoring, control, and inspection measures; and the duties of the flag State and the port State, including compliance and enforcement; b) cooperate, including with and within relevant regional fisheries management organisations, with a view to preventing illegal, unreported, and unregulated ("IUU") fishing, including through the adoption of effective tools to implement control and inspection systems that ensure full compliance with conservation measures; c) exchange scientific information and non-confidential trade information, in order to exchange experiences and best practices in the field of sustainable fisheries and, more generally, to promote a sustainable approach to fisheries.

3. The Parties agree, to the extent they have not already done so, to adopt port State measures in accordance with the Agreement of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, implement control and inspection systems, as well as incentives and obligations for the rational and sustainable management of fisheries and coastal ecosystems in the long term.

Upholding levels of protection 1. The Parties recognise that it is inappropriate to promote trade or investment by weakening the levels of protection afforded in their domestic environmental and labour legislation.

2. A Party shall not waive or otherwise derogate from, nor offer to waive or otherwise derogate from, its labor and environmental legislation in a manner that affects trade or as an incentive for the establishment, acquisition, expansion, or retention of an investment or an investor in its territory.

3. A Party shall not fail to effectively enforce its labor and environmental legislation in a manner that affects trade or investment between the Parties.

4. Nothing in this Title shall be construed to empower the authorities of a Party to undertake activities aimed at enforcing legislation in the territory of the other Party.

Scientific Information The Parties recognize the importance, when preparing and implementing measures aimed at protecting the environment or occupational health and safety, of taking into account scientific and technical information, as well as relevant international standards, guidelines, or recommendations, while recognizing that, where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, the lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing protective measures.

Sustainability Review The Parties undertake to jointly review, monitor, and assess the contribution to sustainable development of Part IV of this Agreement, including cooperation activities under Article 302.

Institutional and Monitoring Mechanism 1. Each Party shall designate an office within its administration to serve as a Contact Point for the purpose of implementing the trade-related aspects of sustainable development. Upon the entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall submit to the Association Committee the complete contact information of their Contact Points.

2. The Parties establish a Board on Trade and Sustainable Development44, which shall be composed of high-level authorities from the administrations of each Party. Prior to each meeting of the Board, the Parties shall inform each other of the identity and contact information of their respective representatives.

44 The Board on Trade and Sustainable Development shall report on its activities to the Association Committee.

3. The Board on Trade and Sustainable Development shall meet during the first year from the date this Agreement enters into force, and thereafter as necessary, to oversee the implementation of this Title, including the cooperation activities carried out under Title VI (Economic and Trade Development) of Part III of this Agreement. The decisions and recommendations of the Board shall be adopted by mutual agreement between the Parties and shall be made available to the public, unless the Board decides otherwise.

4. Each Party shall convene new or existing trade and sustainable development advisory groups45. These groups shall be responsible for providing their views and making recommendations on the trade-related aspects of sustainable development, and for advising the Parties on how best to achieve the objectives of this Title.

45 In exercising the right of the Parties to use existing advisory groups for the implementation of the provisions of this Title, the Parties shall give existing bodies the opportunity to strengthen and develop their activities with the new perspectives and areas of work provided for by this Title. To this end, the Parties may use existing national advisory groups.

5. The Parties' advisory groups shall be composed of representative and independent organizations, with a balanced participation of relevant economic, social, and environmental stakeholders, including, among others, employer and worker organizations, business associations, non-governmental organizations, and local public authorities.

Civil Society Dialogue Forum 1. The Parties agree to organize and facilitate a bi-regional Civil Society Dialogue Forum for open dialogue, with a balanced representation of environmental, economic, and social stakeholders. The Civil Society Dialogue Forum shall conduct a dialogue covering the sustainable development aspects of the trade relationship between the Parties, as well as how cooperation can contribute to achieving the objectives of this Title. The Civil Society Dialogue Forum shall meet once a year, unless the Parties agree otherwise46.

46 For greater certainty, policy-making and other typical governmental functions shall not be delegated to the Civil Society Dialogue Forum.

2. Unless the Parties agree otherwise, each meeting of the Board shall include a session in which its members shall report to the Civil Society Dialogue Forum on the implementation of this Title. In turn, the Civil Society Dialogue Forum may express its views and opinions in order to promote dialogue on how best to achieve the objectives of this Title.

Governmental Consultations 1. A Party may request consultations with the other Party regarding any matter of mutual interest arising under this Title, by delivering a written request to the Contact Point of the other Party. In order for the Party receiving the request to respond, the request shall contain information that is sufficiently specific to present the matter clearly and objectively, identifying the problem at issue and providing a brief summary of its claims under this Title. Consultations shall commence without delay after a Party delivers a request for consultations.

2. The consulting Parties shall make every effort to reach a mutually satisfactory solution to the matter, taking into consideration the information exchanged between the consulting Parties and the opportunities for cooperation on the matter. During consultations, special attention shall be paid to the particular problems and interests of the Parties that are developing countries.

The consulting Parties shall take into consideration the activities of the ILO or other relevant multilateral environmental bodies or organizations to which they are party. Where appropriate, the consulting Parties may, by mutual agreement, seek advice or assistance from these organizations or bodies, or from any natural or legal person they consider appropriate in order to fully examine the matter at issue.

3. If, ninety days after the request for consultations, a consulting Party considers that the matter needs further discussion, and unless the consulting Parties agree otherwise, the matter shall be referred to the consideration of the Board on Trade and Sustainable Development by delivering a written request to the Contact Points of the other Parties. The Board on Trade and Sustainable Development shall meet without delay in order to help reach a mutually satisfactory solution. If it considers it necessary, the Board on Trade and Sustainable Development may seek the assistance of experts in the field, with the aim of facilitating its analysis.

4. Any solution to the matter reached by the consulting Parties shall be made public, unless the Board on Trade and Sustainable Development decides otherwise.

Panel of Experts 1. Unless the consulting Parties decide otherwise, a consulting Party may, sixty days after the referral of a matter to the Board on Trade and Sustainable Development, or, if the matter is not referred to the Board, ninety days after the delivery of the request for consultations in accordance with Article 296, paragraphs 1 and 3, respectively, request that a Panel of Experts be convened to examine a matter that has not been satisfactorily addressed through governmental consultations. The Parties to the process may submit communications to the Panel of Experts.

2. Upon the entry into force of this Agreement, the Parties shall submit to the Association Committee, for approval by the Council at its first meeting, a list of seventeen individuals, including at least five individuals who are not nationals of any of the Parties, with experience in environmental law, international trade, or dispute settlement under international agreements; and a list of seventeen individuals, including at least five individuals who are not nationals of any of the Parties, with experience in labor law, international trade, or dispute settlement under international agreements. Experts who are not nationals of any of the Parties may serve as Chairs of the Panel of Experts. Experts shall: i) be independent and not be affiliated with or accept instructions from any Party or organization represented in the advisory group or advisory groups; and ii) be chosen on the basis of objectivity, reliability, and sound judgment.

3. The Parties shall agree on replacements for experts who are no longer available to serve on such panels and may otherwise agree to modify the list in the manner and at the time they consider necessary.

Composition of the Panel of Experts 1. The Panel of Experts shall be composed of three experts.

2. The Chair shall not be a national of any of the Parties.

3. Each Party to the procedure shall select one expert from the list of experts within thirty days of receiving the request for the establishment of the Panel of Experts. If a Party fails to select an expert within that period, the other Party to the procedure shall select from the list of experts a national of the Party to the procedure that failed to select an expert. The two selected experts shall choose the Chair, by agreement or by lot, from among the experts who are not nationals of any of the Parties.

4. Individuals may not serve as experts with respect to a matter in which they, or an organization to which they are affiliated, have a direct or indirect conflict of interest. After being selected to serve as an expert in a particular matter, each expert must disclose the existence or development of any interest, relationship, or matter that such expert may reasonably be expected to know and that might affect or give rise to reasonable doubts about that expert's independence or impartiality.

5. If any Party to the procedure believes that an expert breaches the requirements set out in paragraph 4, the Parties to the procedure shall consult without delay and, if they so agree, remove the expert and select a new expert in accordance with the procedures set out in paragraph 3 that were used to choose the expert who was removed.

6. Unless the Parties to the procedure agree otherwise in accordance with Article 301, paragraph 2, the Panel of Experts shall be established no later than sixty days after the request of the Party.

Rules of Procedure 1. The Panel of Experts shall draw up a timetable that ensures that the Parties to the procedure can submit written communications and relevant information.

2. The Panel of Experts and the Parties shall ensure the protection of confidential information in accordance with the principles in Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement.

3. The mandate of the Panel of Experts shall be:

"to examine whether there has been a failure by a Party to comply with the obligations set out in Articles 286, paragraph 2; 287, paragraphs 2, 3 and 4; and 291 of this Title, and to formulate non-binding recommendations for resolving the matter; in the case of matters related to the enforcement of legislation, the mandate of the Panel of Experts shall be to determine whether there has been a sustained or recurring course of action or inaction by a Party in effectively implementing its obligations."

Initial Report 1. The Panel of Experts shall use the communications and arguments presented by the Parties to the procedure as the basis for its report. During the course of the procedure, the Parties shall have the opportunity to comment on any documents or information the Panel considers relevant to its work.

2. Within one hundred and twenty days of the date of establishment of the Panel of Experts, the Panel shall present to the Parties to the procedure an initial report including its recommendations. When the Panel considers that it cannot present its report within one hundred and twenty days, it shall inform the Parties to the procedure in writing of the reasons for the delay and provide an estimate of the period within which it will present its report.

3. The Panel's recommendations shall take into account the particular socio-economic situation of the Parties.

4. The Parties to the procedure may submit written observations to the Panel on its initial report, within thirty days of its presentation.

5. After receiving any written observations, the Panel, on its own initiative or at the request of any Party to the procedure, may:

• a)where relevant, request the views of the Parties to the procedure on the written observations; b) reconsider its report; or c) make any further examination it considers appropriate.

The final report of the Panel shall include a discussion of the arguments incorporated in the Parties' written observations.

Final Report 1. The Panel shall present to the Parties to the procedure and to the Board on Trade and Sustainable Development a final report no later than one hundred and eighty days after the date on which the Panel was established. The Parties shall make the final report public within fifteen days of its presentation.

2. The Parties to the procedure may decide, by mutual agreement, to extend the time limits set out in paragraph 1, as well as those in Article 298, paragraph 6, and Article 300, paragraph 4.

3. The Parties to the procedure, taking into consideration the report and recommendations of the Panel of Experts, shall endeavor to discuss the measures to be implemented, including, where appropriate, possible cooperation to support the implementation of such measures. The Party to which the recommendations are addressed shall inform the Board on Trade and Sustainable Development of its intentions regarding the report and recommendations of the Panel of Experts, including, as appropriate, by presenting an action plan. The Board on Trade and Sustainable Development shall monitor the implementation of the actions that the Party has determined.

Cooperation and Technical Assistance on Trade and Sustainable Development The cooperation and technical assistance measures related to this Title are set out in Title VI (Economic and Trade Development) of Part III of this Agreement.

General Provisions 1. The Parties highlight the importance of the region-to-region dimension and recognize the importance of regional economic integration in the context of this Agreement. Consequently, they reaffirm their willingness to strengthen and deepen their respective processes of regional economic integration, within the applicable frameworks.

2. The Parties recognize that regional economic integration regarding customs procedures, technical regulations, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures is essential for the free movement of goods in Central America and the United Kingdom(*)

(*) (Thus replaced its denomination by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Formerly stated as "EU Party")

3. Therefore, and taking into account the different level of development of their respective regional economic integration processes, the Parties agree to the following provisions.

Customs Procedures 1. In customs matters, no later than two years after the entry into force of this Agreement, the customs authority of the Republic of the CA Party of first entry shall grant a refund of the duty paid when such goods are exported to another Republic of the CA Party. Such goods shall be subject to the customs duties of the Republic of the CA Party of importation.

2. The Parties shall seek to implement a mechanism ensuring that goods originating in Central America or the European Union in accordance with Annex II (Concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation) of this Agreement entering their respective territory and having been cleared at the customs office of importation cannot be subject to customs duties or charges having an equivalent effect, nor to quantitative restrictions or measures having an equivalent effect.

3. The Parties agree that their respective customs legislation and procedures shall provide for the use of a Single Administrative Document or its electronic equivalent in the United Kingdom(*) and in the CA Party, respectively, in order to establish import and export customs declarations. The CA Party undertakes to achieve this objective three years after the entry into force of this Agreement.

(*) (Thus replaced its denomination by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Formerly stated as "EU Party")

4. The Parties shall also ensure that the customs legislation, procedures, and requirements related to importation applicable to goods originating in Central America or the European Union are harmonized at the regional level. The CA Party undertakes to achieve this objective no later than five years after the entry into force of this Agreement.

Technical Barriers to Trade 1. Regarding technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures:

(Note from Sinalevi: By means of subparagraph 15) sub-subparagraph a) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the preceding paragraph is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement) a) the Parties agree that the Member States of the European Union shall ensure that products originating in Central America that have been lawfully placed on the market of one Member State of the European Union may also be marketed in the other Member States of the European Union, provided that the product offers an equivalent level of protection of the various legitimate interests involved (principle of mutual recognition); b) in this regard, the Member States of the European Union shall accept, provided that the product offers an equivalent level of protection of the various legitimate interests involved, that a product that has satisfied the conformity assessment procedures required by one Member State of the European Union may be placed on the market of the other Member States of the European Union without having to undergo an additional conformity assessment procedure.

2. Where harmonized regional import requirements exist, products originating in the European Union must meet the regional requirements in order to be lawfully marketed in the Republic of the CA Party of first importation. In accordance with this Agreement, where a product is covered by harmonized legislation and a registration must be carried out, the registration carried out in one of the Republics of the CA Party must be accepted by all other Republics of the CA Party once the internal procedures have been completed.

3. Additionally, where registration is required, the Republics of the CA Party shall accept that products should be registered by groups or families of products.

4. The CA Party agrees to adopt, within five years of the entry into force of this Agreement, the regional technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures currently under preparation and listed in Annex XX (List of Central American Technical Regulations (RTCA) in the process of harmonization) of this Agreement, and to continue work to harmonize technical regulations and conformity assessment procedures, as well as promote the development of regional standards.

5. For products not yet harmonized in the CA Party and not included in Annex XX, the Association Committee shall establish a work program to study the possibility of including additional products in the future.

Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 1. The objective of this Article is:

• a)to promote conditions that allow goods subject to sanitary and phytosanitary measures to move freely within Central America and the United Kingdom(*);

(*) (Thus replaced its denomination by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Formerly stated as "EU Party")

• b)to promote the harmonization and improvement of sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and procedures in the CA Party and the United Kingdom, including to achieve the use of a single import certificate, a single list of establishments, a single import sanitary inspection, and a single fee for products imported from the United Kingdom into the CA Party;

(*) (Thus replaced its denomination by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Formerly stated as "EU Party")

• c)to seek to ensure the mutual recognition of verifications carried out by the Republics of the CA Party in any Member State of the European Union.

2. The United Kingdom(*) shall ensure that, from the date of entry into force of this Agreement, animals, animal products, plants, and plant products, lawfully traded, may move freely within the territory of the United Kingdom(*) without inspections at internal borders, provided they comply with the relevant sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.

(Note from Sinalevi: By means of subparagraph 15) sub-subparagraph b) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the preceding paragraph is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement)

(*) (Thus replaced its denomination by the subsection of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Formerly stated as "EU Party")

3. The CA Party shall ensure that, from the date of entry into force of this Agreement, animals, animal products, plants, and plant products benefit from regional transit facilitation in the territories of the CA Party, in accordance with Resolution No. 219-2007 (COMIECO-XLVII) and subsequent related instruments. For the purposes of this Title, in the case of imports from the United Kingdom(*), regional transit facilitation means that goods from the United Kingdom(*) may enter through any border inspection post of the CA Party and may transit through the region from one Republic of the CA Party to another, provided they comply with the sanitary and phytosanitary requirements of the Party of final destination, where a sanitary or phytosanitary inspection may be carried out.

(*) (Thus its denomination replaced by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of the International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

4. Provided that they meet the relevant sanitary and phytosanitary requirements and in accordance with the existing mechanisms in the Central American regional integration process, the CA Party undertakes to grant to animals, animal products, plants and plant products listed in Annex XIX (List of products referred to in Article 306, paragraph 4), the following treatment: when imported into the territory of a Republic of the CA Party, the competent authorities shall review the certificates issued by the competent authority of the United Kingdom(*) and may carry out a sanitary or phytosanitary inspection; once clearance has been granted, a product included in Annex XIX may only be subject to random sanitary or phytosanitary inspection at the point of entry of the Republic of the CA Party of final destination.

(*) (Thus its denomination replaced by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of the International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

For products included in List 1 of Annex XIX, the foregoing obligation shall apply no later than two years after the entry into force of this Agreement.

For products included in List 2 of Annex XIX, the foregoing obligation shall apply no later than five years after the entry into force of this Agreement.

5. Without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Parties (the United Kingdom(*) or the Republics of the CA Party) under the WTO Agreement and the sanitary and phytosanitary procedures and requirements established by each Party, an importing Party shall not be obliged to grant more favourable treatment to products imported from the the exporting Party in its intraregional trade.

(*) (Thus its denomination replaced by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of the International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

6. The Association Council may amend Annex XIX (List of products referred to in Article 306, paragraph 4), following the recommendations of the Subcommittee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Affairs to the Association Committee, in accordance with the procedure established in Title XIII (Specific tasks in trade matters of the bodies established under this Agreement) of Part IV of this Agreement.

7. The Subcommittee referred to in paragraph 6 shall closely monitor the implementation of this Article.

Implementation 1. The Parties recognise the importance of increasing cooperation to achieve the objectives of this Title and to address the matter through the mechanisms provided for in Title VI (Economic and Trade Development) of Part III of this Agreement.

2. The Parties undertake to consult each other on matters relating to this Title, with a view to ensuring the effective implementation of the region-to-region dimension of this Agreement and the objectives of regional economic integration.

3. The progress of the CA Party in the implementation of this Title shall be subject to periodic progress reports and work programmes by the CA Party covering Articles 304, 305 and 306. The progress reports and work programmes shall be submitted in writing and shall describe all steps taken towards the implementation of the obligations and objectives defined in Article 304, paragraphs 1, 3 and 4, Article 305, paragraphs 2, 3 and 4, and Article 306, paragraphs 3 and 4, as well as the steps planned for the period prior to the next progress report. The progress reports and work programmes shall be submitted each year until the commitments specified in this paragraph are effectively fulfilled.

4. The Parties shall consider the inclusion of other areas in this Title five years after the entry into force of this Agreement.

5. The regional integration commitments undertaken by the CA Party under this Title shall not be subject to the dispute settlement procedures of Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement.

Objective The objective of this Title is to avoid and resolve any dispute between the Parties concerning the interpretation or application of Part IV of the Agreement and that the Parties, wherever possible, reach a mutually satisfactory solution.

Scope of application 1. The provisions of this Title shall apply to any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of Part IV of the Agreement, unless 2. This Title shall not apply to disputes between the Republics of the CA Party.

Consultations 1. The Parties shall endeavour to resolve any dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the provisions set out in Article 309 through engaging in good faith in consultations, in order to reach a mutually satisfactory solution.

2. Any Party to this Agreement may request consultations by means of a written request to the other Party, with a copy to the Association Committee, indicating the reasons for its request, the legal basis of the complaint and identifying any existing or proposed measure at issue.

3. Where the complaining Party is the United Kingdom(*), and the alleged breach of any provision identified in accordance with paragraph 2 is substantially similar in all relevant legal and factual aspects with respect to more than one Republic of the CA Party, the United Kingdom(*) may request a single consultation covering those Republics of the CA Party47.

47 For example, where a provision of Part IV of the Agreement establishes, for all Republics of the CA Party, the obligation to comply with a specific requirement by a stipulated date, the failure to comply by more than one of the Republics of the CA Party would be a matter falling within the scope of application of this paragraph.

(*) (Thus its denomination replaced by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of the International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

4. Where the complaining Party is a Republic of the CA Party and the alleged breach of any provision identified in accordance with paragraph 2 adversely affects trade48 of more than one Republic of the CA Party, the Republics of the CA Party may request a single consultation or else request to join the consultations within five days following the date of delivery of the initial request for consultations. The Republic of the CA Party concerned shall include in its notification an explanation of its substantial trade interest in the matter.

48 For example, where an import ban on a product is implemented and that ban applies to exports of that product from more than one of the Republics of the CA Party, this would be a matter falling within the scope of application of this paragraph.

5. The consultations shall be held within thirty days following the date of submission of the request and shall take place, unless the Parties agree otherwise, in the territory of the Party complained against. The consultations shall be deemed concluded within thirty days following the date of submission of the request, unless both Parties agree to continue the consultations. Where, in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4, more than one Republic of the CA Party is involved in the consultations, these shall be deemed concluded within forty days following the date of submission of the initial request. The confidentiality of all information disclosed during the consultations shall be maintained.

6. In cases of urgency, in particular those concerning perishable or seasonal products, the consultations shall be held within fifteen days following the date of submission of the request, and shall be deemed concluded within fifteen days following the date of submission of the request. Where, in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4, more than one Republic of the CA Party is involved in the consultations, these shall be deemed concluded within twenty days following the date of submission of the initial request.

7. If the Party complained against does not respond to the request for consultations within ten days following receipt of the request, if the consultations are not held within the time frames established in paragraphs 5 or 6 respectively, or if the consultations have been concluded and the dispute has not been resolved, the complaining Party may request the establishment of a Special Group in accordance with Article 311.

8. If more than twelve months of inactivity have elapsed since the date of the last consultations and the basis of the dispute persists, the complaining Party shall request new consultations. This paragraph shall not apply where the inactivity is the result of good faith attempts to reach a mutually satisfactory solution in accordance with Article 324.

Initiation of the procedure before the Special Group 1. When the consulting Parties have not resolved the dispute in accordance with the provisions set out in Article 310, any complaining Party may request the establishment of a Special Group to consider the matter.

2. The request for the establishment of a Special Group shall be made in writing and delivered to the Party complained against, with a copy to the Association Committee. The complaining Party shall identify in its request the specific measure at issue, state the legal basis of its complaint and explain how such measure constitutes a breach of the provisions set out in Article 309.

3. Any Party entitled, by virtue of paragraph 1, to request the establishment of a Special Group may join the proceedings before the Special Group as a complaining Party, by means of a written notification addressed to the other contending Parties. The notification shall be sent no later than five days after the date of submission of the initial request for the establishment of a Special Group.

4. The establishment of a Special Group may not be requested to review a proposed measure.

Establishment of the Special Group 1. The Special Group shall be composed of three panelists.

2. Within ten days following the date of submission of the request for the establishment of a Special Group, the contending Parties shall hold consultations in order to reach agreement on the composition of the Special Group49.

49 Where a contending Party consists of two or more Republics of the CA Party, they shall act jointly in the procedure established in Article 312.

3. Should the contending Parties fail to agree on the composition of the Special Group within the time frame established in paragraph 2, each contending Party shall have the right to select a panelist, who shall not act as Chairperson, from among the individuals on the list established in Article 325, within three days following the expiry of the time frame established in paragraph 2. The Chairperson of the Association Committee, or the person delegated by him or her, shall select by lot the Chairperson, as well as any outstanding panelist, from among the relevant individuals on the list established in accordance with Article 325.

4. The Chairperson of the Association Committee, or the person delegated by him or her, shall conduct the drawing of lots within five days following receipt of a request to that effect from one or both contending Parties. The drawing of lots shall take place at a time and place that must be communicated without delay to the contending Parties. These may, if they so wish, be present during the drawing of lots.

5. The contending Parties may select, by mutual agreement and within the time frame established in paragraph 2, individuals not included on the list of panelists, but who meet the requirements established in Article 325.

6. The date of establishment of the Special Group shall be the date on which all panelists have notified acceptance of their selection.

Decision of the Special Group 1. The Special Group shall notify its decision on the matter of the dispute to the contending Parties, with a copy to the Association Committee, within one hundred and twenty days following the date of establishment of the Special Group.

2. When the Special Group considers that the time frame referred to in paragraph 1 cannot be met, the Chairperson of the Special Group shall, without delay, notify it in writing to the contending Parties, with a copy to the Association Committee, stating the reasons for the delay and the date on which the Special Group estimates that it will conclude its work. Unless exceptional circumstances arise, the decision shall be notified no later than one hundred and fifty days from the date of establishment of the Special Group.

3. In cases of urgency, in particular those concerning perishable or seasonal products, the Special Group shall make every effort to notify its decision within sixty days following the date of its establishment. Unless exceptional circumstances arise, the decision shall be notified no later than seventy- five days after the date of establishment of the Special Group. The Special Group, within ten days following its establishment, at the request of a contending Party, may issue a preliminary ruling on whether it considers the case to be urgent.

Compliance with the decision of the Special Group 1. Where relevant, the Party complained against shall adopt, without delay, any measures necessary to comply in good faith with the decision of the Special Group on the matter of the dispute, and the contending Parties shall endeavour to agree on the period of time for compliance.

2. For compliance purposes, the contending Parties and, in any event, the Special Group, shall take into consideration the possible effects of the measure determined to be inconsistent with this Agreement on the level of development of the Party complained against.

3. In the event that full and timely compliance with the decision of the Special Group does not occur, compensation or the suspension of obligations may be applied as temporary measures. In this case, the contending Parties shall endeavour to agree on compensation instead of applying the suspension of obligations. However, neither compensation nor the suspension of obligations is preferable to the timely and full implementation of the decision of the Special Group.

4. Where a decision of the Special Group applies to more than one Republic of the CA Party acting as the complaining Party or as the Party complained against, any compensation or suspension of obligations in accordance with this Title shall be applied individually to each Republic of the CA Party, for which purpose the decision of the Special Group shall individually determine the level of nullification or impairment caused by the breach in each of the Republics of the CA Party.

Reasonable period of time for compliance 1. The Party complained against shall notify the complaining Party without delay of the reasonable period of time for compliance it requires, as well as the specific measures it intends to adopt, where possible.

2. The contending Parties shall endeavour to agree on the reasonable period of time required for compliance with the decision within thirty days following the notification of the decision of the Special Group to the contending Parties. Where such agreement is reached, the contending Parties shall notify the Association Committee of the agreed reasonable period of time and, where possible, the specific measures that the Party complained against intends to adopt.

3. Should there be a disagreement between the Parties on the reasonable period of time for compliance with the decision of the Special Group within the time frame established in paragraph 2, the complaining Party may request the original Special Group to determine the length of the reasonable period of time. Such request shall be made in writing and notified simultaneously to the other contending Party and to the Association Committee. The Special Group shall notify its decision to the contending Parties and to the Association Committee within twenty days following the date of submission of the request. In the event that a decision of the Special Group applies to more than one Republic of the CA Party, the Special Group shall determine the reasonable period of time for each Republic of the CA Party.

4. Should the original Special Group, or some of its members, be unable to reconvene, the relevant procedures established in Article 312 shall apply. The maximum time limit for notifying the decision shall be thirty-five days from the date of submission of the request referred to in paragraph 3.

5. The Party complained against shall inform the Association Committee of the measures adopted and the measures to be adopted to comply with the decision of the Special Group. This report shall be in writing and made no later than the midpoint of the reasonable period of time.

6. The reasonable period of time may be extended by mutual agreement between the contending Parties. All time limits set out in this Article form part of the reasonable period of time.

Review of any measure adopted to comply with the decision of the Special Group 1. Before the Party complained against shall notify the complaining Party, with a copy to the Association Committee, of any measure it has adopted to comply with the decision of the Special Group and shall provide details such as the date of its entry into force, the relevant text of that measure and a factual and legal explanation of how the measure adopted to comply brings the Party complained against into conformity.

2. In the event of disagreement between the contending Parties regarding the existence or consistency of any measure notified in accordance with paragraph 1 with the provisions set out in Article 309, the complaining Party may request in writing that the original Special Group decide on the matter. Such request shall identify the specific measure at issue and explain the manner in which that measure is inconsistent with the provisions set out in Article 309. The Special Group shall notify its decision within forty-five days following the date of submission of the request. In the event that a decision of the Special Group applies to more than one Republic of the CA Party, the Special Group shall, where necessary given the circumstances, issue its decision in accordance with this Article for each Republic of the CA Party.

3. Should the original Special Group, or some of its members, be unable to reconvene, the relevant procedures established in Article 312 shall apply. The time limit for notifying the decision shall be sixty days from the date of submission of the request referred to in paragraph 2.

Temporary remedies in case of non-compliance 1. If any Party complained against does not notify any measure adopted to comply with the decision of the Special Group before the expiry of the reasonable period of time in accordance with Article 316, or if the Special Group decides that the measure notified in accordance with Article 316, paragraph 1, is inconsistent with the obligations of that Party under the provisions set out in Article 309, the Party complained against shall, if so requested by the complaining Party, present an offer of compensation. In the event that a decision of the Special Group applies to more than one Republic of the CA Party, each of the Republics of the CA Party shall present an offer of compensation, or receive an offer of compensation, as the case may be, taking into consideration the level of nullification or impairment determined in accordance with Article 314, paragraph 4, as well as any measure notified under Article 316, paragraph 1. The United Kingdom(*) shall endeavour to exercise due moderation when requesting compensation in accordance with this paragraph.

(*) (Thus its denomination replaced by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of the International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

2. If no agreement on compensation is reached within thirty days following the expiry of the reasonable period of time or of the notification of the decision of the Special Group in accordance with Article 316 to the effect that the measure adopted to comply is inconsistent with the provisions of Article 309, any complaining Party shall be entitled, upon prior notification to the Party complained against with a copy to the Association Committee, to suspend obligations arising from any provision referred to in Article 309, at a level equivalent to the nullification or impairment caused by the breach. The notification shall state the obligations it proposes to suspend. The complaining Party may implement the suspension ten days after the date of notification, unless the Party complained against has requested a ruling by a Special Group in accordance with paragraph 3. In the event that a decision of the Special Group applies to more than one Republic of the CA Party, the suspension of obligations shall be applied individually to each of the Republics of the CA Party that has failed to comply, or by each Republic of the CA Party, as the case may be, taking into consideration the individual level of nullification and impairment determined in accordance with Article 314, paragraph 4, as well as any measure notified under Article 316, paragraph 1.

3. If any Party complained against considers that the level of suspension is not equivalent to the nullification or impairment caused by the breach, it may request in writing that the original Special Group decide on the matter. Such request shall be notified to the complaining Party with a copy to the Association Committee, prior to the expiry of the ten-day period set out in paragraph 2. The Special Group shall notify its decision on the level of the suspension of obligations to the contending Parties with a copy to the Association Committee within thirty days following the date of submission of the request. Obligations shall not be suspended until the Special Group has notified its decision, and any suspension shall be consistent with the decision of the Special Group.

4. Should the Special Group original or some of its members be unable to reconvene, the procedures established in Article 312 shall apply. The time limit for notifying the decision shall be forty-five days from the date of submission of the request referred to in paragraph 3.

5. Where obligations are suspended in accordance with the provisions set out in paragraph 1, the United Kingdom(*) shall endeavour to exercise due moderation, taking into consideration, among other factors, the likely impact on the economy and the level of development of the Party complained against, and shall opt for measures aimed at achieving compliance by the Party complained against that are least likely to adversely affect the achievement of the objectives of this Agreement.

6. The suspension of obligations shall be temporary and shall only be applied until any measure found to be inconsistent with the provisions set out in Article 309 has been brought into full conformity with those provisions, as set out in Article 318, or until the contending Parties have agreed to resolve the dispute.

(*) (Thus its denomination replaced by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of the International Treaty, N° 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Review of any measure adopted to comply after the suspension of obligations 1. The Requested Party shall notify the Requesting Party, with a copy to the Association Committee, of any measure it has taken to comply with the Panel's decision, as well as its request to terminate the suspension of obligations applied by the Requesting Party.

2. If the disputing Parties do not reach an agreement on the compatibility of the notified measure with the provisions indicated in Article 309 within thirty days following the date of submission of the notification provided for in paragraph 1, the Requesting Party may request in writing that the original Panel decide on the matter. Such request shall be notified to the Requested Party with a copy to the Association Committee. In the event that a Panel decision applies to more than one Republic of the CA Party, the Panel shall issue its decision in accordance with this Article for each of the Republics of the CA Party. The Panel's decision shall be notified to the disputing Parties with a copy to the Association Committee within forty-five days following the date of submission of the request. If the Panel decides that any measure taken to comply is compatible with the provisions of Article 309, the suspension of obligations shall be terminated.

3. In the event that the original Panel or any of its members cannot be reconvened, the procedures established in Article 312 shall apply. The deadline for notifying the decision shall be sixty days from the date of submission of the request referred to in paragraph 2.

Rules of Procedure 1. Unless the disputing Parties agree otherwise, the dispute settlement procedures set out in this Title shall be governed by the Rules of Procedure adopted by the Association Council.

2. Without prejudice to the protection of confidential information, any hearing of the Panel shall be open to the public in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

3. Unless the disputing Parties agree otherwise, within five days following the establishment of the Panel, its terms of reference shall be: "to examine, in the light of the relevant provisions of Part IV of this Agreement, the matter referred to in the request for the establishment of the Panel, to decide on the compatibility of the measure at issue with the provisions indicated in Article 309 of Title X (Dispute Settlement) and to issue a decision on the matter of the dispute in accordance with Article 313 of Title X (Dispute Settlement)".

4. Where the disputing Parties have agreed on different terms of reference, they shall notify them to the Panel within two days following their agreement.

5. If a disputing Party considers that a panelist has breached the Code of Conduct or does not meet the requirements set out in Article 325, it may request his or her removal in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

Information and Technical Advice 1. At the request of a disputing Party, or on its own initiative, the Panel may obtain information from any Party it deems appropriate for the Panel proceeding.

2. The Panel may also seek, where pertinent, information and opinions from experts, bodies, or other sources. Before seeking such information and opinions, the Panel shall inform the disputing Parties and provide them with the opportunity to formulate observations thereon. Any information obtained in accordance with this paragraph must be disclosed in a timely manner to each of the disputing Parties and sent to them for their observations. Such comments shall be transmitted to the Panel and the other Party.

Amicus Curiae Natural or legal persons with an interest in the matter of the dispute, residing or established in the territories of the disputing Parties, are authorized to submit amicus curiae briefs for the possible consideration of the Panel, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure.

Rules and Principles of Interpretation 1. Any Panel shall interpret the provisions indicated in Article 309 in accordance with customary rules of interpretation of public international law, taking due account that the Parties must apply this Agreement in good faith and avoid the circumvention of their obligations.

2. Where a provision of Part IV of this Agreement is identical to a provision of a WTO Agreement, the Panel shall adopt an interpretation compatible with any relevant interpretation established in decisions of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body.

3. The Panel's decisions cannot add to or diminish the rights and obligations set out in the provisions indicated in Article 309.

Common Provisions Related to Panel Decisions 1. The Panel shall make every effort to take any decision by consensus.

However, when a decision by consensus cannot be reached, the matter at issue shall be decided by majority vote. However, the dissenting opinions of the panelists shall under no circumstances be published.

2. Any decision of the Panel shall be final and binding on the Parties, and shall not create any right or obligation for natural or legal persons.

3. The decision shall set out the factual and legal findings of the Panel, the applicability of the relevant provisions of the Agreement, and the basic rationale behind its findings and conclusions. The decision shall also include a reference to any request for a determination made by either or both disputing Parties, including those contained in the Panel's terms of reference. The disputing Parties shall make the Panel's report public. The provisions of this paragraph do not apply to organizational rulings.

4. The Panel may not disclose confidential information in its report, but may state conclusions derived from that information.

Mutually Satisfactory Solution The disputing Parties may reach a mutually satisfactory solution to a dispute, in accordance with the provisions of this Title, at any time. They shall notify the Association Committee of any such solution. The proceeding shall conclude upon the notification of the mutually satisfactory solution.

List of Panelists 1. No later than six months50 after the entry into force of the Agreement, the Association Council shall establish a list of thirty-six individuals who are willing and able to serve as panelists. The United Kingdom(*) shall propose twelve individuals to serve as panelists and each Republic of the CA Party shall propose two individuals. The United Kingdom(*) and the Republics of the CA Party shall also select twelve persons who are not nationals of any of the Parties to serve as Chairperson of the Panel. The Association Council may review the list at any time and shall ensure that the list is always maintained at this level in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph.

50 From the entry into force of this Agreement:

(*) (Its denomination thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• a)the Parties shall send their lists of candidates to the Association Council within seventy-five days thereafter; b) the Association Council shall approve or reject the candidates on the lists within one hundred and twenty days thereafter; c) the Parties shall send a list of additional candidates to replace the rejected candidates within one hundred and fifty days thereafter; d) the list of candidates shall be finalized within one hundred and eighty days thereafter.

2. Panelists must have specialized knowledge or experience in law, international trade, or other matters related to Part IV of this Agreement or in the resolution of disputes arising from international trade agreements, be independent, serve in their individual capacity, and not be affiliated with or receive instructions from any Party or organization, as well as comply with the Code of Conduct adopted by the Association Council.

3. The Association Council may establish additional lists of up to fifteen individuals with sectoral experience in specific matters covered by Part IV of this Agreement. When recourse is made to the selection procedure established in Article 312, the Chairperson of the Association Committee may use a sectoral list if there is agreement between the Parties.

Relationship with WTO Obligations 1. If a disputing Party wishes to redress the violation of an obligation under the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (hereinafter, the "WTO DSU"), it shall have recourse to the relevant rules and procedures of the WTO Agreement.

2. If a disputing Party wishes to redress the violation of an obligation arising from Part IV of this Agreement, it shall have recourse to the relevant rules and procedures of this Title.

3. If a disputing Party wishes to redress the violation of an obligation arising from Part IV of this Agreement which in turn entails a violation of the WTO Agreements, the Party may have recourse to the forum of its choice.

4. The disputing Parties shall avoid bringing identical disputes in different fora when based on the same measures and the same legal claims.

5. In the case of disputes that are not identical, related to the same measure, the Parties shall refrain from initiating concurrent dispute settlement proceedings.

6. Where a disputing Party has initiated dispute settlement proceedings under the WTO DSU or this Title and subsequently seeks redress for the violation of an obligation in a second forum, based on an identical dispute to that previously established in the other forum, that Party may not establish the second dispute. For the purposes of this Title, the term "identical" means a dispute based on the same legal claims and the same challenged measures. A dispute shall not be considered identical where, for procedural or jurisdictional reasons, the forum initially selected has not made findings on the claim presented to it.

7. For the purposes of the preceding paragraph, a dispute settlement proceeding shall be considered initiated under the WTO DSU when the Panel has been established in accordance with Article 6 of the WTO DSU, and under this Title, when a Party has requested the establishment of a Panel in accordance with Article 311, paragraph 1. Dispute settlement proceedings under the WTO DSU conclude when the Dispute Settlement Body adopts the Panel report or the Appellate Body report, in accordance with Articles 16 and 17, paragraph 14, of the WTO DSU. Dispute settlement proceedings under this Title conclude when the Panel notifies its decision on the matter of the dispute to the Parties and the Association Committee in accordance with Article 313, paragraph 1.

8. Any question concerning the jurisdiction of the Panels established in accordance with this Title must be raised within a period of ten days from the establishment of the Panel and be resolved through a preliminary ruling within thirty days following the establishment of the Panel. Once an objection to the jurisdiction of a Panel has been filed in accordance with this Article, all deadlines established in this Title and in the Rules of Procedure must be suspended, until the notification of the Panel's preliminary ruling.

9. Nothing in this Title shall prevent a disputing Party from applying the suspension of obligations authorized by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body. The WTO Agreement shall not be invoked to prevent a disputing Party from suspending obligations under this Title.

Time Periods 1. All time periods established in this Title and in the Rules of Procedure, including the deadlines for the Panels to notify their decisions, shall be counted in calendar days, the first day being that following the act or fact to which reference is made.

2. Any time period cited in this Title or in the Rules of Procedure may be modified by mutual agreement of the disputing Parties.

3. The Panel, at the request of the Requesting Party and with the agreement of the Requested Party, may suspend its work at any time, for a period not exceeding twelve months. In this case, the time periods shall be extended by the amount of time during which the proceeding is suspended. If the proceeding before the Panel has been suspended for more than twelve months, the Panel's terms of reference shall expire, without prejudice to the right of the Requesting Party to request consultations and subsequently request the establishment of a Panel on the same matter at a later stage. This paragraph shall not apply when the suspension is the result of good faith attempts to reach a mutually satisfactory solution in accordance with Article 324.

Adoption and Modification of the Rules of Procedure and the Code of Conduct 1. The Association Council shall adopt the Rules of Procedure and the Code of Conduct at its first session.

2. The Association Council may modify the Rules of Procedure and the Code of Conduct.

Scope of Application 1. The mediation mechanism shall apply to non-tariff measures that adversely affect trade between the Parties covered by Part IV of this Agreement.

2. The mediation mechanism shall not apply to any measure or other matter arising under: a) Title VIII, on trade and sustainable development; b) Title IX, on regional economic integration; c) the integration processes of the United Kingdom(*) and the Republics of the CA Party;

(*) (Its denomination thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

• d)matters from which the dispute settlement mechanism has been excluded; and e) the institutional provisions of this Agreement.

3. This Title shall apply bilaterally between the United Kingdom(*) on one side, and each of the Republics of the CA Party, on the other.

(*) (Its denomination thus substituted by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

4. The mediation proceeding shall be confidential.

Initiation of the Proceeding 1. A Party may, at any time, request in writing that the other Party participate in the mediation proceeding. The request shall include a description of the matter sufficient to clearly present the measure at issue and its trade effects.

2. The Party to which the request is addressed shall consider the request favourably and provide a written response within ten days following the date of receipt of the request.

3. Before the selection of the mediator in accordance with Article 331, the Parties to the proceeding shall endeavour in good faith to reach an agreement through direct negotiations, for which they shall have a period of twenty days.

Selection of the Mediator 1. The Parties to the proceeding are encouraged to reach an agreement on the mediator within a period not exceeding fifteen days after the expiry of the period provided for in Article 330, paragraph 3, or earlier if a Party notifies the other that an agreement is not feasible without the help of a mediator.

2. If the Parties to the proceeding do not reach an agreement on the mediator within the established period, any Party may request the designation of the mediator by lot. Within five days following the submission of that request, each Party shall establish a list of at least three persons who are not nationals of that Party, meet the conditions of paragraph 4, and are able to serve as mediator. Within five days following the submission of the list, each Party shall select at least one name from the other Party's list. The chairperson of the Association Committee, or the Chairperson's delegate, shall select the mediator by lot from the selected names. The designation by lot must be carried out within fifteen days following the submission of the request for designation by lot, at a date and a place which must be promptly communicated to the Parties. The Parties may, if they so wish, be present at the time of the selection by lot.

3. If a Party to the proceeding does not establish the list or does not select a name from the other Party's list, the Chairperson, or the Chairperson's delegate, shall select the mediator by lot from the list of the Party that fulfilled the requirements of paragraph 2.

4. The mediator must be an expert in the subject matter to which the measure at issue relates51. The mediator shall assist the Parties to the proceeding, in an impartial and transparent manner, in providing clarity on the measure and its possible effects on trade, as well as in reaching a mutually agreed solution.

51 For example, in cases related to technical standards and requirements, the mediator shall have experience in the relevant international standardizing bodies.

5. Where a Party to the proceeding considers that the mediator has breached the Code of Conduct, it may request his or her removal, and a new mediator shall be selected in accordance with paragraphs 1 to 4.

Rules of the Mediation Proceeding 1. The Parties shall participate in good faith in the mediation proceeding and make every effort to reach a mutually satisfactory solution.

2. Within fifteen days following the appointment of the mediator, the Party that initiated the mediation proceeding shall submit to the mediator, as well as to the other Party to the proceeding, a detailed written description of the problem, in particular on the operation of the measure at issue and its trade effects. Within ten days following the date of receipt of said communication, the other Party may submit its written observations on the description of the problem. Any Party may include in its description or observations any information it considers relevant.

3. The mediator may decide on the most appropriate manner to conduct the proceeding, in particular whether to consult with the Parties to the proceeding, jointly or individually, and when and how to do so. The mediator may also assess when certain information has not been made available by the Parties, or when said information is not in the possession of the Parties, whether the circumstances require the assistance of or consultation with relevant experts, government agencies, or other natural or legal persons with specialized knowledge of the subject matter. Where the assistance of or consultation with relevant experts, government agencies, or other natural or legal persons with specialized knowledge of the subject matter involves confidential information as defined in Article 336 of this Title, such information may only be made available after informing the Parties to the proceeding and on the express condition that such information is treated as confidential information at all times.

4. Once the necessary information has been collected, the mediator may offer an assessment of the matter and the measure at issue, as well as propose a solution to the Parties to the proceeding for their consideration. Such assessment shall not address the compatibility of the measure at issue with the Agreement.

5. The proceeding shall take place in the territory of the Party to which the request was submitted, or at any other location or by any other mutually agreed means.

6. For the performance of his or her functions, the mediator may use any means of communication, including, among others, telephone, facsimile transmission, web links, or videoconference.

7. The proceeding shall normally be completed within sixty days following the date of the mediator's designation. At any stage, the Parties to the proceeding may terminate the proceeding by mutual agreement.

Implementation of a Mutually Agreed Solution 1. Where the Parties to the proceeding have agreed on a solution to the trade barriers caused by the measure subject to the proceeding, each Party shall take the necessary measures to implement said solution without delay.

2. The Party responsible for implementation shall report regularly in writing to the other Party, as well as to the Association Committee, on any steps or measures taken to implement the mutually agreed solution. This obligation shall cease to exist once the mutually agreed solution has been fully and properly implemented.

Relationship with Title X on Dispute Settlement 1. The proceeding under this mediation mechanism is independent of Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement and is not intended to serve as a basis for dispute settlement proceedings under said Title or any other agreement. A request for mediation and any proceedings under the mediation mechanism shall not preclude recourse to Title X.

2. The mediation mechanism is without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Parties under Title X.

Time Periods Any time period established in this Title may be modified by mutual agreement of the Parties to the proceeding.

Confidentiality of Information 1. Any Party to the proceeding submitting documentation or communications as part of the mediation proceeding may designate such documentation or communications, or any part thereof, as confidential.

2. Where documentation or communications, or any parts thereof, have been designated as confidential by a Party, the other Party and the mediator shall return or destroy such documents within a period not exceeding fifteen days after concluding the mediation proceeding.

3. Likewise, where documentation or communications, or any parts thereof, that have been designated as confidential have been made available to relevant experts, government agencies, or other natural or legal persons with specialized knowledge related to the matter, said documentation or communications shall be returned or destroyed within a period not exceeding fifteen days after the conclusion of the assistance or consultations of the mediators.

Costs 1. All costs of the mediation process shall be borne by the Parties in equal shares. "Costs" shall mean the mediator's remuneration, transport, accommodation, and meal expenses, as well as all general administrative costs of the mediation proceeding, in accordance with the statement of expenses submitted by the mediator.

2. The mediator shall keep a complete and detailed record of all relevant expenses incurred and shall submit a statement of his or her expenses to the Parties to the proceeding, together with the supporting documents.

3. The Association Council shall establish all eligible expenses, as well as the remuneration and allowances to be paid to the mediator.

Cooperation for Greater Transparency The Parties agree to cooperate in relevant bilateral and multilateral fora to increase transparency, including through the elimination of bribery and corruption in matters covered by Part IV of this Agreement.

Publication 1. Each Party shall ensure that its measures of general application, including laws, regulations, judicial decisions, procedures, and administrative rulings on any trade-related matter covered by Part IV of this Agreement are promptly published or made available to interested persons, in such a manner as to enable interested persons of a Party, as well as any other Party, to become acquainted with them. Upon request, each Party shall provide an explanation of the objective and rationale of such measures and shall consider an adequate period of time between publication and their entry into force, except where specific legal or practical circumstances dictate otherwise.

2. Each Party shall endeavour to provide interested persons of the other Party with the opportunity to formulate observations on any proposed law, regulation, procedure, or administrative ruling of general application and to take into consideration the relevant observations received.

3. The measures of general application referred to in paragraph 1 shall be deemed to have been made available when the measure has been made available through appropriate notification to the WTO or on an official, public, and free-of-charge access website of the Party concerned.

4. No provision of Part IV of this Agreement shall be construed to oblige any Party to provide confidential information the disclosure of which would impede law enforcement, or otherwise be contrary to the public interest, or which would prejudice the legitimate commercial interests of particular enterprises, whether public or private.

Contact points and exchange of information 1. In order to facilitate communication and to ensure the effective implementation of this Agreement, the United Kingdom(), the CA Party and each Republic of the CA Party shall designate a contact point no later than upon the entry into force of this Agreement53. The designation of contact points shall be without prejudice to the specific designation of competent authorities under specific provisions of this Agreement.

52 The contact point designated by the CA Party shall be used for the exchange of information relating to its collective obligations in accordance with Article 352, paragraph 2, of Part V (Final Provisions) of this Agreement and shall operate according to the instructions agreed by the Republics of the CA Party.

53 For the purposes of the obligation to designate a contact point by the CA Party, "date of entry into force" shall mean the date on which all the Republics of the CA Party have the Agreement in force, in accordance with Article 353(*), paragraph 4.

(*)(Note by Sinalevi: Through paragraph 16) sub-paragraph b) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that neither Article 353 nor any reference to Article 353 is incorporated into this Agreement)

() (Thus replaced its denomination by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

2. At the request of a Party, the contact point of the other Party shall indicate the office or official responsible for any matter relating to the implementation of Part IV of this Agreement and shall provide the necessary support to facilitate communication with the requesting Party.

3. At the request of a Party, and to the extent legally possible, each relevant Party shall provide information and promptly respond to any question relating to an existing or proposed measure that could substantially affect Part IV of this Agreement.

Administrative procedures Each Party shall administer all measures of general application referred to in Article 339 in a consistent, impartial, and reasonable manner. More specifically, when applying such measures to persons, goods, services, or establishments of a Party in specific cases, each Party:

• a)shall endeavour to provide persons directly affected by a proceeding with reasonable notice of its initiation, including a description of the nature of the proceeding, a statement of the legal authority under which the proceeding is initiated, and a general description of any issues in controversy; b) shall provide such interested persons a reasonable opportunity to present facts and arguments in support of their positions prior to any final administrative action, when time, the nature of the proceeding, and the public interest permit; and c) shall ensure that its procedures are based in law.

Review and appeal 1. Each Party shall establish or maintain judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative tribunals or procedures for the purpose of the prompt review and, where warranted, correction of final administrative action affecting matters related to trade covered by Part IV of this Agreement. Such tribunals or procedures shall be independent of the office or authority entrusted with administrative enforcement, and the officials responsible for them shall be impartial and have no substantial interest in the outcome of the matter.

2. Each Party shall ensure that, in any such tribunals or procedures, the parties to the proceeding are provided the right to:

• a)a reasonable opportunity to support or defend their respective positions; and b) a decision based on the evidence and submissions of record or, where required by its law, on the record compiled by the administrative authority.

3. Each Party shall ensure that, subject to any further appeal or review provided for in its law, any such decisions shall be implemented by the office or authority competent for the administrative action at issue and shall govern the practice of such office or authority.

Specific rules The provisions of this Title shall be without prejudice to any specific rules established in other provisions of this Agreement.

Transparency in subsidies 1. For the purposes of this Agreement, a subsidy is a measure related to trade in goods that fulfils the conditions set out in Article 1.1 of the SCM Agreement and is specific within the meaning of Article 2 thereof. This provision covers subsidies as defined in the Agreement on Agriculture.

2. Each Party shall ensure transparency in subsidies as regards trade in goods. From the entry into force of this Agreement, each Party shall report every two years to the other Party on the legal basis, form, amount or budget, and, where possible, the beneficiary of subsidies granted by its government or any public body. Such report shall be deemed to have been provided if the relevant information has been made available by the Parties or on their behalf on a publicly accessible website. When exchanging information, the Parties shall take into account the requirements of professional and commercial secrecy.

3. The Parties may exchange information upon request by a Party on issues relating to subsidies in the area of services.

4. The Association Committee shall periodically review the progress made by the Parties in implementing this Article.

5. The provisions of this Article shall be without prejudice to the rights of the Parties to apply trade defence measures or to take dispute settlement or other appropriate actions against subsidies granted by the other Party, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the WTO.

6. The Parties may not have recourse to the dispute settlement procedures under Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement for matters arising under this Article.

OF THE BODIES ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT

Specific tasks of the Association Council 1. When the Association Council carries out any of the tasks conferred upon it in Part IV of this Agreement, it shall be composed, at ministerial level, of representatives of the United Kingdom(*), on the one hand, and of the Ministers of each of the Republics of the CA Party, with responsibility for trade-related matters, on the other, in accordance with the respective legal frameworks of the Parties, or by persons they have designated.

(*) (Thus replaced its denomination by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

2. The Association Council may, when dealing with trade-related matters:

• a)amend, in furtherance of the objectives of Part IV of this Agreement:
• i)the lists of goods set out in Annex I (Elimination of Customs Duties), in order to incorporate one or more goods into the tariff elimination schedule; ii) the lists set out in Annex I (Elimination of Customs Duties), in order to accelerate tariff elimination; iii) Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of Annex I (Elimination of Customs Duties); iv) Appendices 1, 2, 2A, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Annex II (Concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation); v) Annex XVI (Public Procurement); vi) Annex XVIII (Protected geographical indications); vii) Annex XIX (List of products referred to in Article 306, paragraph 4); viii) Annex XXI (Sub-committees); b) issue interpretations on the provisions of Part IV of this Agreement; and c) take any other action in the exercise of its functions as agreed by the Parties.

3. Each Party shall implement, in accordance with its applicable legal procedures, any amendment pursuant to paragraph 2, subparagraph (a), within the period agreed by the Parties54.

54 Implementation of the amendments approved by the Association Council:

1. In the case of Costa Rica, the decisions of the Association Council under Article 345, paragraph 2, subparagraph (a), shall be equivalent to the instrument referred to in Article 121.4, third paragraph (Protocol of Lesser Rank), of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Costa Rica.

2. In the case of Honduras, the decisions of the Association Council under Article 345, paragraph 2, subparagraph (a), shall be equivalent to the instrument referred to in Article 21 of the Constitution of the Republic of Honduras.

Specific tasks of the Association Committee 1. When the Association Committee carries out any of the tasks conferred upon it in Part IV of this Agreement, it shall be composed of representatives of the European Commission, on the one hand, and representatives of each of the Republics of the CA Party, on the other, at the level of senior officials with responsibility for trade-related matters, or by persons they have designated.

2. The Association Committee shall have, in particular, the following functions when dealing with trade-related matters:

• a)assist the Association Council in the performance of its functions regarding trade-related matters; b) supervise the proper implementation and application of the provisions of Part IV of this Agreement. In this regard, and without prejudice to the rights established in Title X (Dispute Settlement) and Title XI (Mediation Mechanism for Non-Tariff Measures) of Part IV of this Agreement, any Party may refer for discussion, within the framework of the Association Committee, any matter relating to the application or interpretation of Part IV of this Agreement; c) supervise the further elaboration of the provisions of Part IV of this Agreement, as necessary, and evaluate the results obtained from its application; d) seek appropriate ways to prevent and resolve problems that may otherwise arise in the areas covered by Part IV of this Agreement; and e) approve the internal regulations of all Sub-committees established under Part IV of this Agreement and supervise their work.

3. In the performance of its functions under paragraph 2, the Association Committee may:

• a)establish Sub-committees additional to those established in Part IV of this Agreement, composed of representatives of the European Commission and of each of the Republics of the CA Party, and assign them responsibilities within its competence; it may also decide to modify the functions assigned to any Sub-committees it establishes, as well as to dissolve them; b) recommend to the Association Council the adoption of decisions in furtherance of the specific objectives of Part IV of this Agreement; and c) take any other action in the exercise of its functions as agreed by the Parties or in accordance with the instructions of the Association Council.

Coordinators of Part IV of this Agreement 1. The European Commission and each of the Republics of the CA Party shall designate a Coordinator for Part IV of this Agreement within sixty days following the entry into force of this Agreement.

2. The Coordinators shall work jointly in developing the agendas and shall make all other necessary preparations for the meetings of the Association Council and the Association Committee, in accordance with the preceding provisions, and shall follow up on the decisions of such bodies, as appropriate.

Sub-committees 1. Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 8 of Title II (Institutional Framework) of Part I of this Agreement, this Article shall apply to all Sub-committees established under Part IV of this Agreement.

2. The Sub-committees shall be composed of representatives of the European Commission, on the one hand, and representatives of each of the Republics of the CA Party, on the other.

3. The Sub-committees shall meet once a year or at the request of any Party or the Association Committee, at an appropriate level. When held in person, meetings shall be held alternately in London(*) or Central America. Meetings may also be held by any technological means available to the Parties.

(*) (Thus replaced its denomination by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "Brussels")

4. The Sub-committee shall be chaired alternately by a representative of the United Kingdom(), on the one hand, and a representative of a Republic of the CA Party, on the other, for a period of one year.

() (Thus replaced its denomination by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Balance of payments 1. If a Party experiences serious balance-of-payments and external financial difficulties, or is at risk thereof, it may adopt or maintain restrictive measures with respect to trade in goods or services and current payments.

2. The Parties shall endeavour to avoid the application of the restrictive measures referred to in paragraph 1.

3. Any restrictive measures adopted or maintained under this Article shall be non-discriminatory and temporary, and shall not exceed what is necessary to remedy the balance-of-payments and external financial situation. They shall be in conformity with the relevant conditions established in the WTO Agreements and consistent with the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund.

4. If any Party maintains or has adopted restrictive measures, or has modified them, it shall promptly notify them to the other Party and present, as soon as possible, a schedule for their elimination.

5. If a Party considers that the restrictive measure adopted or maintained affects the bilateral trade relationship, it may request consultations with the other Party, which shall be held without delay within the framework of the Association Committee. Such consultations shall assess the balance-of-payments situation of the Party concerned and the restrictions adopted or maintained under this Article, taking into account, inter alia, factors such as:

• a)the nature and extent of the external financial and balance-of-payments difficulties; b) the economic and trading environment; or c) other possible alternative corrective measures that may be used.

The consultations shall examine the conformity of any restrictive measure with paragraphs 3 and 4. All findings of statistical data and other facts presented by the International Monetary Fund ("IMF") relating to foreign exchange, monetary reserves, and balance of payments shall be accepted as such, and conclusions shall be based on the IMF's assessment of the balance-of-payments and external financial situation of the Party concerned.

Taxation 1. No provision of Part IV of this Agreement or of arrangements adopted under this Agreement shall be construed to prevent the Parties, in the application of the relevant provisions of their respective tax legislation, from making a distinction between taxpayers who are not in the same situation, in particular with regard to their place of residence or the place where their capital is invested.

2. No provision of Part IV of this Agreement or of arrangements adopted under Part IV shall be construed to prevent the adoption or effective enforcement of any measure aimed at preventing the avoidance or evasion of taxes pursuant to the tax provisions of agreements for the avoidance of double taxation or other tax arrangements, or any domestic tax legislation.

3. No provision of Part IV of this Agreement shall affect the respective rights and obligations of the Parties under any tax agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between Part IV of this Agreement and any agreement of a tax nature, the provisions of the latter shall prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

Regional preference 1. No provision of Part IV of this Agreement shall oblige a Party to extend to the other Party any more favourable treatment applied internally within each of the Parties as part of their respective regional economic integration process.

2. No provision of Part IV of this Agreement shall prevent the maintenance, modification, or establishment of customs unions, free trade zones, or other arrangements between the Parties, or between the Parties and third countries or regions.

PART V FINAL PROVISIONS

Definition of the Parties 1. The Parties to this Agreement are the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, referred to as the "Republics of the CA Party", on the one hand, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, referred to as the "United Kingdom", on the other.

(Thus amended the previous paragraph by paragraph 16) sub-paragraph a) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019") 2. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "Party" shall refer to each Republic of the CA Party, without prejudice to the obligation to act jointly under the provisions set out in paragraph 3, or the United Kingdom(*), respectively.

(*) (Thus replaced its denomination by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

3. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Republics of the CA Party agree and undertake to act jointly in the following areas:

• a)in decision-making through the bodies referred to in Title II (Institutional Framework) of Part I of this Agreement; b) in the implementation of the obligations provided for in Title IX (Regional Economic Integration) of Part IV of this Agreement; c) in the implementation of the obligation to establish a Central American Competition Regulation and a competition authority, in accordance with Articles 277 and 279, paragraph 2, of Title VII (Trade and Competition) of Part IV of this Agreement; and d) in the implementation of the obligation to establish a single point of access at a regional level, in accordance with Article 212, paragraph 2, of Title V (Public Procurement) of Part IV of this Agreement.

When acting jointly in accordance with this paragraph, the Republics of the CA Party shall be referred to as the "CA Party".

4. For any other provision under this Agreement, the Republics of the CA Party shall assume obligations and act individually.

5. Notwithstanding paragraph 3, and in a manner consistent with the further development of Central American regional integration, the Republics of the CA Party undertake to progressively seek to increase the scope of the areas in which they will act jointly, and shall notify the United Kingdom(*) thereof. The Association Council shall adopt a decision specifying precisely the scope of such areas.

(*) (Thus replaced its denomination by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Entry into force 1. The Parties shall approve this Agreement in accordance with their internal legal procedures.

2. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the month following that in which the Parties have notified each other of the completion of the internal legal procedures referred to in paragraph 1.

3. The notifications shall be sent, in the case of the United Kingdom(*), to the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, and, in the case of the Republics of the CA Party, to the General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System (SG-SICA), which shall be the depositaries of this Agreement.

(*) (Thus replaced its denomination by the paragraph of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

4. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, Part IV of this Agreement may be applied by the European Union and by each of the Republics of the CA Party from the first day of the month following the date on which they notify each other of the completion of the internal legal procedures necessary for that purpose. In that event, the institutional bodies necessary for the functioning of this Agreement shall exercise their functions.

5. By the date of entry into force in accordance with paragraph 2, or by the date of application of this Agreement, if applied in accordance with paragraph 4, each Party shall have complied with the requirements set out in Article 244 and in Article 245, paragraph 1, subparagraphs (a) and (b), of Title VI (Intellectual Property) of Part IV of this Agreement. If a Republic of the CA Party has not complied with such requirements, this Agreement shall not enter into force in accordance with paragraph 2, or shall not be applied in accordance with paragraph 4, between the United Kingdom(*) and that Republic of the CA Party that has not complied, until those requirements have been fulfilled.

(*)(Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

6. When a provision of this Agreement is applied in accordance with paragraph 4, any reference in that provision to the date of entry into force of this Agreement shall be interpreted as referring to the date from which the Parties agreed to apply that provision in accordance with paragraph 4.

7. The Parties for which Part IV of this Agreement has entered into force in accordance with paragraph 2 or 4 may also use materials originating in the Republics of the CA Party for which this Agreement is not in force.

8. From the date of entry into force in accordance with paragraph 2, this Agreement shall replace the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreements in force between the Republics of the CA Party and the United Kingdom(*).

(Sinalevi Note: By means of item 16) sub-item b) of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that neither Article 353 nor any reference to Article 353 is incorporated into this Agreement)

(*)(Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

Duration 1. This Agreement shall have indefinite duration and validity.

2. Any Party shall notify its respective depositary in writing of its intention to denounce this Agreement.

3. In the event of denunciation by any Party, the other Parties shall examine, within the framework of the Association Committee, the effect of such denunciation on this Agreement. The Association Council shall decide on any necessary adjustments or transitional measures.

4. The denunciation shall take effect six months after notification to the respective depositary.

Fulfillment of Obligations 1. The Parties shall adopt all general or specific measures necessary to fulfill the obligations they assume under this Agreement and shall ensure that they conform to the objectives set out in this Agreement.

2. If a Party considers that another Party has failed to fulfill an obligation arising from this Agreement, it may adopt appropriate measures. Before doing so, except in cases of special urgency, it shall submit to the Association Council, within a period of thirty days, all relevant information necessary for a detailed examination of the situation, in order to find a solution acceptable to the Parties. In selecting the measures to be adopted, priority shall be given to those that are least harmful to the implementation of this Agreement. Such measures shall be notified immediately to the Association Committee and shall be the subject of consultations within the Committee if a Party so requests.

3. The Parties agree that the term "cases of special urgency" in paragraph 2 means a case of material breach of this Agreement by one of the Parties. The Parties also agree that the term "appropriate measures" referred to in paragraph 2 means measures adopted in accordance with international law. It is understood that suspension is a measure of last resort.

4. A material breach of this Agreement consists of:

• a)denunciation of this Agreement not sanctioned by the general rules of international law; b) a breach of the essential elements of this Agreement.

5. If a Party adopts a measure in a case of special urgency, the other Party may request that an urgent meeting of the Parties be convened within a period of fifteen days.

6. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 2, if a Party considers that another Party has failed to fulfill one or more obligations arising from Part IV of this Agreement, it may only resort to, and be governed by, the dispute settlement procedures established under Title X (Dispute Settlement) and the mediation mechanism established under Title XI (Mediation Mechanism for Non-Tariff Measures) of Part IV of this Agreement, or other alternative mechanisms provided for specific obligations in Part IV of this Agreement.

Rights and Obligations under this Agreement No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted as granting rights or imposing obligations on persons, other than the rights or obligations created by this Agreement, nor as obliging a Party to permit this Agreement to be invoked directly in its domestic legal system, unless the national legislation of that Party provides otherwise.

Exceptions 1. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted as:

• a)requiring a Party to provide or give access to information the disclosure of which it considers contrary to its essential security interests; or b) preventing any Party from adopting measures it considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests:
• i)relating to fissionable and fusionable materials or those from which they are derived; ii) relating to economic activities aimed directly or indirectly at supplying a military establishment; iii) related to the manufacture of or trade in arms, ammunition and war materiel; iv) relating to public procurement indispensable for national security or national defense; v) adopted in time of war or other emergency in international relations; c) preventing any Party from taking any action to fulfill the obligations it has undertaken for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security; or d) preventing any Party from independently deciding on its budgetary priorities or requiring any Party to increase the budgetary resources allocated to the implementation of the obligations and commitments set out in this Agreement.

2. The Association Council shall be informed, to the fullest extent possible, of the measures taken under paragraph 1, letters a) and b), and of their termination.

Evolutionary Clause 1. The Parties may agree to extend and supplement this Agreement through amendments or through the conclusion of agreements on specific activities or sectors, in light of the experience gained in the implementation of this Agreement.

2. The Parties may also agree to any other amendment of this Agreement.

3. All the aforementioned amendments and agreements shall be approved in accordance with the domestic legal procedures of each Party.

Accession of New Members 1. The Association Committee shall be informed of any request made by a third State to become a member of the European Union and of any request made by a third State to join the economic and political integration processes of Central America.

(Sinalevi Note: By means of item 16) sub-item c) of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the words "of any request made by a third State to become a member of the European Union and" are not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement) 2. During the negotiations between the European Union and the candidate State, the United Kingdom(*) shall provide the CA Party with all relevant information, and the CA Party, in turn, shall communicate its points of view (if any) to the United Kingdom(*) so that it may take them fully into consideration. The CA Party shall be notified by the United Kingdom(*) of any accession to the European Union.

(Sinalevi Note: By means of item 16) sub-item d) of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the preceding paragraph is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement)

(*)(Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

3. Likewise, during the negotiations between the CA Party and the State requesting to join the economic and political integration processes of Central America, the CA Party shall provide the United Kingdom(*) with all relevant information and, in turn, the United Kingdom(*) shall communicate its points of view (if any) to the CA Party so that it may take them fully into consideration. The United Kingdom(*) shall be notified by the CA Party of any accession to the economic and political integration processes of Central America.

(*)(Thus substituted its denomination by the section of the Joint Declarations "Joint Declaration on Mutatis Mutandis" of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019". Previously indicated as "EU Party")

4. The Parties shall examine the effect of such accession on this Agreement within the framework of the Association Committee. The Association Council shall decide on the necessary transitional measures or adjustments, which shall be approved in accordance with the domestic legal procedures of each Party.

5. If the act of accession to the economic and political integration processes of Central America does not provide for automatic accession to this Agreement, the interested State shall accede by depositing an act of accession with the respective depositary bodies of the Parties.

6. The instrument of accession shall be deposited with the depositaries.

Territorial Application 1. In the EU Party, this Agreement shall apply to the territories in which the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union are applied, and under the conditions established in those Treaties.

2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, insofar as the customs territory of the European Union includes areas not covered by the above territorial definition, this Agreement shall also apply to the customs territory of the European Union.

3. In Central America, this Agreement shall apply to the territories of the Republics of the CA Party, in accordance with their respective national legislations and international law.

(Sinalevi Note: By means of item 16) sub-item e) of the annex of International Treaty, No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama concerning Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that this numeral is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement)

Reservations and Interpretative Declarations This Agreement does not permit unilateral reservations or interpretative declarations.

Annexes, Appendices, Protocols and Notes, Footnotes and Joint Declarations The annexes, appendices, protocols and notes, footnotes, and joint declarations of this Agreement shall form an integral part thereof.

Authentic Texts This Agreement is drafted in duplicate in the Spanish, German, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Slovak, Slovenian, Estonian, Finnish, French, Greek, Hungarian, English, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian and Swedish languages, each of these texts being equally authentic.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, duly authorized, have signed this Agreement.

Done at Tegucigalpa, on the twenty-ninth of June, two thousand and twelve.

Done at Tegucigalpa on the twenty-ninth day of June in the year two thousand and twelve.

For the Republic of Costa Rica For the Republic of El Salvador For the Republic of Guatemala For the Republic of Honduras For the Republic of Nicaragua For the Republic of Panama За Европейския съюз For the European Union Za Evropskou unii For Den Europæiske Union Für die Europäische Union Euroopa Liidu nimel Για την Ευρωπαϊκή ΄Ενωση For the European Union Pour l'Union européenne Per l'Unione europea Eiropas Savienības vārdā – Europos Sąjungos vardu Az Európai Unió részéről Għall-Unjoni Ewropea Voor de Europese Unie W imieniu Unii Europejskiej Pela União Europeia Pentru Uniunea Europeană Za Európsku úniu Za Evropsko unijo Euroopan unionin puolesta För Europeiska unionen Voor het Koninkrijk België Pour le Royaume de Belgique Für das Königreich Belgien Deze handtekening verbindt eveneens de Vlaamse Gemeenschap, de Franse Gemeenschap, de Duitstalige Gemeenschap, het Vlaamse Gewest, het Waalse Gewest en het Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest.

Cette signature engage également la Communauté française, la Communauté flamande, la Communauté germanophone, la Région wallonne, la Région flamande et la Région de Bruxelles-Capitale.

Diese Unterschrift bindet zugleich die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft, die Flämische Gemeinschaft, die Französische Gemeinschaft, die Wallonische Region, die Flämische Region und die Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt.

За Република България Za Českou republiku For Kongeriget Danmark Für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland Eesti Vabariigi nimel Thar cheann Na hÉireann For Ireland Για την Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Por el Reino de España Pour la République française Per la Repubblica italiana Για την Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Latvijas Republikas vārdā - Lietuvos Respublikos vardu Pour le Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Magyarország részéről Għal Malta Voor het Koninkrijk der Nederlanden Für die Republik Österreich W imieniu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej Pela República Portuguesa Pentru România Za Republiko Slovenijo Za Slovenskú republiku Suomen tasavallan puolesta För Republiken Finland För Konungariket Sverige For the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

1. For the EU Party, the elimination of customs duties described in the staging categories established in letters a), b), c), e), f), l), m), n), o), p), q) and r) of paragraph 3 below shall apply to the base rate indicated in its Schedule to this annex.

2. For each Republic of the CA Party, the elimination of customs duties described in the staging categories established in letters a), b), c), d), e), f), g), h), j), k) and q) of paragraph 3 below shall be applied as follows for each year of the tariff elimination period:

• a)if applying the staging category to the CA base rate yields a duty greater than the base rate of one of the Republics of the CA Party, the applicable duty for that Republic shall be its base rate; b) if applying the staging category to the CA base rate yields a duty less than or equal to the base rate of one of the Republics of the CA Party, the applicable duty for that Republic shall be the duty resulting from applying the staging category to the CA base rate.

3. Unless otherwise provided in the general notes of each Party's Schedule, the following categories apply to the elimination of customs duties by each Party pursuant to Article 83 (Elimination of Customs Duties) of Chapter 1 of Title II (Trade in Goods) of Part IV of this Agreement:

• a)duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category A in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated entirely, and such goods shall be duty-free on the date of entry into force of this Agreement; b) duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category B in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated in three equal annual stages, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year three; c) duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category C in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated in five equal annual stages, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year five; d) duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category C1 in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated in six equal annual stages, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year six; e) duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category D in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated in seven equal annual stages, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year seven; f) duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category E in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated in ten equal annual stages, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year ten; g) duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category E1 in a Party's Schedule shall be maintained at their base rate from year one to five; duties on these goods shall be eliminated in five equal annual stages, beginning on January 1 of year six, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year ten; h) duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category E2 in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated in ten annual stages; on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, duties shall be reduced by two percent of the base rate and, on January 1 of year two, by an additional two percent.

As of January 1 of year three, duties shall be reduced by an additional eight percent of the base rate and, thereafter, by an additional eight percent of the base rate each year until year six. As of January 1 of year seven, duties shall be reduced by an additional sixteen percent of the base rate and, thereafter, by an additional sixteen percent each year until year nine, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year ten. The tariff reduction process for this category is detailed in the following table:

• i)duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category F in a Party's Schedule shall be maintained at their base rate55, except as provided in letter c) of Article 84 (Statu quo) of Chapter 1 of Title II (Trade in Goods) of Part IV of this Agreement; such goods are excluded from tariff elimination or reduction; 55 For the Republics of the CA Party, this refers to the base rate of each Republic, as indicated in the respective Schedule.
• j)duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category G in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated in thirteen equal annual stages, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year thirteen; k) duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category H in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated in fifteen equal annual stages, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year fifteen; l) ad valorem duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category I in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated, and such goods shall be free of ad valorem duties on the date of entry into force of this Agreement. The specific duties on these goods, applicable under the "entry price" system, shall be maintained at their base rate as indicated in paragraph 4, Section A, of this annex; m) ad valorem duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category J in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated, and such goods shall be free of ad valorem duties on the date of entry into force of this Agreement; the specific duties on these goods shall be maintained at their base rate; n) ad valorem duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category K in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated, and such goods shall be free of ad valorem duties on the date of entry into force of this Agreement; the specific duties on these goods shall be eliminated in three equal annual stages, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year three; o) ad valorem duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category L in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated in three equal annual stages, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and such goods shall be free of ad valorem duties as of January 1 of year three; the specific duties on these goods, applicable under the "entry price" system, shall be maintained at their base rate as indicated in paragraph 4, Section A of this annex; p) ad valorem duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category M in a Party's Schedule shall be eliminated, and such goods shall be free of ad valorem duties on the date of entry into force of this Agreement; the specific duties on these goods shall be eliminated in ten equal annual stages, beginning on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and such goods shall be duty-free as of January 1 of year ten; q) duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category Q in a Party's Schedule shall be applied as provided in Appendix 1 (Import Tariff-Rate Quotas of the Republics of the CA Party) and Appendix 2 (Import Tariff-Rate Quotas of the EU Party) of this annex; r) duties on goods included within the tariff lines in staging category ST in a Party's Schedule shall be applied as provided in Appendix 3 (Special Treatment for Bananas) of this annex.

4. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, the European Union may apply the customs duties of the entry price system established in Annex 2 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1549/2006 of 17 October 2006.

5. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, the terms "EA", "AD S/Z" and "AD F/M", included in the base rates of the EU Party's schedule, refer to the customs duties established in Annex 1 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1549/2006 of 17 October 2006. EU/CENTR-AM/Annex I/en 8 6. For the purposes of the elimination of customs duties in accordance with Article 83 (Elimination of customs duties) of Chapter 1 of Title II (Trade in Goods) of Part IV of this Agreement, the transitional tariff rates shall be rounded down, at least to the nearest tenth of a percentage point or, if the tariff rate is expressed in monetary units, to the nearest 0.1 of the official monetary unit of the Party.

7. For the purposes of this annex and a Party's schedule, year one means the year of entry into force of this Agreement as provided for in Article 353(*) (Entry into force), paragraph 4, of Part V of this Agreement.

(*) (Sinalevi Note: By means of clause 16) sub-clause b) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that neither Article 353 nor any reference to Article 353 is incorporated into this Agreement) 8. For the purposes of this annex and a Party's schedule, starting from year two, each annual cut in customs duties shall take effect on 1 January of the respective year.

9. For the purposes of paragraph 3, subparagraph q) of this annex, if the entry into force of this Agreement occurs on a date after 1 January and before 31 December of the same calendar year, the quantity of the quota shall be prorated proportionally for the remainder of the calendar year.

OF THE REPUBLICS OF THE CA PARTY 1. In accordance with Decree No. 902 of 9 January 2006, El Salvador applies a tariff of 15% to imports of iron and steel bars of a cross-section whose dimension is less than or equal to 16 mm, with a carbon content of less than 0.4% by weight, classified under tariff line 7214.99.90 of the 2007 SAC. These products are currently classified under tariff line 7214.99.30, created by El Salvador at the national level through the aforementioned Decree.

2. For goods classified under tariff line 0808.10.00 of the 2007 SAC, Guatemala shall continue to apply the provisions contained in the Ley del Fondo de Cooperación a La Fruticultura Decidua Nacional, Decree No. 15-2007 of the Congress of the Republic of Guatemala and its amendments, relating to charges on the importation and production of apples.

3. In the event of a fiscal emergency, Guatemala may temporarily and automatically increase the tariffs applied on goods classified under tariff lines 2709.00.10, 2709.00.90, 2710.11.20, 2710.11.30, 2710.19.11, 2710.19.21, 2710.19.22 of the 2007 SAC. In this case, the tariff shall not be greater than that applied to all countries during the emergency period which justifies the adoption of the tariff increase.

4. For goods classified under tariff lines 1005.90.20, 1005.90.30, 1007.00.90, 1102.20.00, 1103.13.10, 1103.13.90 and 1104.23.00 of the 2007 SAC, Honduras shall maintain the application of Decree No. 31-92 of 5 March 1992, and its regulations pursuant to Agreement No. 105-93 and its amendments.

5. For goods classified under tariff lines 0402.91.10, 0402.99.10, 2002.90.10 of the 2007 SAC, Panama shall apply category F, in accordance with paragraph 3, subparagraph i), of section A of this annex.

6. For goods classified under tariff lines 2208.30.10 and 2208.30.90 of the 2007 SAC, Panama shall apply Category A, in accordance with paragraph 3, subparagraph a), of section A of this annex.

7. For goods classified under tariff line 2106.90.99 of the 2007 SAC, Panama shall apply Category F, in accordance with paragraph 3, subparagraph i), of section A of this annex.

8. Cheese imitations are products with the physical appearance of cheese, which are reasonably considered to be intended for use as cheese and which do not simultaneously meet the three criteria established in Note 3 to Chapter 4 of the Harmonized System. These products usually meet at least one of the mentioned criteria.

APPENDIX 1 IMPORT TARIFF-RATE QUOTAS OF THE REPUBLICS OF THE CA PARTY 1. This appendix includes the import tariff-rate quotas for goods originating in the EU Party under the tariff elimination category "Q" in the schedule of the Republics of the CA Party. Each Republic of the CA Party shall administer these tariff-rate quotas in accordance with its national regulations.

2. Imports carried out pursuant to the tariff-rate quotas established in paragraphs 3, 5 and 7 of this appendix shall be subject to the presentation of an export certificate issued by the competent authority of the EU Party.

(*)3. Cured hams and streaky bacon:

• a)The Republics of the CA Party shall grant the EU Party a joint quota of 900 metric tons per year, with an annual growth of 45 metric tons, for goods entered in accordance with subparagraph c). The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• b)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quota established in subparagraph a) shall be eliminated in accordance with the provisions of category H of paragraph 3, subparagraph k), of section A of Annex I.
• c)Subparagraphs a) and b) apply to the following tariff lines of the schedule of the Republics of the CA Party: 0210.11.00, 0210.12.00 and 0210.19.00 of the 2007 SAC.

(*) (Sinalevi Note: By means of clause 17) sub-clause e.i) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate the following: "(e) Appendix 1 - Import tariff-rate quotas of the Republics of the CA Party i. Joint quotas:

") (*)4. Milk Powder:

• a)Each Republic of the CA Party shall grant the EU Party a quota for goods entered in accordance with subparagraphs b) and d). The volume for year one and the successive annual growth starting from year two for each Republic of the CA Party are detailed below:

• b)Within this quota, the aggregate quantity of goods entered under the tariff lines established in subparagraph d) shall be free of customs duties in any calendar year and shall not exceed the quantities specified in the table of subparagraph a) for the EU Party, for each year.
• c)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quantities established in subparagraph a) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of category F of paragraph 3, subparagraph i), of section A of Annex I.
• d)Subparagraphs a), b) and c) apply to the following tariff lines of the schedule of the Republics of the CA Party: 0402.10.00, 0402.21.11, 0402.21.12, 0402.21.21, 0402.21.22 and 0402.29.00 of the 2007 SAC.

(*) (Sinalevi Note: By means of clause 17) sub-clause e.ii) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate, in relation to paragraph 4) above, the following: "ii. Individual quotas - milk powder (appendix 1, paragraph 4):

") 5. Whey:

• a)The Republics of the CA Party shall grant the EU Party a joint quota of 100 metric tons per year, with an annual growth of 10 metric tons, for goods entered in accordance with subparagraph c). The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• b)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quota established in subparagraph a) shall be eliminated in accordance with the provisions of category B of paragraph 3, subparagraph b), of section A of Annex I.
• c)Subparagraphs a) and b) apply to the following tariff lines of the schedule of the Republics of the CA Party: 0404.90.00 (except delactosed milk) of the 2007 SAC.

(*)6. Cheese:

• a)Each Republic of the CA Party shall grant the EU Party a quota for goods entered in accordance with subparagraphs b) and d). The volume for year one and the successive annual growth starting from year two for each Republic of the CA Party are detailed below:

• b)Within this quota, the aggregate quantity of goods entered under the tariff lines established in subparagraph d) shall be free of customs duties in any calendar year and shall not exceed the quantities specified in the table of subparagraph a) for the EU Party, for each year.
• c)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quantities established in subparagraph a) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of category F of paragraph 3, subparagraph i), of section A of Annex I.
• d)Subparagraphs a), b) and c) apply to the following tariff lines of the schedule of the Republics of the CA Party: 0406.20.90, 0406.30.00, 0406.90.10, 0406.90.20 and 0406.90.90 of the 2007 SAC.

(*) (Sinalevi Note: By means of clause 17) sub-clause e.iii) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate, in relation to paragraph 6) above, the following: "iii. Individual quotas - cheeses (appendix 1, paragraph 6):

") 7. Prepared or preserved pig meat:

• a)The Republics of the CA Party shall grant the EU Party a joint quota of 900 metric tons per year, with an annual growth of 45 metric tons, for goods entered in accordance with subparagraph c). The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• b)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quota established in subparagraph a) shall be eliminated in accordance with the provisions of category H of paragraph 3, subparagraph k), of section A of Annex I.
• c)Subparagraphs a) and b) apply to the following tariff lines of the schedule of the Republics of the CA Party: 1602.41.00, 1602.42.00 and 1602.49.90 of the 2007 SAC.

(Sinalevi Note: By means of clause 17) sub-clauses a, b, c, d) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate, in relation to appendix 1) above, the following: "(a) In appendices 1 and 2 of Annex 1, the information relating to the volumes of the import tariff-rate quotas and, where applicable, the annual increase volumes, are replaced by the quotas and volumes established in the following tables.

(b) In said tables:

i. the import tariff-rate quota volumes applicable for 2019 shall be those stipulated under the heading "quota 2019"; and ii. for import tariff-rate quotas that increase over time, the volume for subsequent years shall be calculated in accordance with the "Annual increase" figure.

(c) If this Agreement enters into force in 2020 or a subsequent year, for import tariff-rate quotas that increase over time, the volume applicable during the year the Agreement enters into force shall be calculated by combining the values of "quota 2019" and the "annual increase" as applicable for each year after 2019 up to and including the year of entry into force.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, if this Agreement enters into force once the period for a quota has begun, the import tariff-rate quotas shall be applied on a prorated basis in accordance with Annex 1, section A, paragraph 9.") APPENDIX 2 IMPORT TARIFF-RATE QUOTAS OF THE EU PARTY 1. This appendix includes the import tariff-rate quotas for goods originating in Central America under the tariff elimination category "Q" of the EU Party's schedule. The EU Party shall administer these tariff-rate quotas in accordance with its national regulations.

2. Imports within the tariff-rate quotas established in paragraphs 8 through 11 of this appendix shall be subject to the presentation of an export certificate issued in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 3 below by the competent authority of the relevant Republic of the CA Party.

3. The Republics of the CA Party shall agree among themselves on the distribution of the regional tariff-rate quotas established in paragraphs 8 through 11 of this appendix and, on that basis, each Republic of the CA Party shall issue the corresponding export certificates.

4. Garlic:

• a)The EU Party shall grant the Republics of the CA Party a quota of 550 metric tons per year for goods entered in accordance with subparagraph c). The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• b)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quota established in subparagraph a) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of category F of paragraph 3, subparagraph i), of section A of Annex I (Elimination of customs duties).
• c)Subparagraphs a) and b) apply to the following tariff line of the EU Party's schedule: 0703 20 00.

5. Cassava starch:

• a)The EU Party shall grant the Republics of the CA Party a quota of 5,000 metric tons per year for goods entered in accordance with subparagraph c). The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• b)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quota established in subparagraph a) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of category F of paragraph 3, subparagraph i), of section A of Annex I (Elimination of customs duties).
• c)Subparagraphs a) and b) apply to the following tariff line of the EU Party's schedule: 1108 14 00.

6. Sweet corn:

• a)The EU Party shall grant the Republics of the CA Party a quota of 1,440 metric tons per year, with an annual growth of 120 metric tons, for goods entered in accordance with subparagraph c). The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• b)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quota established in subparagraph a) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of category J of paragraph 3, subparagraph m), of section A of Annex I (Elimination of customs duties).
• c)Subparagraphs a) and b) apply to the following tariff lines of the EU Party's schedule: 0710 40 00, 0711 90 30, 2001 90 30, 2004 90 10 and 2005 80 00.

7. Mushrooms:

• a)The EU Party shall grant the Republics of the CA Party a quota of 275 metric tons per year for goods entered in accordance with subparagraph c). The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• b)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quota established in subparagraph a) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of category J of paragraph 3, subparagraph m), of section A of Annex I (Elimination of customs duties).
• c)Subparagraphs a) and b) apply to the following tariff lines of the EU Party's schedule: 0711 51 00, 2003 10 20 and 2003 10 30.

8. Beef:

• a)The EU Party shall grant exclusively to Nicaragua a quota of 500 metric tons (carcass weight equivalent) per year, with an annual growth of 25 metric tons. The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• b)Additionally, the EU Party shall grant the Republics of the CA Party a regional quota of 9,500 metric tons (carcass weight equivalent) per year, with an annual growth of 475 metric tons. The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• c)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quotas established in subparagraphs a) and b) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of category F of paragraph 3, subparagraph i), of section A of Annex I (Elimination of customs duties).
• d)Subparagraphs a), b) and c) apply to the following tariff lines of the EU Party's schedule: 0201 10 00, 0201 20 20, 0201 20 30, 0201 20 50, 0201 20 90, 0201 30 00, 0202 10 00, 0202 20 10, 0202 20 30, 0202 20 50, 0202 20 90, 0202 30 10, 0202 30 50 and 0202 30 90.

9. Sugar, including organic sugar, and goods with a high sugar content:

• a)The EU Party shall grant exclusively to Panama a quota of 12,000 metric tons of raw sugar equivalent56 per year, with an annual growth of 360 metric tons. The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.

56 Standard quality raw sugar shall be sugar with a yield of 92 percent in white sugar.

• b)Additionally, the EU Party shall grant the Republics of the CA Party, except Panama, a regional quota of 150,000 metric tons of raw sugar equivalent57 per year, with an annual growth of 4,500 metric tons. The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.

57 Standard quality raw sugar shall be sugar with a yield of 92 percent in white sugar.

• c)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quotas established in subparagraphs a) and b) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of category F of paragraph 3, subparagraph i), of section A of Annex I (Elimination of customs duties), for the tariff lines indicated in subparagraph d), clause i); and in accordance with the provisions of category J of paragraph 3, subparagraph m), of section A of Annex I (Elimination of customs duties), for the tariff lines indicated in subparagraph d), clause ii).
• d)Subparagraphs a), b) and c) apply to the following tariff lines of the EU Party's schedule:

i . 1701 11 10, 1701 11 90, 1701 91 00, 1701 99 10, 1701 99 90, 1702 30 10, 1702 30 51, 1702 30 59, 1702 30 91, 1702 30 99, 1702 40 90, 1702 90 30, 1702 90 50, 1702 90 71, 1702 90 75, 1702 90 79, 1702 90 80 and 1702 90 99.

ii. 1702 50 00, 1704 90 99, 1806 10 30, 1806 10 90, 1806 20 95ex2, 1806 90 90ex2, 1901 90 99, 2006 00 31, 2006 00 38, 2007 91 10, 2007 99 20, 2007 99 31, 2007 99 33, 2007 99 35, 2007 99 39, 2009 11 11ex2, 2009 11 91, 2009 19 11ex2, 2009 19 91, 2009 29 11ex2, 2009 29 91, 2009 39 11ex2, 2009 39 51, 2009 39 91, 2009 49 11ex2, 2009 49 91, 2009 80 11ex2, 2009 80 35ex2, 2009 80 61, 2009 80 86, 2009 90 11ex2, 2009 90 21ex2, 2009 90 31, 2009 90 71, 2009 90 94, 2101 12 98ex2, 2101 20 98ex2, 2106 90 98ex2 and 3302 10 29.

10. Rice:

• a)The EU Party shall grant the Republics of the CA Party a regional quota of 20,000 metric tons per year, with an annual growth of 1,000 metric tons. The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• b)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quota established in subparagraph a) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of category F of paragraph 3, subparagraph i), of section A of Annex I (Elimination of customs duties).
• c)Subparagraphs a) and b) apply to the following tariff lines of the EU Party's schedule: 1006 20 15, 1006 20 17, 1006 20 96, 1006 20 98, 1006 30 25, 1006 30 27, 1006 30 46, 1006 30 48, 1006 30 65, 1006 30 67, 1006 30 96 and 1006 30 98.

11. Bulk rum:

• a)The EU Party shall grant exclusively to Panama a quota of 1,000 hl (pure alcohol equivalent) per year, with an annual growth of 50 hl. The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• b)Additionally, the EU Party shall grant the Republics of the CA Party, except Panama, a regional quota of 7,000 hl (pure alcohol equivalent) per year, with an annual growth of 300 hl. The quantity entered within the quota shall be free of customs duties at any time during the calendar year.
• c)Customs duties on goods entered in aggregate quantities in excess of the quotas established in subparagraphs a) and b) shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of category F of paragraph 3, subparagraph i), of section A of Annex I (Elimination of customs duties).
• d)Subparagraphs a), b) and c) apply to the following tariff lines of the EU Party's schedule: 2208 40 51 and 2208 40 99.

(Sinalevi Note: By means of clause 17) sub-clauses a, b, c, d) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate, in relation to appendix 2) above, the following: "(a) In appendices 1 and 2 of Annex 1, the information relating to the volumes of the import tariff-rate quotas and, where applicable, the annual increase volumes, are replaced by the quotas and volumes established in the following tables.

(b) In said tables:

i. the import tariff-rate quota volumes applicable for 2019 shall be those stipulated under the heading "quota 2019"; and ii. for import tariff-rate quotas that increase over time, the volume for subsequent years shall be calculated in accordance with the "Annual increase" figure.

(c) If this Agreement enters into force in 2020 or a subsequent year, for import tariff-rate quotas that increase over time, the volume applicable during the year the Agreement enters into force shall be calculated by combining the values of "quota 2019" and the "annual increase" as applicable for each year after 2019 up to and including the year of entry into force.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, if this Agreement enters into force once the period for a quota has begun, the import tariff-rate quotas shall be applied on a prorated basis in accordance with Annex 1, section A, paragraph 9.") (*) (Sinalevi Note: By means of clause 17) sub-clause f), i, ii, iii) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate, in relation to appendix 2) above, the following: "(f) Appendix 2: Import tariff-rate quotas of the United Kingdom i. Joint quotas:

iii. Joint quotas applicable to all Republics of the CA Party except Panama:

iii. Individual quotas:

") APPENDIX 3 SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR BANANAS For the agricultural product originating in Central America, classified under tariff code 0803.00.19 of the Combined Nomenclature (Fresh bananas or plantains, excluding plantains for cooking) and set out in category "ST" in the EU Party's list, the following preferential customs duty shall apply:

2. The preferential customs duties indicated in the table above shall apply from the date of entry into force of this Agreement. The duties shall not be reduced retroactively.

3. In 2019, the Parties shall examine an improvement in the tariff liberalisation for bananas.

4. A stabilisation clause shall be based on the following elements:

• a)A trigger volume for imports from the Republics of the CA Party is established for each year during the transition period, as indicated in the table above. The trigger volume shall apply individually to the Republics of the CA Party, as set out in the table above58.

58 For the purpose of registering imports to be taken into consideration for the trigger volumes set out in paragraph 1, the EU Party shall require the presentation of a certificate issued by the competent authority of the Republic of the CA Party of export.

• b)Once this import volume is reached during a calendar year, the EU Party may temporarily suspend the preferential customs duty set out in the table above for a period not exceeding three months, which shall not extend beyond the end of the calendar year.
• c)In the event that it suspends said preferential customs duty, the EU Party shall apply the base rate (according to its schedule) or the MFN duty applicable at the time such measure is taken, whichever is lower.
• d)In the event that it applies the actions referred to in points (b) and (c), the EU Party shall immediately enter into consultations with the Republics of the CA Party to analyse and assess the situation on the basis of the available factual data.
• e)The measures referred to in points (b) or (c) shall only be applicable during the transition period.

List of the EU Party List of the Republics of the CA Party List of Panama

AND METHODS OF ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATION INDEX

on the basis of a proof of origin issued or made out previously

List of Appendices Appendix 1: Introductory notes to Annex II Appendix 2: List of working or processing required to be carried out on non-originating materials in order that the product manufactured can obtain originating status Appendix 2 A: Addendum to the list of working or processing required to be carried out on non-originating materials in order that the product manufactured can obtain originating status Appendix 3: Specimens of movement certificate EUR.1 and application for a movement certificate EUR.1 Appendix 4: Invoice declaration Appendix 5: Time period for the submission of an invoice declaration or reimbursement of duties as provided for in

Appendix 6: Amounts referred to in Article 19(1)(b) and Article 24(3) of Annex II, Concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation JOINT DECLARATIONS (INCLUDED AT THE END OF THIS AGREEMENT) Joint Declaration concerning the Principality of Andorra Joint Declaration concerning the Republic of San Marino Joint Declaration concerning exceptions Joint Declaration concerning the review of the rules of origin contained in Annex II (Concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation) Joint Declaration concerning the review of the rules of origin applicable to products of Chapters 61 and 62 of the Harmonized System Joint Declaration concerning the temporary use of additional non-originating materials for products of Chapters 61 and 62 of the Harmonized System

Definitions For the purposes of this Annex59:

59 Unless otherwise specified in this Annex, references to articles shall be understood as references to the articles of this Annex.

• a)"chapters", "headings" and "subheadings" mean the chapters, headings (four-digit codes) and subheadings (six-digit codes) used in the nomenclature which makes up the Harmonized System (HS); b) "classified" refers to the classification of a product or material under a particular heading; c) "competent public authority" refers to:

the customs authorities of the Member States of the European Union; 59 Unless otherwise specified in this Annex, references to articles shall be understood as references to the articles of this Annex.

For Costa Rica, the Promotora del Comercio Exterior de Costa Rica (Procomer), or its successor; For El Salvador, the Centro de Trámites de Importaciones y Exportaciones del Banco Central de Reserva (CIEX-BCR) for the issuance of a movement certificate EUR.1, verification of proofs of origin for exports and for granting the status of approved exporter; and the Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA) of the Ministerio de Hacienda for the verification of proofs of origin for imports, or their successors; For Guatemala, the Dirección de Administración del Comercio Exterior del Ministerio de Economía for the issuance of a movement certificate EUR.1, for granting the status of approved exporter and for the verification of proofs of origin, or its successor; For Honduras, the Dirección General de Integración Económica y Política Comercial of the Secretaría de Estado en los Despachos de Industria y Comercio for the issuance of a movement certificate EUR.1, for granting the status of approved exporter and for the verification of proofs of origin, or its successor; For Nicaragua, the Centro de Trámites de las Exportaciones (Cetrex) of the Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio (MIFIC) for the issuance of a movement certificate EUR.1, the verification of proofs of origin for exports and for granting the status of approved exporter; and the Dirección General de Servicios Aduaneros (DGA) for the verification of proofs of origin for imports, or their successors; and For Panama, the Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias for the issuance of a movement certificate EUR.1 and the Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas for the verification of proofs of origin and for granting the status of approved exporter, or their successors; d) "consignment" means products which are either sent simultaneously from one exporter to one consignee or covered by a single transport document covering their shipment from the exporter to the consignee or, in the absence of such a document, by a single invoice; e) "customs value" means the value as determined in accordance with the WTO Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (hereinafter, the "Agreement on Customs Valuation"); f) "ex-works price" means the price paid ex-works for the product to the manufacturer in the Party in whose undertaking the last working or processing is carried out, provided the price includes the value of all the materials used, minus any internal taxes which are, or may be, repaid or refunded when the product obtained is exported; g) "goods" means both materials and products; h) "manufacture" means any kind of working or processing, including assembly or specific operations; i) "material" means any ingredient, raw material, component or part, etc., used in the manufacture of the product; j) "product" means the product being manufactured, even if it is intended for later use in another manufacturing operation; k) "value of the materials" means the customs value at the time of importation of the non-originating materials used, or, if this is not known or cannot be ascertained, the first ascertainable price paid for the materials in the Party; l) "value of originating materials" means the value of such materials as defined in point (k) applied mutatis mutandis.

General requirements 1. For the purposes of the application of Title II (Trade in Goods) of Part IV of this Agreement, the following products shall be considered as originating in the European Union:

• a)products wholly obtained in the European Union in accordance with Article 4; b) products obtained in the European Union incorporating materials which have not been wholly obtained there, provided that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing in the European Union in accordance with Article 5.

2. For the purposes of the application of Title II (Trade in Goods) of Part IV of this Agreement, the following products shall be considered as originating in Central America:

• a)products wholly obtained in Central America in accordance with Article 4; b) products obtained in Central America incorporating materials which have not been wholly obtained there, provided that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing in Central America in accordance with Article 5.

Cumulation of origin 1. Materials originating in the European Union shall be considered as materials originating in Central America when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided they have undergone working or processing going beyond that referred to in Article 6.

2. Materials originating in Central America shall be considered as materials originating in the European Union when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided they have undergone working or processing going beyond that referred to in Article 6.

3. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1 and 2, materials originating in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru or Venezuela shall be considered as materials originating in Central America when processed or incorporated into a product obtained there60.

60 In the event that one of the countries mentioned in this paragraph ceases to be a beneficiary of preferential tariff treatment in the market of the European Union, thereby preventing Central America from cumulating materials under this Article, the European Union shall take all measures consistent with its WTO obligations necessary to ensure that Central America maintains the same level of flexibility it is entitled to under Article 3. After receiving a request in accordance with this provision, the European Union shall, without undue delay, inform the Republics of the CA Party concerned of the actions taken with a view to ensuring the continuation of the cumulation possibilities provided for in this Article.

(Note by Sinalevi: Through subparagraph 18)(a) of the Annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the preceding footnote is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement.)

4. In order for the products referred to in paragraph 3 to obtain originating status, it shall not be necessary that the materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided that:

• a)the working or processing of the materials carried out in Central America goes beyond the operations referred to in Article 6; b) the materials are originating in one of the countries listed in paragraph 3, by application of rules of origin identical to those applicable if such materials were exported directly to the European Union; and c) the agreements in force between Central America and the other countries referred to in paragraph 3 allow for adequate administrative cooperation procedures to ensure the full implementation of this paragraph, as well as the certification and verification of the originating status of the products61.

61 The Agreements referred to in this paragraph have been fulfilled and notified to the European Union. The reference of the notification was published on 29.5.2003 in OJ L 134, p. 1.

(Note by Sinalevi: Through subparagraph 18)(a) of the Annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the preceding footnote is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement.)

5. The originating status of materials exported from one of the countries referred to in paragraph 3 to Central America, for use in further working or processing, shall be established by a proof of origin under which these materials could be exported directly to the European Union.

6. Proof of the originating status, acquired in accordance with the terms of paragraph 4, of goods exported to the European Union shall be established by a movement certificate EUR.1 issued or an invoice declaration made out in the exporting country, in accordance with the provisions of Title IV (Proof of Origin) of this Annex. These documents shall bear the endorsement "cumulation with (name of country)".

7. At the request of a Republic of the CA Party or the European Union, materials originating in Mexico, South America or the Caribbean countries shall be considered as materials originating in Central America or the European Union respectively, when processed or incorporated into a product obtained there.

8. The request shall be addressed to the Subcommittee on Customs, Trade Facilitation and Rules of Origin, in accordance with Article 123 of Chapter 3 (Customs and Trade Facilitation) of Title II of Part IV of this Agreement.

9. In order for the products referred to in paragraph 7 to obtain originating status, it shall not be necessary that the materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided that:

• a)the working or processing of the materials carried out in Central America or in the European Union goes beyond the operations referred to in Article 6; b) the materials are originating in Mexico, South America or a Caribbean country, by application of rules of origin identical to those applicable if such materials were exported directly to the European Union; c) the materials are originating in Mexico, South America or a Caribbean country, by application of rules of origin identical to those applicable if such materials were exported directly to Central America; and d) the Republics of the CA Party, the European Union and the other country or countries concerned have an agreement on adequate administrative cooperation procedures which will ensure the full application of this paragraph, as well as the certification and verification of the originating status of the products.

10. The Parties, by mutual agreement, shall notify the Subcommittee on Customs, Trade Facilitation and Rules of Origin of the materials subject to the provisions of paragraphs 7 to 12.

11. The cumulation provided for in paragraphs 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 of this Article may be applied provided that:

• a)preferential trade agreements in accordance with Article XXIV of the GATT 1994 are in force between the non-Party concerned and the Republics of the CA Party and the European Union, respectively. This cumulation shall only apply between the Parties for which these agreements are in force; b) the Agreements referred to in point (a) contain cumulation provisions equivalent to those provided for in paragraphs 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 of this Article, in order that the cumulation provisions apply reciprocally between the Republics of the CA Party, the European Union and the non-Party concerned, respectively; and c) notices indicating the fulfilment of the requirements necessary to apply cumulation in accordance with paragraphs 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 of this Article have been published in the official publications of the Parties and of the non-Party countries concerned, in accordance with their own procedures.

(Paragraph above thus amended by subparagraph 18)(b) of the Annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") 12. The Parties may establish additional conditions for the application of paragraphs 7 to 11.

(*)Article 3a Extended cumulation of origin 1. The extended cumulation of origin provided for in this Article shall apply notwithstanding the provisions of Article 3.

2. Materials originating in the European Union shall be considered as materials originating in the United Kingdom when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided they have undergone working or processing going beyond that referred to in Article 6.

3. Materials originating in the European Union shall be considered as materials originating in Central America when incorporated into a product obtained there. It shall not be necessary that such materials have undergone sufficient working or processing, provided they have undergone working or processing going beyond that referred to in Article 6.

4. Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 2(1), working or processing carried out in the European Union shall be considered as having been carried out in the United Kingdom if the materials obtained undergo subsequent working or processing in the United Kingdom that goes beyond the operations referred to in Article 6.

5. The cumulation provided for in this Article shall apply provided that:

(a) the countries involved in the acquisition of originating status and the country of destination have agreements on administrative cooperation which ensure the correct application of this Article; (b) the materials and products have acquired originating status by the application of the same rules of origin as those provided for in this Annex.

(*) (Article 3a above thus added by subparagraph 18)(c) of the Annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019")

Wholly obtained products 1. The following shall be considered as wholly obtained in the European Union or in Central America:

• a)mineral products extracted from their soil or from their seabed; b) vegetable products harvested or grown and gathered there; c) live animals born and raised there; d) products from live animals raised there; e) i) products obtained by hunting carried out there; ii) products of fishing carried out in their inland waters or within the twelve nautical miles measured from the baselines of the European Union or of the Republics of the CA Party; iii) products of aquaculture, including mariculture, where the fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates have been born or raised there; f) products of sea fishing and other products taken from the sea outside the twelve nautical miles measured from the baselines of the European Union or of the Republics of the CA Party by their vessels; g) products made aboard their factory ships exclusively from products referred to in point (f); h) used articles collected there, fit only for the recovery of raw materials, including used tyres fit only for retreading or for use as waste; i) waste and scrap resulting from manufacturing operations conducted there; j) products extracted from the marine soil or subsoil outside their territorial waters, provided that they have exclusive rights to exploit that soil or subsoil; k) goods produced there exclusively from the products specified in points (a) to (j).

(*)2. The expressions "their vessels" and "their factory ships" used in paragraph 1(f) and (g), shall apply only to vessels and factory ships which:

(a) are registered in the United Kingdom or in a Republic of the CA Party in accordance with the national legislation of each Party; (b) sail under the flag of the United Kingdom or of a Republic of the CA Party; and (c) meet one of the following conditions:

(i) they are at least 50 per cent owned by nationals of the United Kingdom, of the Member States of the European Union or of the Republics of the CA Party; or (ii) they are owned by companies -whose head office and principal place of business is situated in the United Kingdom, in a Member State of the European Union or in a Republic of the CA Party, and -which are at least 50 per cent owned by the United Kingdom, a Member State of the European Union or a Republic of the CA Party, public entities or nationals of those States.

(As thus amended subparagraph 4.2 above by section 18) subparagraph d) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019") 3. The conditions of paragraph 2 may be fulfilled in the different countries mentioned in Article 3 in accordance with the conditions set out in this Article.

(As thus amended the preceding subparagraph by section 18) subparagraph d) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019")

Sufficiently worked or processed products 1. For the purposes of Article 2, products that are not wholly obtained shall be considered to be sufficiently worked or processed when they satisfy the conditions set out in the list in Appendix 2.

These conditions indicate, for all products covered by the Agreement, the working or processing that must be applied to non-originating materials used in manufacture, and apply only in relation to such materials. It follows that if a product that has acquired originating status by fulfilling the conditions set out in the list is used in the manufacture of another product, the conditions applicable to the product into which it is incorporated shall not apply to it, and no account shall be taken of the non-originating materials that may have been used in its manufacture.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, non-originating materials that, in accordance with the conditions set out in the list, should not be used in the manufacture of a product may nevertheless be used, provided that:

• a)their total value does not exceed 10 percent of the ex-works price of the product; b) none of the percentages given in the list as the maximum value of non-originating materials are exceeded by the application of this paragraph.

This paragraph shall not apply to products classified in Chapters 50 to 63 of the Harmonized System, for which Appendix 1 shall apply. Additionally, this paragraph shall not apply to products wholly obtained in the Parties. However, without prejudice to Article 7, the tolerance set out in this paragraph shall also apply to materials used in the manufacture of a product and for which the rule set out in the list in Appendix 2 for that product requires that such materials be wholly obtained.

3. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply subject to the provisions of Article 6.

Insufficient working or processing operations 1. Notwithstanding paragraph 2, the following operations shall be considered as insufficient working or processing to confer the status of originating products, whether or not the requirements of Article 5 are met:

• a)operations to ensure the preservation of products in good condition during transport and storage; b) breaking-up or assembly of packages; c) washing, cleaning; removal of dust, oxide, oil, paint or other coverings; d) ironing or pressing of textiles; e) simple painting and polishing operations; f) husking and partial or total bleaching, polishing and glazing of cereals and rice; g) operations to colour or flavour sugar or form sugar lumps; partial or total milling of crystal sugar; h) shelling, stoning or peeling of fruits, nuts and vegetables; i) sharpening, simple grinding or simple cutting; j) sifting, screening, sorting, classifying, grading, matching (including the making-up of sets of articles); k) simple placing in bottles, cans, flasks, bags, cases and boxes, or fixing on cards or boards, and any other simple packaging operations; l) affixing or printing marks, labels, logos and other like distinguishing signs on products or their packaging; m) simple mixing of products, whether or not of different kinds; mixing of sugar with any material; n) simple assembly of parts of articles to constitute a complete article or disassembly of products into their parts; o) slaughter of animals; p) a combination of two or more of the operations specified in subparagraphs (a) to (o).

2. All operations carried out in the European Union or in Central America on a given product shall be considered together when determining whether the working or processing undergone by that product is to be regarded as insufficient within the meaning of paragraph 1.

Unit of qualification 1. The unit of qualification for the application of the provisions of this annex shall be the particular product which is considered as the basic unit when determining classification using the nomenclature of the Harmonized System.

It shall be considered that:

• a)when a product composed of a group or assembly of articles is classified under a single heading of the Harmonized System, the whole constitutes the unit of qualification; b) when a consignment consists of a number of identical products classified under the same heading of the Harmonized System, each product shall be taken individually for the application of the provisions of this annex.

2. Where, in accordance with General Rule 5 of the Harmonized System, packaging is included with the product for classification purposes, it shall be included for the purposes of determining origin.

Accessories, spare parts and tools Accessories, spare parts and tools dispatched with a piece of equipment, machine, apparatus or vehicle, which are part of the normal equipment and included in the price thereof or which are not separately invoiced, shall be regarded as one with the piece of equipment, machine, apparatus or vehicle in question.

Sets Sets, as defined in General Rule 3 of the Harmonized System, shall be regarded as originating when all component products are originating. Nevertheless, when a set is composed of originating and non-originating products, the set as a whole shall be regarded as originating, provided that the value of the non-originating products does not exceed 15 percent of the ex-works price of the set.

Neutral elements In order to determine whether a product is originating, it shall not be necessary to establish the origin of the following elements which might be used in its manufacture:

• a)energy and fuel; b) plant and equipment; c) machines and tools; d) goods that do not enter and which are not intended to enter into the final composition of the product.

Principle of territoriality 1. Except as provided in Article 3, the conditions set out in Title II of this annex relating to the acquisition of originating status shall be fulfilled without interruption in the European Union or in Central America.

(As thus amended the preceding subparagraph by section 18) subparagraph e) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019") 2. Except as provided in Article 3, if originating goods exported from the European Union or from Central America to another country are returned, they shall be considered non-originating, unless it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that:

(As thus amended the preceding subparagraph by section 18) subparagraph e) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019") a) the returned goods are the same as those exported; and b) they have not undergone any operation beyond that necessary to preserve them in good condition while in that country or while being exported.

3. The acquisition of originating status in accordance with the conditions set out in Title II of this annex shall not be affected by working or processing carried out outside the Parties on materials exported from the European Union or from Central America and subsequently reimported there, provided that:

• a)the said materials are wholly obtained in the European Union or Central America or have undergone working or processing there going beyond the operations referred to in Article 6 prior to their export; and b) it can be demonstrated to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that:
• i)the reimported goods have been obtained by working or processing the exported materials; and ii) the total added value acquired outside the Parties by application of the provisions of this Article does not exceed 10 percent of the ex-works price of the final product for which originating status is claimed.

4. For the purposes of paragraph 3, the conditions for acquiring originating status set out in Title II of this annex shall not apply to the working or processing carried out outside the Parties. However, if, in the list in Appendix 2, a rule establishing a maximum value for all non-originating materials incorporated is applied in determining the originating status of the final product, the total value of the non-originating materials incorporated in the territory of the Party concerned, taken together with the total added value acquired outside the Parties by application of the provisions of this Article, shall not exceed the stated percentage.

5. For the purposes of applying the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4, "total added value" shall mean all costs arising outside the Parties, including the value of the materials incorporated there.

6. The provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4 shall not apply to products that do not meet the conditions set out in the list in Appendix 2 or that can be considered sufficiently worked or processed only if the general tolerance fixed in Article 5(2) is applied.

7. The provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4 shall not apply to products classified in Chapters 50 to 63 of the Harmonized System.

8. Any working or processing of the kind covered by the provisions of this Article and carried out outside the Parties shall be done under the outward processing arrangements, or similar arrangements.

Direct transport 1. The preferential tariff treatment provided for by this Agreement applies exclusively to products satisfying the requirements of this annex that are transported directly between the Parties or through the European Union(*). However, products may be transported through other territories, if necessary, with transshipment or temporary warehousing in such territories, provided that the products have remained under the surveillance of the customs authorities of the country of transit or warehousing and have not undergone operations other than unloading, reloading, or any operation designed to preserve them in good condition.

(*) (As thus amended preceding subparagraph by section 18) subparagraph f. i) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019") Originating products may be transported by pipeline through territories other than those of the Parties.

For the avoidance of doubt, consignments transported through the European Union may undergo operations such as unloading, reloading, splitting, storage, labelling, marking or any other operation designed to preserve them in good condition, provided that they remain under the surveillance of the customs authorities in the Member State of the European Union.

(As thus added the preceding paragraph by section 18) subparagraph f. ii) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y Centroamérica, suscrito en Managua, Nicaragua, el 18 de mes de julio de 2019; su Anexo, sus Declaraciones Conjuntas y el Entendimiento Alcanzado entre las Delegaciones de los Gobiernos del Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte y de las Repúblicas de Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Panamá sobre el Apartado 8 del Anexo del Acuerdo por el que se Establece una Asociación entre el Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, y Centroamérica, firmado el 18 de julio de 2019") 2. Compliance with the conditions set out in paragraph 1 may be demonstrated by providing the customs authorities of the importing Party with:

• a)a single transport document covering the passage from the exporting Party through the country of transit; or b) a certificate issued by the customs authorities of the country of transit containing:
• i)an exact description of the products, ii) the dates of unloading and reloading of the products and, where applicable, the names of the ships or other means of transport used, and iii) the conditions under which the products remained in the country of transit; or c) failing these, any substantiating documents to the satisfaction of the customs authority of the importing Party.

Exhibitions 1. Originating products sent for exhibition in a country other than the Parties and sold after the exhibition for importation into the territory of a Party shall benefit on importation from the provisions of this Agreement, provided it is shown to the satisfaction of the customs authorities that:

• a)an exporter has consigned these products from the European Union or from a Republic of the CA Party to the country in which the exhibition is held and has exhibited them there; b) the products have been sold or otherwise disposed of by that exporter to a person in the territory of a Party; c) the products have been consigned during the exhibition or immediately thereafter in the state in which they were sent for exhibition; and d) the products have not, since they were consigned for exhibition, been used for purposes other than demonstration at the exhibition.

2. A proof of origin shall be issued or made out in accordance with the provisions of Title IV of this annex and submitted to the customs authorities of the importing Party in the normal manner. The name and address of the exhibition shall be indicated thereon. Where necessary, additional documentary evidence of the conditions under which they have been exhibited may be required.

3. Paragraph 1 shall apply to any trade, industrial, agricultural or crafts exhibition, fair or similar public show or display which is not organised for private purposes in shops or business premises with a view to the sale of foreign products, and during which the products remain under customs control.

General requirements 1. Originating products of the European Union shall, on importation into Central America, and originating products of Central America shall, on importation into the European Union, benefit from this Agreement upon submission of either:

• a)a movement certificate EUR.1, a specimen of which appears in Appendix 3; or b) in the cases specified in Article 19(1), a declaration, subsequently referred to as the "invoice declaration", given by the exporter on an invoice, a delivery note or any other commercial document which describes the products concerned in sufficient detail to enable them to be identified; the text of the invoice declaration appears in Appendix 4.

(Note from Sinalevi: By Resolution No. 012 of July 12, 2017, it was agreed to clarify the phrase "any other commercial document" from the preceding paragraph within the framework of the Tratado de Libre Comercio between the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica and the Government of the Republic of Peru, the Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre la Unión Europea y sus Estados Miembros, por un lado, y Centroamérica, por otro (AACUE), and the Tratado de Libre Comercio between the EFTA States and the Central American States, as follows: "1. The 'declaration of origin'1 or the 'invoice declaration'2 referred to in the free trade agreements with Peru, the European Union, and EFTA, may be made out by writing the respective legend on the commercial invoice, the delivery note, or on 'any other commercial document'." 1 Article 15 paragraph 1.b and 19 paragraph 4 of Annex I of the Tratado de Libre Comercio between the EFTA States and the Central American States and Article 3.17 paragraph 5 of the Tratado de Libre Comercio between the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica and the Government of the Republic of Peru.

2 Articles 14 paragraph 1.b and 19 paragraph 4 of Annex II of the AACUE.

2. That the cited treaties indicate that, when 'any other commercial document' is used, it must describe the products concerned in sufficient detail to enable them to be identified by the customs authority.

3. Consequently, documents such as the packing list, the purchase order or the bill of lading accompanying the importation qualify as 'any other commercial document', provided that the products are described in sufficient detail to permit their identification.") 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1, in the cases specified in Article 24, originating products within the meaning of this annex shall benefit from the Agreement without it being necessary to submit any of the documents referred to above.

Procedure for the issue of movement certificates EUR.1 1. A movement certificate EUR.1 shall be issued by the competent public authority of the exporting Party upon written application by the exporter or, under the exporter's responsibility, by its authorised representative.

2. For this purpose, the exporter or its authorised representative shall complete both the movement certificate EUR.1 and the application form, specimens of which appear in Appendix 3. These forms shall be completed in one of the languages in which this Agreement is drawn up and in accordance with the provisions of the national law of the exporting Party. If completed by hand, they shall be completed in ink in printed characters. The description of the products shall appear in the box reserved for this purpose without leaving any blank lines. Where the box is not completely filled, a horizontal line shall be drawn below the last line of the description, and the empty space shall be crossed through.

3. The exporter applying for the issue of a movement certificate EUR.1 shall be prepared to submit at any time, at the request of the competent public authority of the exporting Party where the movement certificate EUR.1 is issued, all appropriate documents proving the originating status of the products concerned as well as the fulfilment of the other requirements of this annex.

(Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with Decision No. 2/2020 of the EU-Central America Association Council of 14/12/20 introducing explanatory notes to Articles 15, 16, 19, 20 and 30 of Annex II concerning the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administrative cooperation to the "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre Centroamérica, por un lado, y la Unión Europea y sus Estados miembros, por otro"; approved by Decreto Ejecutivo No. 43149 of May 10, 2021, it was agreed to introduce an explanatory note to point 3) above. It shall read as follows: "Article 15, paragraph 3 Documents accompanying movement certificates EUR.1 The invoice relating to goods exported under preferential tariff treatment from the territory of one of the Parties and accompanying a movement certificate EUR.1 may be issued in a third country.") 4. A movement certificate EUR.1 shall be issued by the competent public authority of a Member State of the European Union or of a Republic of the CA Party if the products concerned can be considered products originating in the European Union or in Central America and fulfil the other requirements of this annex.

5. The competent public authorities issuing movement certificates EUR.1 shall take any steps necessary to verify the originating status of the products and the fulfilment of the other requirements of this annex.

For this purpose, they shall have the right to call for any evidence and to carry out any inspection of the exporter's accounts62 or any other check considered appropriate. They shall also ensure that the forms referred to in paragraph 2 are duly completed. In particular, they shall check whether the space reserved for the description of the products has been completed in such a way as to exclude all possibility of fraudulent additions.

62 For greater certainty, whenever the concept of "accounts" is used in this annex or its appendices, it shall be understood as a reference to the accounting records.

6. The date of issue of the movement certificate EUR.1 shall be indicated in Box 11 of the certificate.

7. The competent public authorities shall issue a movement certificate EUR.1, which shall be made available to the exporter as soon as actual exportation has been effected or ensured.

(Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with Decision No. 2/2020 of the EU-Central America Association Council of 14/12/20 introducing explanatory notes to Articles 15, 16, 19, 20 and 30 of Annex II concerning the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administrative cooperation to the "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre Centroamérica, por un lado, y la Unión Europea y sus Estados miembros, por otro"; approved by Decreto Ejecutivo No. 43149 of May 10, 2021, it was agreed to introduce an explanatory note to point 7) above. It shall read as follows: "Article 15, paragraph 7 When actual exportation has been effected or ensured For the purposes of competent authorities issuing a movement certificate EUR.1, exportation shall be considered as effected or ensured upon presentation of the export declaration by the exporter and its acceptance by the customs authority.") (Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with Decision No. 2/2020 of the EU-Central America Association Council of 14/12/20 introducing explanatory notes to Articles 15, 16, 19, 20 and 30 of Annex II concerning the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administrative cooperation to the "Acuerdo por el que se establece una Asociación entre Centroamérica, por un lado, y la Unión Europea y sus Estados miembros, por otro"; approved by Decreto Ejecutivo No. 43149 of May 10, 2021, it was agreed to introduce an explanatory note to numeral 15 above. It shall read as follows: "

Movement certificate EUR.1: forms and completion instructions Serial number EUR1 The movement certificate EUR.1 shall bear a serial number to facilitate its identification. The serial number shall normally consist of letters and numbers. Forms of the movement certificate EUR.1 Movement certificates EUR.1 may be accepted as proof of origin which may vary in wording or in the placement of footnotes, depending on the issuing competent public authority, with respect to the specimen appearing in Appendix 3 (specimens of movement certificate EUR.1 and application for a movement certificate EUR.1) of Annex II (concerning the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administrative cooperation) of the Agreement, provided that the variations do not modify the information required in each box.

1 See the 'Annex to the explanatory notes: Terms that refer unequivocally to the European Union'.

Box 1 The full details of the exporter of the goods (name, full and current address and country from which the export originates) must be provided.

Box 2 Certificate used in preferential trade between For this purpose, the following must be indicated:

Central America; European Union or EU1; Ceuta; Melilla; Andorra or AD; San Marino or SM.

1 See the 'Annex to the explanatory notes: Terms that refer unequivocally to the European Union'.

Box 3 Consignee Completion of this box is optional. If completed, the consignee's details: name, full and current address and country of destination of the goods, must be included.

Box 4 Country, group of countries or territory from which the products are considered as originating The country, group of countries or territory of origin of the goods must be specified:

Central America; European Union or EU2; Ceuta; Melilla; Andorra or AD; San Marino or SM.

2 See the 'Annex to the explanatory notes: Terms that refer unequivocally to the European Union'.") Box 5 Country, group of countries, or territory of destination The country, group of countries, or territory of the importing Party to which the products are destined must be indicated: Central America; European Union or EU3 ; Ceuta; Melilla; Andorra or AD; San Marino or SM.

Box 6 Transport details Filling in this box is optional. If filled in, the means of transport and air waybill or bill of lading numbers, with the names of the respective transport companies, must be indicated.

Box 7 Remarks This box must be filled in in the following cases:

1. In the case of a certificate issued after the exportation of the goods in accordance with Article 16 of Annex II of the Agreement, the following phrase must be indicated in this box, in one of the languages established in the Agreement: "ISSUED RETROSPECTIVELY". In addition, in the case established pursuant to Article 16, paragraph 1, subparagraph (b), of Annex II, the number of the EUR.1 movement certificate that was not accepted at the time of importation for technical reasons shall be indicated in this box: "EUR.1 No.

2. In the case of a duplicate certificate issued in accordance with Article 17 of Annex II, the following phrase must be indicated in this box, in one of the languages established in the Agreement: "DUPLICATE" and the date of issue of the original EUR.1 movement certificate.

3 See the "Annex to the Explanatory Notes: Terms referring unequivocally to the European Union".

3. In the case of cumulation of origin with Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, or Venezuela, the following must be indicated in this box: "cumulation with (name of the country)", in accordance with Article 3 of Annex II.

4. When a product is covered by a rule of origin subject to quotas, the following phrase must be indicated in this box: "Product originating in accordance with Appendix 2A of Annex II (relating to the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administrative cooperation)".

5. In other cases deemed useful for clarifying the information on the EUR.1 movement certificate.

Box 8 Item number; marks and numbers; number and kind of packages; description of goods A description of the goods must be provided, in accordance with the description on the invoice, and other information must be provided, such as: item number; marks and numbers; number and kind of packages (pallets, boxes, bags, rolls, barrels, sacks, etc.). A general description of the goods may be provided, provided it is related to the specific description on the invoice and there is an unequivocal link between the import document and the EUR.1 movement certificate. In this case, the invoice number must be indicated in this box. The tariff classification should preferably be indicated, at least at the heading level (four-digit code) according to the Harmonized System (HS).

In the case of unpacked goods, the number of articles or the phrase "in bulk", as appropriate, shall be stated.

The description of the goods must be detailed, preceded by an item number, without leaving blank lines or spaces, and there must be no empty spaces between the different products indicated on the certificate. If the box is not completely filled in, a horizontal line must be drawn below the last line of the description, and a crossed line drawn across the remaining blank space in such a way that any subsequent addition is impossible. When the box is insufficient to include the details necessary to identify the products, especially in the case of large consignments, the exporter may specify the products to which the certificate refers on the attached invoices for the products and, if necessary, on any other commercial document, provided that:

• a)the invoice numbers are indicated in Box 10 of the EUR.1 movement certificate; b) the invoices and, where applicable, the other commercial documents are firmly attached to the certificate before its presentation to the competent public authority; and c) the competent public authority has stamped the invoices and, where applicable, the other commercial documents, attaching them to the certificates.

Box 9 Gross mass (kg) or other measure (l, m3, etc.)

Specify the gross mass (kg) or other measure (liters, m3, etc.) of all the goods detailed in Box 8 or separately for each item (HS heading).

Box 10 Invoices Filling in this box is optional. If filled in, the date and the number(s) of the invoice(s) shall be indicated.

Box 11 Endorsement by the competent public or customs authority This box is for the exclusive use of the competent public or customs authority, as applicable in each country, responsible for issuing the certificate.

Box 12 This box is for the exclusive use of the exporter or their authorized representative. It must record the place and date the certificate is drawn up and be signed by the exporter or their authorized representative.

The exporter or their authorized representative may sign the EUR.1 movement certificate physically or, if authorized by the Parties, digitally.

By signing the form, the exporter or their authorized representative declares that the goods comply with the provisions of the EU-Central America Agreement.

Box 13 Request for verification and Box 14 Result of verification These boxes are for the exclusive use of the competent public authority or customs authority in each country, as appropriate, for verification purposes.

When the actual exportation is effected or ensured For the purposes of the competent authorities issuing a EUR.1 movement certificate, exportation shall be considered to have been effected or ensured by the presentation of the export declaration by the exporter and its acceptance by the customs authority.

Issuance of EUR.1 movement certificates retrospectively 1. Notwithstanding Article 15, paragraph 7, a EUR.1 movement certificate may exceptionally be issued after exportation of the products to which it relates if:

• a)it was not issued at the time of exportation because of errors, involuntary omissions, or special circumstances; or b) it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the competent public authorities that a EUR.1 movement certificate was issued but was not accepted at the time of importation for technical reasons.

(Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with Decision No. 2/2020 of the EU-Central America Association Council of 14/12/20 introducing explanatory notes to Articles 15, 16, 19, 20, and 30 of Annex II relating to the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation to the "Agreement establishing an Association between Central America, on the one hand, and the European Union and its Member States, on the other"; approved by Executive Decree No. 43149 of May 10, 2021, it was agreed to introduce an explanatory note to subparagraph (b). It shall read as follows: "Article 16, paragraph 1, subparagraph (b) Technical reasons 1. A EUR.1 movement certificate may be rejected for "technical reasons" when it is not completed in accordance with the provisions laid down. These are cases where a retrospectively issued certificate may be presented later, and this category includes, for example, the following situations:

when the EUR.1 movement certificates have been issued on forms other than those agreed (for example, they do not bear a printed guilloche pattern background, show significant differences in size or color from the agreed model, do not bear a serial number, or are printed in one of the unauthorized languages); when any of the mandatory boxes of the EUR.1 movement certificate have not been filled in (for example, Box 4); when the EUR.1 movement certificate has been issued by a non-competent authority of one of the Parties; when the stamp used has not been notified; when the date indicated in Box 11 is earlier than the date indicated in Box 12; when the EUR.1 movement certificate lacks a stamp or signature (Box 11); when a photocopy or a copy of the EUR.1 movement certificate is presented instead of the original; when the entry in Boxes 2 or 5 refers to a country that is not a Party to the Agreement; if a horizontal line has not been drawn below the last line of the description in Box 8 and a crossed line drawn across the remaining blank space.

Procedure to be followed:

The document must bear the phrase "Document rejected" in one of the official languages of the Agreement, indicating the reason or reasons for the rejection on the certificate or on another document issued by the customs authorities. The certificate and, where applicable, the other document shall then be returned to the importer so that they can obtain a new document issued retrospectively. However, the customs authorities may exceptionally retain a photocopy of the rejected certificate for the purpose of carrying out subsequent verification or if they have grounds to suspect fraudulent activity.

2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, minor errors, discrepancies, or omissions in the completion of a EUR.1 movement certificate shall not be considered technical reasons justifying its rejection, as they do not prevent the acquisition and assessment of the relevant information on the proof of origin. By way of example, the following cases shall not be considered technical reasons for rejection:

typing errors, where there is no doubt about the accuracy of the information provided in one or more boxes of the EUR.1 movement certificate; the information provided exceeds the space available in the box; one or more boxes are filled in with a stamp, provided that all the required information is included (for example, the signature must be handwritten); the unit of measurement used in Box 9 does not correspond to the unit of measurement indicated on the corresponding invoice (for example: kilos on the EUR.1 movement certificate and square meters on the invoice); there is no information on the export document mentioned in Box 11, if the legislation of the exporting country or territory does not require such information to be included; the date of issue of the EUR.1 movement certificate does not appear on the prescribed line in Box 11, but is clearly indicated in that box (for example, as part of the official stamp used by the competent authorities to endorse the certificate); the optional Boxes 3, 6, 7, and 10 have not been filled in.") 2. For the application of paragraph 1, the exporter must indicate in their application the place and date of export of the products to which the EUR.1 movement certificate relates, and state the reasons for their application.

3. The competent public authorities may issue a EUR.1 movement certificate retrospectively only after verifying that the information provided in the exporter's application agrees with that contained in the corresponding file.

(*)4. EUR.1 movement certificates issued retrospectively must bear the phrase "issued retrospectively" in one of the following languages:

ES 'EXPEDIDO A POSTERIOR!' EN 'ISSUED RETROSPECTIVELY'.

(*) (Paragraph 4) above thus amended by subparagraph 18) subpart g) of the Annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019") 5. The phrase referred to in paragraph 4 shall be inserted in the "Remarks" box of the EUR.1 movement certificate.

Issuance of duplicates of EUR.1 movement certificates 1. In the event of theft, loss, or destruction of a EUR.1 movement certificate, the exporter may apply for a duplicate from the competent public authorities that issued it, on the basis of the export documents in their possession.

(*)2. The duplicate thus issued must bear the word "duplicate" in one of the following languages:

ES 'DUPLICADO' EN 'DUPLICATE'.

(*) (Paragraph 2) above thus amended by subparagraph 18) subpart h) of the Annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on the 18th day of July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019") 3. The phrase referred to in paragraph 2 shall be inserted in the "Remarks" box of the duplicate EUR.1 movement certificate.

4. The duplicate, which must bear the date of issue of the original EUR.1 movement certificate, shall take effect as from that date.

Issuance of EUR.1 movement certificates on the basis of a proof of origin issued or drawn up previously When originating products are placed under the control of a customs office of a Party, the initial proof of origin may be replaced by one or more EUR.1 movement certificates for the purpose of sending all or some of these products elsewhere within the European Union or Central America. The replacement EUR.1 movement certificate(s) shall be issued by the customs office of the EU Party under whose control the products are placed or by the competent public authority of the Republics of the CA Party.

Conditions for making out an invoice declaration 1. An invoice declaration referred to in Article 14, paragraph 1, subparagraph (b), may be made out:

• a)by an approved exporter within the meaning of Article 20; or b) by any exporter for any consignment consisting of one or more packages containing originating products whose total value does not exceed the amount in Euros set out in Appendix 6 (Amounts referred to in Article 19, paragraph 1, subparagraph (b), and Article 24, paragraph 3, of Annex II, Relating to the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation).

(Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with Decision No. 2/2020 of the EU-Central America Association Council of 14/12/20 introducing explanatory notes to Articles 15, 16, 19, 20, and 30 of Annex II relating to the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation to the "Agreement establishing an Association between Central America, on the one hand, and the European Union and its Member States, on the other"; approved by Executive Decree No. 43149 of May 10, 2021, it was agreed to introduce an explanatory note to the above paragraph, which shall read as follows: "Article 19, paragraph 1, subparagraph (b) Base value for the issuance and acceptance of invoice declarations made by exporters The ex-works price may be used as the base value to decide whether an invoice declaration may replace a EUR.1 movement certificate, with reference to the value limit fixed in Appendix 6 of Annex II. If the ex-works price is used as the base value, the country of importation must accept invoice declarations made with reference to that price.

In cases where there is no ex-works price because the consignment is free of charge, the customs value established by the authorities of the country of importation shall be considered as the basis for the value limit.") 2. An invoice declaration may be made out if the products concerned can be considered as products originating in the European Union or Central America and fulfill the other requirements of this Annex.

3. An exporter making out an invoice declaration must be able to submit at any time, at the request of the competent public authorities of the exporting Party, all appropriate documents proving the originating status of the products concerned as well as the fulfillment of the other requirements of this Annex.

4. The exporter shall make out an invoice declaration by typing, stamping, or printing on the invoice, the delivery note, or any other commercial document, the text of the declaration set out in Appendix 4, using one of the linguistic versions set out in that Appendix and in accordance with the provisions of the national law of the exporting Party. If the declaration is handwritten, it shall be written in ink in printed characters.

(Note from Sinalevi: By Resolution No. 012 of July 12, 2017, it was agreed to clarify the phrase "any other commercial document" from the preceding paragraph within the framework of the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica and the Government of the Republic of Peru, the Agreement establishing an Association between the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and Central America, on the other (AACUE), and the Free Trade Agreement between the EFTA States and the Central American States, as follows: "1. The 'declaration of origin'1 or the 'invoice declaration'2 referred to in the free trade agreements with Peru, the European Union, and EFTA, may be made out by writing the respective wording on the commercial invoice, the delivery note, or on 'any other commercial document'.

1Article 15, paragraph 1.b and Article 19, paragraph 4 of Annex I to the Free Trade Agreement between the EFTA States and the Central American States, and Article 3.17, paragraph 5 to the Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica and the Government of the Republic of Peru.

2 Articles 14, paragraph 1.b and 19, paragraph 4 of Annex II of the AACUE.

2. That the cited treaties indicate that, when 'any other commercial document' is used, it must describe the products in question in sufficient detail for them to be identified by the customs authority.

3. Consequently, documents such as the packing list, the purchase order, or the bill of lading accompanying the import qualify as 'any other commercial document', provided the products are described in sufficient detail to permit their identification.") 5. Invoice declarations shall bear the original handwritten signature of the exporter. However, an approved exporter as defined in Article 20 shall not be required to sign such declarations provided that they give the competent public authorities of the exporting Party a written undertaking that they accept full responsibility for any invoice declaration which identifies them as if they had signed it manually.

6. An invoice declaration may be made out by the exporter when the products to which it relates are exported, or after exportation on condition that it is presented in the importing Party within the period laid down in Appendix 5.

(Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with Decision No. 2/2020 of the EU-Central America Association Council of 14/12/20 introducing explanatory notes to Articles 15, 16, 19, 20, and 30 of Annex II relating to the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation to the "Agreement establishing an Association between Central America, on the one hand, and the European Union and its Member States, on the other"; approved by Executive Decree No. 43149 of May 10, 2021, it was agreed to introduce an explanatory note to Article 19). It shall read as follows: "Article 19. Application of the provisions relating to invoice declarations The following guidelines shall apply:

• a)when an invoice, a delivery note, or any other commercial document4 includes both originating and non-originating products, these must be identified as such in those documents; 4 Such commercial document may be, for example, a packing list accompanying the goods.
• b)invoice declarations presented on the reverse side of the invoice, the delivery note, or any other commercial document are valid.")

Approved exporter 1. The competent public authorities of the exporting Party may authorize any exporter, hereinafter referred to as "approved exporter", who makes frequent shipments of products under this Agreement, to make out invoice declarations irrespective of the value of the products concerned. An exporter seeking such authorization must offer, to the satisfaction of the competent public authorities, all guarantees necessary to verify the originating status of the products as well as the fulfillment of the other requirements of this Annex.

2. The competent public authorities may grant the status of approved exporter subject to any conditions which they consider appropriate.

3. The competent public authorities shall assign to the approved exporter an authorization number which shall appear on the invoice declaration.

4. The competent public authorities shall monitor the use of the authorization by the approved exporter.

5. The competent public authorities may withdraw the authorization at any time. They shall do so where the approved exporter no longer offers the guarantees referred to in paragraph 1, no longer fulfills the conditions referred to in paragraph 2, or otherwise makes incorrect use of the authorization.

(Note from Sinalevi: In accordance with Decision No. 2/2020 of the EU-Central America Association Council of 14/12/20 introducing explanatory notes to Articles 15, 16, 19, 20, and 30 of Annex II relating to the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation to the "Agreement establishing an Association between Central America, on the one hand, and the European Union and its Member States, on the other"; approved by Executive Decree No. 43149 of May 10, 2021, it was agreed to introduce an explanatory note to the above Article 20), which shall read as follows: "Article 20. Approved exporter The term 'exporter' refers to persons or companies, whether manufacturers or traders, insofar as all other conditions laid down in Annex II are fulfilled.

The status of approved exporter may only be granted upon written application by the exporter. When examining such an application, the competent public authorities must take into account in particular:

whether the exporter exports on a regular basis; whether the exporter is in a position to prove, at any time, the originating status of the goods they export. Account must also be taken of the fact that the exporter must be familiar with the applicable rules of origin and must have all documentary evidence of origin available; whether, on the basis of their previous export activities, the exporter offers sufficient guarantees as to the originating status of the goods and is capable of fulfilling all obligations arising therefrom; and Once the authorization has been granted, exporters must:

undertake to issue invoice declarations only for those goods for which, at the time of issue, they have all the necessary supporting documents or accounting records available; assume full responsibility for its use, in particular in the event of incorrect declarations of origin or misuse of the authorization; assume responsibility for ensuring that, within the company, the person responsible for completing the invoice declarations is familiar with and understands the rules of origin; undertake to keep all documentary evidence of origin for a minimum period of three years from the date the declaration is made; undertake to present the proofs of origin to the competent public authority at any time and to allow inspections by that authority at any time.

The competent public authority must carry out periodic checks on approved exporters. These checks must be carried out in such a way as to guarantee the correct use of the authorization and may be conducted at specific intervals, and as far as possible, based on risk analysis criteria.

The competent public authorities of the Parties must notify the European Commission of the national numbering system used for designating approved exporters. The Commission shall inform the customs authorities of the other countries accordingly.")

Validity of the proof of origin 1. A proof of origin shall be valid for twelve months from the date of issue in the exporting Party, and must be submitted within that period to the customs authorities of the importing Party.

2. Proofs of origin which are submitted to the customs authorities of the importing Party after the final date for presentation specified in paragraph 1 may be accepted, for the purpose of applying the preferential tariff treatment, where the failure to submit these documents by the final date set is due to exceptional circumstances.

3. In other cases of belated presentation, the customs authorities of the importing Party may accept the proofs of origin where the products have been presented to them before the said final date.

4. In accordance with the national legislation of the importing Party, preferential tariff treatment may be granted, where appropriate, through the refund of duties within a period no longer than that set out in Appendix 5 from the date of acceptance of the import declaration, when a proof of origin is submitted indicating that the imported goods were eligible, on that date, for preferential tariff treatment.

Submission of the proof of origin Proofs of origin shall be submitted to the customs authorities of the importing Party in accordance with the procedures applicable in that Party. The said authorities may require a translation of a proof of origin and may also require that the import declaration be accompanied by a statement from the importer to the effect that the products fulfill the conditions required for the application of this Agreement.

Importation by installments Where, at the request of the importer and under the conditions laid down by the customs authorities of the importing Party, dismantled or non-assembled products within the meaning of General Rule 2(a) of the Harmonized System, falling within Sections XVI and XVII or headings 7308 and 9406 of the Harmonized System, are imported by installments, a single proof of origin for such products shall be submitted to the customs authorities upon importation of the first installment.

Exemptions from the proof of origin 1. Products sent in small packages from private individuals to private individuals or forming part of travellers' personal luggage shall be admitted as originating products without requiring the presentation of a proof of origin, provided that such products are not imported by way of trade and have been declared as meeting the conditions required for the application of this Annex and there is no doubt as to the veracity of such declaration. In the case of products sent by post, this declaration may be made on the customs declaration CN22/CN23 or on a sheet of paper attached to that document.

2. Occasional imports consisting exclusively of products for the personal use of the recipients or travellers or their families shall not be considered imports by way of trade if it is evident from the nature and quantity of the products that no commercial purpose is intended.

3. Furthermore, the total value of these products shall not exceed, in the case of small packages or products forming part of travellers' personal luggage, the amounts in euros set out in Appendix 6 (Amounts referred to in Article 19(1)(b) and Article 24(3) of Annex II, Concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation).

Supporting documents The documentation referred to in Article 15(3) and Article 19(3), which serves as evidence that the products covered by a movement certificate EUR.1 or an invoice declaration may be considered as products originating in the European Union or Central America and satisfy the other conditions of this Annex, may consist, inter alia, of:

• a)direct evidence of the processes carried out by the exporter or supplier to obtain the goods in question, contained for example in his accounts or internal bookkeeping; b) documents proving the originating status of the materials used, issued or made out in a Party, where these documents are used in accordance with national law; c) documents proving the working or processing of materials in the European Union or in Central America, issued or made out in a Party, where these documents are used in accordance with national law; d) movement certificates EUR.1 or invoice declarations proving the originating status of the materials used, issued or made out in a Party in accordance with this Annex.

Preservation of proof of origin and supporting documents 1. The exporter applying for the issue of a movement certificate EUR.1 shall keep for at least three years the documents referred to in Article 15(3).

2. The exporter making out an invoice declaration shall keep for at least three years a copy of this invoice declaration as well as the documents referred to in Article 19(3).

3. The competent public authority of the exporting Party issuing a movement certificate EUR.1 shall keep for at least three years the application form referred to in Article 15(2).

4. The customs authorities of the importing Party shall keep for at least three years the movement certificates EUR.1 and the invoice declarations presented to them, which may be kept in electronic format.

Discrepancies and formal errors 1. The discovery of slight discrepancies between the statements made in the proof of origin and those made in the documents submitted to the customs office for the purpose of carrying out the formalities for importing the products shall not ipso facto render the proof of origin null and void if it is duly established that this document corresponds to the products presented.

2. Obvious formal errors such as typing errors on a proof of origin shall not cause this document to be rejected if these errors are not such as to create doubts concerning the correctness of the statements made in this document.

Amounts expressed in euros 1. For the application of the provisions of Article 19(1)(b) and Article 24(3), in cases where products are invoiced in a currency other than the euro, amounts in the national currencies of the Member States of the European Union or of the Republics of the CA Party equivalent to the amounts expressed in euros shall be fixed annually by each Member State of the European Union or the Republic of the CA Party concerned.

2. A consignment shall benefit from the provisions of Article 19(1)(b) or Article 24(3) by reference to the currency in which the invoice is drawn up, according to the amount fixed by the Member State of the European Union or the Republic of the CA Party concerned.

3. The amounts to be used in any given national currency shall be the equivalent in that national currency of the amounts expressed in euros as at the first working day of October. The amounts shall be notified by 15 October and shall apply from 1 January the following year. The Parties shall notify each other of the relevant amounts.

(Thus amended the previous subparagraph by paragraph 18) sub paragraph i) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") 4. The Member States of the European Union and the Republics of the CA Party may round up or down the amount resulting from the conversion into their national currency of an amount expressed in euros.

The rounded amount may not differ from the amount resulting from the conversion by more than 5 per cent. A Member State of the European Union or a Republic of the CA Party may maintain unchanged its national currency equivalent of an amount expressed in euros if, at the time of the annual adjustment provided for in paragraph 3, the conversion of that amount, prior to rounding off, results in an increase of less than 15 per cent in the national currency equivalent. The national currency equivalent may be maintained unchanged if the conversion would result in a decrease of that equivalent value.

5. The amounts expressed in euros shall be reviewed by the Association Committee at the request of a Party. When carrying out this review, the Association Committee shall consider the desirability of preserving the effects of the limits concerned in real terms. For this purpose, it may decide to modify the amounts expressed in euros.

Administrative cooperation 1. The competent public authorities of the Parties shall supply each other, through the European Commission, with the specimen impressions of stamps used by their offices for the issue of movement certificates EUR.1, as well as the addresses of the competent public authorities responsible for verifying those certificates and invoice declarations.

(Sinalevi Note: By paragraph 18) sub paragraph j) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the phrase ", through the European Commission," contained in the previous paragraph is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement) 2. To ensure the proper application of this Annex, the Parties shall assist each other, through the competent public authorities or, where applicable, the customs authorities, in checking the authenticity of the movement certificates EUR.1 or the invoice declarations and the correctness of the information given in these documents.

Verification of proofs of origin 1. Subsequent verification of proofs of origin shall be carried out at random or whenever the customs authority or, where applicable, the competent public authority of the importing Party has reasonable doubts as to the authenticity of such documents, the originating status of the products concerned or the fulfilment of the other requirements of this Annex.

2. For the purposes of implementing the provisions of paragraph 1, the customs authority or, where applicable, the competent public authority of the importing Party shall return the movement certificate EUR.1 and the invoice, if it has been submitted, the invoice declaration, or a copy of these documents, to the competent public authorities of the exporting Party, giving, where appropriate, the reasons for the enquiry. Any documents and information obtained suggesting that the information given on the proof of origin is incorrect shall be forwarded in support of the request for verification.

3. The verification shall be carried out by the competent public authorities of the exporting Party. For this purpose, they shall have the right to call for any evidence and to carry out any inspection of the exporter's accounts or any other check considered appropriate relating to the origin and in accordance with the procedures under their national law.

4. If the customs authorities of the importing Party decide to suspend the granting of preferential tariff treatment to the products of the exporter subject to verification, while awaiting the results of the verification, they shall offer to release the goods to the importer subject to any precautionary measures they consider necessary.

5. The competent public authorities or, where applicable, the customs authorities requesting the verification shall be informed of the results of this verification as soon as possible. These results must indicate clearly whether the documents are authentic and whether the products can be considered as products originating in the European Union or in Central America and fulfil the other requirements of this Annex.

6. If in cases of reasonable doubt there is no reply within ten months of the date of the verification request or if the reply does not contain sufficient information to determine the authenticity of the document in question or the real origin of the products, the customs authorities or, where applicable, the competent public authority shall, except in exceptional circumstances, deny entitlement to the preferences for the products covered by the proof of origin subject to verification.

(Sinalevi Note: In accordance with Decision No. 2/2020 of the EU-Central America Association Council of 14/12/20 introducing explanatory notes to Articles 15, 16, 19, 20 and 30 of Annex II Concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation to the "Agreement establishing an Association between Central America, on the one hand, and the European Union and its Member States, on the other"; approved by Executive Decree No. 43149 of 10 May 2021, it was agreed to introduce an explanatory note to the previous Article 30), which shall read as follows: "Article 30 Denial of preferential treatment without verification These are cases where the proof of origin is invalid:

the proof of origin (movement certificate EUR.1) has been issued by a country not belonging to the Agreement; the description of the goods in box 8 of the movement certificate EUR.1 refers to goods other than those presented; the proof of origin (movement certificate EUR.1) contains erasures or overwritten words or has not been initialled or endorsed; the period of validity of the proof of origin (movement certificate EUR.1) has expired for reasons other than those provided for in the Agreement (e.g., exceptional circumstances), except in cases where the goods were presented before the expiry date.

Procedure to be followed:

The proof of origin must be marked 'INVALID' and retained by the customs authorities to which it was presented, in order to prevent any further attempts to use it. Without prejudice to any legal action taken in accordance with domestic legislation, the customs authorities of the importing country shall, where appropriate, immediately inform the customs authority or the competent public authority of the exporting country of the refusal.")

Resolution of disputes 1. Where disputes arise in relation to the verification procedures of Article 30 which cannot be settled between the customs authorities requesting a verification and the customs authorities responsible for carrying out this verification, or in relation to the interpretation of this Annex, requests for resolution of such disputes shall be submitted to the Subcommittee on Customs, Trade Facilitation and Rules of Origin for consultations and discussions within the Subcommittee. In any event, the Parties shall retain their rights to resort to the dispute settlement mechanism established in Title X (Dispute Settlement) of Part IV of this Agreement.

2. In all cases, disputes between the importer and the customs authorities of the importing Party shall be settled under the law of that Party.

Penalties Penalties shall be imposed on any person who draws up, or causes to be drawn up, a document which contains incorrect information for the purpose of obtaining preferential tariff treatment for products.

Free zones 1. The European Union and the Republics of the CA Party shall take all necessary steps to ensure that products traded under cover of a proof of origin which in the course of transport use a free zone or a customs warehouse situated in their territory in accordance with their national law are not substituted by other goods and do not undergo handling other than normal operations designed to prevent their deterioration.

2. By way of derogation from the provisions contained in paragraph 1, when products originating in the European Union or in Central America are imported into a free zone under cover of a proof of origin and undergo treatment or processing, the competent public authorities shall issue a new movement certificate EUR.1 at the exporter's request, if the treatment or processing undergone is in conformity with the provisions of this Annex.

Application of this Annex The term "European Union" used in this Annex does not cover Ceuta and Melilla. Products originating in Ceuta and Melilla shall not be considered as products originating in the European Union.

(Thus amended the previous Article 34) by paragraph 18) sub paragraph k) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019")

Special conditions 1. Provided they have been transported directly in accordance with the provisions of Article 12, the following shall be considered as:

• a)products originating in Ceuta and Melilla:
• i)products wholly obtained in Ceuta and Melilla; ii) products obtained in Ceuta and Melilla in the manufacture of which products other than those referred to in i) are used, provided that: those products have undergone sufficient working or processing within the meaning of Article 5; or that those products are originating in Central America or the European Union, provided they have undergone working or processing which goes beyond the operations referred to in Article 6.
• b)products originating in Central America:
• i)products wholly obtained in Central America; ii) products obtained in Central America, in the manufacture of which products other than those referred to in i) are used, provided that: those products have undergone sufficient working or processing within the meaning of Article 5; or that those products are originating in Ceuta and Melilla or the European Union, provided they have undergone working or processing which goes beyond the operations referred to in Article 6.

2. Ceuta and Melilla shall be considered as a single territory.

3. The exporter or his authorised representative shall enter "Central America" and "Ceuta and Melilla" in Box 2 of movement certificates EUR.1 or on invoice declarations. In addition, in the case of products originating in Ceuta and Melilla, their originating status shall be indicated in Box 4 of movement certificates EUR.1 or on invoice declarations.

4. The Spanish customs authorities shall be responsible for the application of this Annex in Ceuta and Melilla.

(*) (Sinalevi Note: By paragraph 18) sub paragraph l) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed that the above Article 35 is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement)

Amendments to this Annex The Association Council may decide to amend the provisions of the Appendices to this Annex.

The Parties shall agree on explanatory notes regarding the interpretation, application and administration of this Annex in the Subcommittee on Customs, Trade Facilitation and Rules of Origin, with a view to recommending their approval by the Association Council.

Transitional provisions for goods in transit or storage The provisions of this Agreement may be applied to goods which comply with the provisions of this Annex and which, on the date of entry into force of this Agreement, are either in transit or are in temporary storage in customs warehouses in the Parties or in free zones, subject to the submission to the customs authorities of the importing Party, within four months of that date, of a proof of origin issued retrospectively, together with the documents showing that the goods have been transported directly in accordance with Article 12.

Transitional provision for cumulation purposes The Parties for which this Agreement has entered into force in accordance with Article 353(*) of Part V (Final Provisions), may use materials originating in the Republics of the CA Party for which the Agreement has not yet entered into force. Article 3 of this Annex shall apply mutatis mutandis.

(*) (Sinalevi Note: By paragraph 16) sub paragraph b) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that neither Article 353 nor any reference to Article 353 is incorporated into this Agreement) APPENDIX 1 INTRODUCTORY NOTES TO ANNEX II NOTE 1:

The list in Appendix 2 sets out the conditions required for all products to be considered as having undergone sufficient working or processing within the meaning of Article 5 of Annex II.

NOTE 2:

2.1. The first two columns in the list describe the product obtained. The first column gives the subheading number, heading number or chapter used in the Harmonised System and the second column gives the description of goods used in that system for that subheading, heading or chapter. For each entry in the first two columns, a rule is specified in columns 3 or 4. Where, in some cases, the entry in the first column is preceded by an "ex", this signifies that the rule in columns 3 or 4 applies only to the part of that subheading, heading or chapter as described in column 2.

2.2. Where several heading numbers are grouped together in column 1 or a chapter number is given and the description of products in column 2 is therefore given in general terms, the adjacent rules in columns 3 or 4 apply to all products which, under the Harmonised System, are classified in headings of the chapter concerned or in any of the headings grouped together in column 1.

2.3. Where there are different rules in the list applying to different products within a same heading, each indent contains the description of that part of the heading covered by the adjacent rules in columns 3 or 4.

2.4. Where, for an entry in the first two columns, a rule is specified in both columns 3 and 4, the exporter may opt to apply either the rule set out in column 3 or that set out in column 4. If no origin rule is given in column 4, the rule set out in column 3 shall be applied.

NOTE 3:

3.1. The provisions of Article 5 of Annex II, concerning products having acquired originating status which are used in the manufacture of other products, shall apply, regardless of whether this status has been acquired inside the factory where these products are used or in another factory in the EU Party or in the Republics of the CA Party.

Example:

An engine of heading 8407, for which the rule states that the value of the non-originating materials which may be incorporated may not exceed 40 per cent of the ex-works price of the product, is made from "other alloy steel roughly shaped by forging" of heading ex 7224.

If this forging has been forged in the EU Party from a non-originating ingot, it has already acquired originating status by virtue of the rule for heading ex 7224 in the list. The forging can then count as originating in the value calculation for the engine, regardless of whether it was produced in the same factory or in another factory in the EU Party. The value of the non-originating ingot is thus not taken into account when adding up the value of the non-originating materials used.

3.2. The rule in the list represents the minimum amount of working or processing required, and the carrying out of more working or processing also confers originating status; conversely, the carrying out of less working or processing cannot confer originating status. Thus, if a rule provides that non-originating material, at a certain level of manufacture, may be used, the use of such material at an earlier stage of manufacture is allowed, and the use of such material at a later stage is not.

3.3. Without prejudice to Note 3.2, where a rule uses the expression "Manufacture from materials of any heading", then materials of any heading(s) may be used (even materials of the same description and heading as the product), subject, however, to any specific limitations which may also be contained in the rule.

However, the expression "Manufacture from materials of any heading, including other materials of heading …" or "Manufacture from materials of any heading, including other materials of the same heading as the product" means that materials classified in any heading may be used, except those of the same description as the product as given in column 2 of the list.

3.4. When a rule in the list specifies that a product may be manufactured from more than one material, this means that one or more materials may be used. It does not require that all be used.

Example:

The rule for fabrics of headings 5208 to 5212 provides that natural fibres may be used and that chemical materials, among other materials, may also be used. This does not mean that both have to be used; it is possible to use one or the other, or both.

3.5. Where a rule in the list specifies that a product must be manufactured from a particular material, the condition does not prevent the use of other materials which, because of their inherent nature, cannot satisfy the rule. (See also Note 6.2 below in relation to textiles).

Example:

The rule for prepared foods of heading 1902, which specifically excludes the use of cereals and their derivatives, does not prohibit the use of mineral salts, chemicals and other additives which are not produced from cereals.

However, this does not apply to products which, although they cannot be manufactured from the particular materials specified in the list, can be produced from a material of the same nature at an earlier stage of manufacture.

Example:

In the case of an article of apparel of ex Chapter 62 made from non-woven materials, if the use of only non-originating yarn is allowed for this class of article, it is not possible to start from non-woven cloth, even if non-woven cloths cannot normally be made from yarn. In such cases, the starting material would normally be at the stage before yarn, that is, the fibre.

3.6. When, in a norm on the list, two percentages are established for the maximum value of non-originating materials that may be used, these percentages may not be added together. In other words, the maximum value of all the non-originating materials used may never exceed the higher of the percentages given. Furthermore, the individual percentages shall not be exceeded, in relation to the respective materials to which they apply.

NOTE 4:

4.1. The term "natural fibers" is used in the list to designate fibers other than artificial or synthetic fibers. It is limited to the stages prior to spinning, and includes waste, and, unless otherwise specified, covers fibers that have been carded, combed, or otherwise processed, but not spun.

4.2. The term "natural fibers" includes horsehair of heading 0511, silk of headings 5002 and 5003, as well as wool, fine animal hair, and coarse animal hair of headings 5101 to 5105, cotton fibers of headings 5201 to 5203, and other fibers of vegetable origin of headings 5301 to 5305.

4.3. The terms "textile pulp," "chemical materials," and "materials for the manufacture of paper" are used in the list to designate materials which are not classified in Chapters 50 to 63 and which can be used for the manufacture of artificial, synthetic, or paper fibers or yarns.

4.4. The term "synthetic or artificial staple fibers" used in the list includes filament tows, staple fibers, or waste of synthetic or artificial staple fibers, of headings 5501 to 5507.

NOTE 5:

5.1. Where, for a given product on the list, reference is made to this note, the conditions set out in column 3 shall not be applied to the basic textile materials used in its manufacture when, considered as a whole, they represent 10 percent or less of the total weight of all the basic textile materials used (See also notes 5.3 and 5.4 below).

5.2. However, the tolerance referred to in note 5.1 shall apply only to mixed products which have been obtained from two or more basic textile materials.

The basic textile materials are the following:

– silk, – wool, – coarse animal hair, – fine animal hair, – horsehair, – cotton, – materials for the manufacture of paper, and paper, – flax, – true hemp, – jute and other textile bast fibers, – sisal and other textile fibers of the genus Agave, – coconut, abaca, ramie and other vegetable textile fibers, – synthetic filaments, – artificial filaments, – electrically conductive filaments, – synthetic staple fibers of polypropylene, – synthetic staple fibers of polyester, – synthetic staple fibers of polyamide, – synthetic staple fibers of polyacrylonitrile, – synthetic staple fibers of polyimide, – synthetic staple fibers of polytetrafluoroethylene, – synthetic staple fibers of poly(phenylene sulfide), – synthetic staple fibers of poly(vinyl chloride), – other synthetic staple fibers, – artificial staple fibers of viscose, – other artificial staple fibers, – yarns of segmented polyurethane with flexible segments of polyether, whether or not gimped, – yarns of segmented polyurethane with flexible segments of polyester, whether or not gimped, – products of heading 5605 (metallized yarn and metallized yarn) incorporating a strip consisting of a core of aluminum foil or of plastic film, whether or not coated with aluminum powder, of a width not exceeding 5 mm, inserted by transparent or colored bonding between two films of plastic, – other products of heading 5605.

Example:

A yarn of heading 5205 obtained from cotton fibers of heading 5203 and synthetic staple fibers of heading 5506 is a mixed yarn. Therefore, non-originating synthetic staple fibers that do not satisfy the origin rules (which must be manufactured from chemical materials or textile pulp) may be used, provided that their total weight does not exceed 10 percent of the weight of the yarn.

Example:

A woolen fabric of heading 5112 obtained from wool yarn of heading 5107 and synthetic staple fibers of heading 5509 is a mixed fabric. Therefore, synthetic yarn that does not satisfy the origin rules (must be manufactured from chemical materials or textile pulp) or woolen yarn that does not satisfy the origin rules (must be manufactured from natural fibers, not carded, combed, or otherwise prepared for spinning) or a combination of both may be used, provided that their total weight does not exceed 10 percent of the weight of the fabric.

Example:

A tufted textile fabric of heading 5802 obtained from cotton yarn of heading 5205 and cotton fabric of heading 5210 is only considered a mixed product if the cotton fabric is itself a mixed fabric made from yarns classified in two different headings, or if the cotton yarns used are themselves mixed.

Example:

If the same tufted textile fabric had been obtained from cotton yarn of heading 5205 and synthetic fabric of heading 5407, then, obviously, two different basic textile materials have been used and the manufactured tufted textile fabric is, therefore, a mixed product.

5.3. In the case of products incorporating "yarns of segmented polyurethane with flexible segments of polyester, whether or not gimped," this tolerance shall be 20 percent in respect of these yarns.

5.4. In the case of products incorporating a "strip consisting of a core of aluminum foil or of plastic film, whether or not coated with aluminum powder, of a width not exceeding 5 mm, inserted by transparent or colored bonding between two films of plastic," this tolerance shall be 30 percent in respect of this strip.

NOTE 6:

6.1. Where reference is made to this note in the list, textile materials (except linings and interlinings) which do not satisfy the rule set out in column 3 of the list for the made-up products concerned may be used, provided that they are classified in a heading other than that of the product and that their value does not exceed 8 percent of the ex-works price of the product.

6.2. Without prejudice to note 6.3, materials which are not classified in Chapters 50 to 63 may be used freely in the manufacture of textile products, whether or not such materials contain textiles.

Example:

If a rule in the list provides that, for a particular textile article (such as trousers), yarns must be used, this does not prevent the use of metal articles, such as buttons, since the latter are not classified in Chapters 50 to 63. For the same reason, it does not prevent the use of slide fasteners, even though these normally contain textile materials.

6.3. Where a percentage rule is applied, the value of materials not classified in Chapters 50 to 63 must be taken into account when calculating the value of the non-originating materials incorporated.

NOTE 7:

7.1. For the purposes of headings ex 2707, 2713 to 2715, ex 2901, ex 2902, and ex 3403, the "specific processes" shall be the following:

• a)vacuum distillation; b) redistillation by a very thorough fractionation process; c) cracking; d) reforming; e) extraction by means of selective solvents; f) the treatment comprising all the following operations: processing with concentrated sulfuric acid, oleum, or sulfuric anhydride; neutralization with alkaline agents; decolorization and purification with naturally active earth, activated earth, activated charcoal, or bauxite; g) polymerization; h) alkylation; i) isomerization.

7.2. For the purposes of headings 2710, 2711, and 2712, the "specific processes" shall be the following:

• a)vacuum distillation; b) redistillation by a very thorough fractionation process; c) cracking; d) reforming; e) extraction by means of selective solvents; f) the treatment comprising all the following operations: processing with concentrated sulfuric acid, oleum, or sulfuric anhydride; neutralization with alkaline agents; decolorization and purification with naturally active earth, activated earth, activated charcoal, or bauxite; g) polymerization; h) alkylation; i) isomerization; j) in respect of heavy oils of heading ex 2710 only, desulfurization with hydrogen resulting in a reduction of at least 85 percent of the sulfur content of the products treated (ASTM D 1266-59 T method); k) in respect of products of heading 2710 only, deparaffining by a process other than filtration; l) in respect of heavy oils of heading ex 2710 only, treatment with hydrogen, other than desulfurization, in which hydrogen actively participates in a chemical reaction carried out at a pressure above 20 bar and a temperature above 250 °C, with the use of a catalyst; finishing treatments with hydrogen of lubricating oils of heading ex 2710 (for example: hydrofinishing or decolorization) whose specific purpose is to improve color or stability shall not be considered defined treatments; m) in respect of petroleum oil of heading ex 2710 only, atmospheric distillation, provided that less than 30 percent of these products distil, by volume, including losses, at 300 °C according to ASTM D 86; n) in respect of heavy oils other than gas oils and petroleum oils of heading ex 2710 only, treatment by high-frequency electrical discharges; o) in respect of petroleum products of heading ex 2712 only (other than petroleum jelly, ozokerite, lignite wax or peat wax, or paraffin wax containing by weight less than 0.75 percent of oil), de-oiling by fractional crystallization.

7.3. For the purposes of headings ex 2707, 2713 to 2715, ex 2901, ex 2902, and ex 3403, simple operations such as cleaning, decanting, desalting, solid/water separation, filtering, coloring, marking that obtains a sulfur content as a result of mixing products with different sulfur contents, any combination of these or similar operations shall not confer originating status.

NOTE 8:

For the purposes of Article 4 of Annex II, agricultural and horticultural goods grown in the territory of a Party shall be treated as originating in the territory of that Party even if they are grown from seeds, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes, cuttings, grafts, shoots, buds, or other live parts of plants imported from a non-Party country.

NOTE 9:

For the purposes of Article 6 of Annex II, the term "simple" refers to activities which do not require special skills, or machines, apparatus, or equipment especially produced or installed for carrying out the activity. However, simple mixing does not imply a chemical reaction. A chemical reaction means a process (including a biochemical process) which results in a molecule with a new structure by breaking intramolecular bonds and by forming new intramolecular bonds, or by altering the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule.

APPENDIX 2 LIST OF WORKING OR PROCESSING REQUIRED TO BE CARRIED OUT ON NON-ORIGINATING MATERIALS IN ORDER THAT THE PRODUCT MANUFACTURED CAN OBTAIN ORIGINATING STATUS The products mentioned in the list may not all be covered by the Agreement.

It is therefore necessary to consult the other parts of this Agreement.

(Note from Sinalevi: This list was amended by Resolution No. Decision No. 1/2020 of the VE-Central America Association Council of 14 December 2020, approved by Executive Decree No. 43148 of 10 May 2021, and can be consulted at the link: List of working or processing required to be carried out on non-originating materials in order that the product manufactured can obtain originating status)

APPENDIX 2 A(*) ADDENDUM TO THE LIST OF WORKING OR PROCESSING THAT MUST BE CARRIED OUT ON NON-ORIGINATING MATERIALS IN ORDER THAT THE PRODUCT MANUFACTURED CAN OBTAIN ORIGINATING STATUS COMMON PROVISIONS (*) (Note from Sinalevi: By virtue of item 18) sub-item m.xiii) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Item 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", in relation to the previous appendix 2 A it was indicated that for the avoidance of doubt, if the entry into force of this Agreement corresponds to a date after 1 January and up to and including 31 December of the same calendar year, the annual quotas of appendix 2 A of Annex 11 of this Agreement (as amended by this Annex) shall be applied on a pro-rata basis for the remainder of that calendar year.)

1. For the products described below, the following rules may also be applied instead of those laid down in Appendix 2 (List of working or processing required to be carried out on non-originating materials in order that the product manufactured can obtain originating status) to determine whether a product is originating from Central America.

2. When a product is covered by a rule of origin subject to quotas, the proof of origin for that product shall contain the following statement: "Product originating in accordance with Appendix 2A of Annex II (Concerning the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administrative cooperation)".

3. The Republics of the CA Party shall agree on the distribution of the regional quotas established in notes 1 and 2, as well as the relevant quotas of note 6 of this Appendix, and, on that basis, each Republic of the CA Party shall issue the corresponding export certificates.

4. The quotas established in notes 4 and 5, as well as the relevant quota of note 6, shall be administered by the European Commission in accordance with the distribution by country established in this Appendix and with the internal distribution made by each Republic of the CA Party163.

163 If the entry into force of the Agreement corresponds to a date after 1 January and before 31 December of the same calendar year, the quota quantity shall be prorated proportionally for the remainder of that calendar year.

5. Imports under quotas established in this Appendix shall be subject to the presentation of an export certificate issued in accordance with the provisions of items 3 and 4 by the competent authority of the relevant Republic of the CA Party.

6. The modalities for implementing the provisions of this Appendix shall be defined jointly by the Parties. The European Commission shall adopt the necessary measures to ensure compliance with these provisions.

NOTE 1 1. For products of heading ex 1604 (Tunas, skipjack and bonito (Sarda spp.)) exported from Central America to the European Union, materials of Chapter 03 originating in Chile or Mexico may be used, for a period of three years from the entry into force of this Agreement, in accordance with the applicable rules of origin as if those materials were exported directly to the European Union. Six months before the expiry of that three-year period, the Parties shall hold consultations to examine whether the necessary administrative procedures are in place to request the cumulation provided for in Article 3(7) of Annex II (Concerning the definition of the concept of 'originating products' and methods of administrative cooperation) of Part IV of this Agreement.

Furthermore, for these products exported from Central America to the European Union, the value established in Article 5(2)(a) of Annex II shall not exceed 15 percent of the ex-works price of the product.

2. For products of heading ex 1604 (tuna loins) the following rule shall confer originating status on goods exported from Central America to the European Union within an annual quota of 545(*) metric tons: Manufacture from materials of Chapter 03 (*) As amended by item 18) sub-item m.i) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Item 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") NOTE 2 For products of heading 3920 (Other plates, sheets, film, foil and strip, of non-cellular plastics and not reinforced, laminated, supported or similarly combined with other materials), the following rule shall confer originating status on goods exported from Central America to the European Union within an annual quota of 681(*) metric tons:

(*) As amended by item 18) sub-item m.ii) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Item 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") Manufacture from materials of any heading.

NOTE 3 For products of headings 4810, ex 4811, 4816, 4817, ex 4818, ex 4819, ex 4820 and ex 4823, the following rules shall confer originating status in the event of an increase above 0 percent in the European Union's WTO bound tariffs applicable to the following products:

NOTE 4 1. The following rules shall confer originating status on products of chapters within the following annual quotas per country:

• a)For products of heading 6115 [Pantyhose, tights, stockings, socks and other hosiery, including graduated compression hosiery (for example, stockings for varicose veins), knitted or crocheted]:

Manufacture from materials of any heading, except from the same heading as the product.

This rule shall confer originating status on goods exported from Central America to the European Union in the following annual quotas per country:

(As amended the table above by item 18) sub-item m.iii) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Item 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") b) For products of Chapters 61 and 62 specified in letters c) and d): Manufacture from materials of any heading, except from materials of the same heading as the product.

This rule shall confer originating status on goods exported from Central America to the European Union in the following annual quotas per country:

(*) (As amended the table above corresponding to from year 6 by item 18) sub-item m. iv) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Item 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") c) For Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama, the quantities indicated in paragraph 1, letter b), shall be distributed as indicated in the following tables:

(*) (As amended the table above corresponding to from year 6 for the distribution of Costa Rica by item 18) sub-item m. v) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Item 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019")

(*) (Thus amended the preceding table corresponding from year 6 onwards for each of the relevant HS code entries of the Guatemala distribution column by section 18) sub-section m. vi) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019")

(*) (Thus amended the preceding table corresponding from year 6 onwards for each of the relevant HS code entries of the Honduras distribution column by section 18) sub-section m. vii) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019")

(*) (Thus amended the preceding table corresponding from year 6 onwards for each of the relevant HS code entries of the Panama distribution column by section 18) sub-section m. viii) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") At the request of a Republic of the CA Party and when an agreement is reached with the EU Party, the annual quantities allocated to each subheading of chapters 61 and 62 indicated may be modified.

• d)For El Salvador and Nicaragua, the quantities indicated in paragraph 1, subparagraph b), shall be distributed as indicated in the following tables. El Salvador and Nicaragua may distribute those quantities among the subheadings indicated in the following tables within the limits indicated for each individual subheading.

(*) (Thus amended the preceding table corresponding from year 6 onwards for each of the relevant HS code entries of the El Salvador distribution column by section 18) sub-section m. ix) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019")

(*) (Thus amended the preceding table corresponding from year 6 onwards for each of the relevant HS code entries of the Nicaragua distribution column by section 18) sub-section m. x) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") 2. After the five-year period provided for in paragraph 1, subparagraph b), the Parties shall evaluate the application of the quota system, in particular with respect to the quantities and their distribution. The Parties shall evaluate whether it is viable to accept an annual increase for the following years, as well as its distribution among the products of chapters 61 and 62.

NOTE 5 For products of subheading 7607 20 (Aluminium foil (whether or not printed or backed with paper, paperboard, plastics or similar backing materials) of a thickness (excluding any backing) not exceeding 0.2 mm, backed), the following rule shall confer origin on goods exported from El Salvador to the EU Party within an annual quota of 136(*) metric tonnes:

(*) (Thus amended by section 18) sub-section m.xi) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") Manufacture from materials of any heading.

NOTE 6 For products of headings 8544 30 (Ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets of a kind used in vehicles), 8544 42 (Other electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1 000 V: Fitted with connectors), 8544 49 (Other electric conductors, for a voltage not exceeding 1 000 V: other) and 8544 60 (Other electric conductors, for a voltage exceeding 1 000 V) the following rule shall confer origin on goods exported from Central America to the European Union within the annual quota of 2 724(*) metric tonnes:

(*) (Thus amended by section 18) sub-section m.xii. a) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") Manufacture from materials of any heading.

This rule shall confer origin on goods exported from Central America to the European Union within the following annual quotas:

(*) (Thus amended the preceding table by section 18) sub-section m.xii. b) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") APPENDIX 3 SPECIMENS OF MOVEMENT CERTIFICATE EUR.1 AND APPLICATION FOR A MOVEMENT CERTIFICATE EUR.1 Printing instructions 1. Each form of the certificate shall measure 210 × 297 mm; a tolerance of up to minus 5 mm or plus 8 mm in the length shall be permitted. The paper used shall be white, sized for writing, not containing mechanical pulp and weighing not less than 25 g/m2. It shall have a printed green guilloche pattern background making any falsification by mechanical or chemical means apparent to the eye.

2. The competent public authorities of the Member States of the European Union and of the Republics of the CA Party may reserve the right to print the certificates themselves or may have them printed by authorised printers. In the latter case, each certificate must include a reference to such authorisation. Each certificate must include the name, surname and address of the printer or a mark which enables the printer to be identified. It shall bear a serial number, printed or not, by which it can be identified.

164 For goods not packaged, indicate the number of objects or the mention "in bulk".

165 Complete only if the regulations of the exporting country or territory so require.

NOTES 1. The certificate shall not contain erasures or superimposed corrections. Any alteration must be made by deleting the incorrect particulars and adding any necessary corrections. Any such alteration must be initialed by the person who completed the certificate and endorsed by the competent public or customs authorities of the issuing country or territory.

2. No spaces must be left between the items entered on the certificate and each item must be preceded by an item number. A horizontal line must be drawn immediately below the last item. Any unused space must be crossed through in such a way as to make any later addition impossible.

3. Goods must be described in accordance with commercial practice and in sufficient detail to enable them to be identified.

166 Where the goods are not packaged, state the number of articles or the words "in bulk", as appropriate.

I, the undersigned, exporter of the goods described overleaf, DECLARE that these goods meet the conditions required for the issue of the attached certificate; SPECIFY as follows the circumstances which have enabled these goods to meet the above conditions:

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

SUBMIT the following supporting documents167:

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

.................................................................................................................................................................

UNDERTAKE to submit, at the request of the competent public authorities, any additional supporting evidence they consider necessary for the issue of the attached certificate, and undertake to accept, should it be necessary, any inspection by those authorities of my accounts and of the circumstances of the manufacture of the said goods; REQUEST the issue of the attached certificate for these goods.

..............................................................................................

(Place and date) ..............................................................................................

(Signature) 167 For example: import documents, movement certificates, invoices, manufacturer's declarations, etc., referring to the products used in manufacture or to the goods re-exported in the same state.

APPENDIX 4 INVOICE DECLARATION Specific requirements for making out an invoice declaration (*) (Note from Sinalevi: By means of section 18) sub-section m.xiv) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama regarding Section 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", in relation to the preceding appendix 4) it was indicated that all versions of the invoice declaration shall incorporate only those drafted in Spanish and English, and the second sentence of footnote 2 shall not be incorporated.)

The invoice declaration, the text of which is given below, shall be made out using one of the linguistic versions set out and in accordance with the provisions of the national law of the exporting country. If the declaration is handwritten, it shall be completed in ink and in printed characters. The invoice declaration shall be made out in accordance with the corresponding footnotes. The footnotes shall not have to be reproduced.

Bulgarian version Износителят на продуктите, обхванати от този документ (разрешение № . от митница или от друг компетентен държавен орган (1)) декларира, че освен където ясно е отбелязано друго, тези продукти са с . (2) преференциален произход.

Spanish version El exportador de los productos incluidos en el presente documento (autorización aduanera o de la autoridad pública competente nº ... (1)) declara que, salvo indicación en sentido contrario, estos productos gozan de un origen preferencial ... (2).

Czech version Vývozce výrobků uvedených v tomto dokumentu (číslo povolení celního nebo příslusného vládního orgánu ... (1)) prohlasuje, ze kromě zřetelně označených, mají tyto výrobky preferenční původ v ... (2).

Danish version Eksportøren af varer, der er omfattet af nærværende dokument, (toldmyndighedernes eller den kompetente offentlige myndigheds tilladelse nr. ... (1)) erklærer, at varerne, medmindre andet tydeligt er angivet, har præferenceoprindelse i ... (2).

German version Der Ausführer (Ermächtigter Ausführer; Bewilligung der Zollbehörde oder der zuständigen Regierungsbehörde Nr. . (1)) der Waren, auf die sich dieses Handelspapier bezieht, erklärt, dass diese Waren, soweit nichts anderes angegeben, präferenzbegünstigte Ursprungswaren ... (2) sind.

Estonian version Käesoleva dokumendiga hõlmatud toodete eksportija (tolliameti või pädeva valitsusasutuse luba nr. ... (1)) deklareerib, et need tooted on ... (2) sooduspäritoluga, välja arvatud juhul kui on selgelt näidatud teisiti.

Greek version Ο εξαγωγέας των προϊόντων που καλύπτονται από το παρόν έγγραφο (άδεια τελωνείου ή της καθύλην αρμόδιας αρχής, υπ΄αριθ. ... (1)) δηλώνει ότι, εκτός εάν δηλώνεται σαφώς άλλως, τα προϊόντα αυτά είναι προτιμησιακής καταγωγής ... (2).

English version The exporter of the products covered by this document (customs or competent public authority authorisation No ... (1)) declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of ... preferential origin (2).

French version L'exportateur des produits couverts par le présent document (autorisation douanière ou de l'autorité publique compétente n° . (1)) déclare que, sauf indication claire du contraire, ces produits ont l'origine préférentielle ... (2).

Italian version L'esportatore delle merci contemplate nel presente documento (autorizzazione doganale o dell'autorità pubblica competente n. . (1)) dichiara che, salvo indicazione contraria, le merci sono di origine preferenziale ... (2).

Latvian version Eksportētājs produktiem, kuri ietverti sajā dokumentā (muitas vai kompetentu valsts iestāzu pilnvara Nr. . (1)), deklarē, ka, iznemot tur, kur ir citādi skaidri noteikts, siem produktiem ir prieksrocību izcelsme no . (2).

Lithuanian version To produktu eksportētājs, kuri ietverti sajā dokumentā (muitas vai kompetentu valsts iestāzu atļauja Nr. . (1)), deklarē, ka, izņemot tur, kur ir citādi skaidri noteikts, siem produktiem ir preferenciālā izcelsme . (2) Hungarian version A jelen okmányban szereplő áruk exportőre (vámfelhatalmazási szám: . (1) vagy az illetékes kormányzati szerv által kiadott engedély száma: .) kijelentem, hogy eltérő jelzs hiányában az áruk kedvezményes . származásúak (2).

Maltese version L-esportatur tal-prodotti koperti b'dan id-dokument (awtorizzazzjoni kompetenti tal-gvern jew tad-dwana nru. . (1)) jiddikjara li, hlief fejn indikat b'mod car li mhux hekk, dawn ilprodotti huma ta' origini preferenzjali . (2).

Dutch version De exporteur van de goederen waarop dit document van toepassing is (douanevergunning of vergunning van de competente overheidsinstantie nr. .(1)) verklaart dat, behoudens uitdrukkelijke andersluidende vermelding, deze goederen van preferentiële ... oorsprong zijn (2).

Polish version Eksporter produktów objętych tym dokumentem (upoważnienie władz celnych lub upoważnienie właściwych władz nr . (1)) deklaruje, że z wyjątkiem gdzie jest to wyraźnie określone, produkty te mają . (2) preferencyjne pochodzenie.

Portuguese version O abaixo assinado, exportador dos produtos cobertos pelo presente documento (autorização aduaneira ou da autoridade governamental competente n° . (1)) declara que, salvo expressamente indicado em contrário, estes produtos são de origem preferencial ... (2).

Romanian version Slovak version Vývozca výrobkov uvedených v tomto dokumente (číslo povolenia colnej správy alebo príslusného vládneho povolenia . (1)) vyhlasuje, ze okrem zreteľne označených, majú tieto výrobky preferenčný pôvod v . (2).

Slovenian version Izvoznik blaga, zajetega s tem dokumentom, (pooblastilo carinskih ali pristojnih drzavnih organov st. . (1))izjavlja, da, razen če ni drugače jasno navedeno, ima to blago preferencialno ... (2) poreklo .

Finnish version Tässä asiakirjassa mainittujen tuotteiden viejä (tullin tai toimivaltaisen julkisen viranomaisen lupa nro ... (1)) ilmoittaa, että nämä tuotteet ovat, ellei toisin ole selvästi merkitty, etuuskohteluun oikeutettuja ... alkuperätuotteita (2).

Swedish version ....................................................

(3) (Place and date) .....................................................

(4) (Signature of the exporter; in addition, the name of the person signing the declaration must be indicated legibly) (1) Where the invoice declaration is made by an approved exporter within the meaning of Article 20 of Annex II, the authorisation number of the approved exporter must be entered in this space. Where the invoice declaration is not made by an approved exporter, the words in brackets shall be omitted or the space left blank.

(2) Indicate the origin of the products. Where the invoice declaration relates, in whole or in part, to products originating in Ceuta and Melilla within the meaning of Article 34 of Annex II, the exporter must clearly indicate this in the document on which he makes the declaration by means of the symbol "CM".

(3) These indications may be omitted if the information is already contained in the document itself.

(4) See Article 19(5) of Annex II. In cases where the exporter is not required to sign, the exemption of signature also implies the exemption of the name of the signatory.

APPENDIX 5 TIME PERIOD FOR THE SUBMISSION OF AN INVOICE DECLARATION OR A REFUND OF DUTIES AS SET OUT IN Article 19(6) AND Article 21(4) OF ANNEX II, CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT OF "ORIGINATING PRODUCTS" AND METHODS OF ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATION 1. For the EU Party, two years.

2. For the Republics of the CA Party, one year.

APPENDIX 6 AMOUNTS REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 19(1)(B) AND ARTICLE 24(3) OF ANNEX II, CONCERNING THE DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT OF "ORIGINATING PRODUCTS" AND METHODS OF ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATION CONDITIONS FOR MAKING OUT AN INVOICE DECLARATION In accordance with Article 19(1)(b) of Annex II, the invoice declaration referred to in Article 14(1)(b) of that Annex may be made out by any exporter for any consignment consisting of one or more packages containing originating products whose total value does not exceed EUR 6 000.

EXEMPTIONS FROM PROOF OF ORIGIN In accordance with Article 24(3) of Annex II, the total value of the products referred to in that Article shall not exceed EUR 500 in the case of small packages or EUR 1 200 in the case of products forming part of a traveller's personal luggage.

IN CUSTOMS MATTERS

Definitions For the purposes of this Annex:

• a)"requesting authority" means a competent customs authority or other administrative authority designated by a Party for this purpose, which makes a request for assistance under this Annex; b) "breach of customs legislation" means any violation or attempted violation of customs legislation; c) "customs legislation" means any binding legal, regulatory or administrative provision applicable in the territories of the Parties, governing the import, export and transit of goods and their placing under any other customs regime, procedure or operation, including measures of prohibition, restriction and control; d) "information" means data in any form, documents, records, reports and copies thereof, which may be certified or legalised; e) "personal data" means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person; and f) "requested authority" means a competent customs authority or other administrative authority designated by a Party for this purpose, which receives a request for assistance under this Annex.

Scope 1. The Parties shall provide mutual assistance, within their competence, in the manner and under the conditions laid down in this Annex, to ensure the correct application of customs legislation, in particular by preventing, investigating and combating breaches of customs legislation.

2. The assistance in customs matters provided for in this Annex shall apply to any customs authority or other administrative authority of the Parties which is competent for the application of this Annex. Such assistance shall be without prejudice to the provisions governing mutual assistance in criminal matters and shall not cover information obtained under powers exercised at the request of a judicial authority, unless the communication of such information is authorised by that authority.

3. Assistance in the recovery of duties, taxes or fines is not covered by this Annex.

Assistance on Request 1. At the request of the requesting authority, the requested authority shall provide it with all relevant information that may enable it to ensure that customs legislation is correctly applied, including information concerning activities noted or planned which constitute or may constitute breaches of customs legislation.

2. At the request of the requesting authority, the requested authority shall inform it whether:

• a)goods exported from the territory of one of the Parties have been imported into the territory of the other Party in accordance with the applicable customs legislation, specifying, where appropriate, the customs procedure applied to those goods; b) goods imported into the territory of one of the Parties have been exported from the territory of the other Party in accordance with the applicable customs legislation, specifying, where appropriate, the customs procedure applied to those goods.

3. At the request of the requesting authority, the requested authority shall, within the framework of its legal or regulatory provisions, take the necessary measures to ensure special surveillance over:

• a)natural or legal persons in respect of whom there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are or have been involved in breaches of customs legislation; b) places where stocks of goods have been or may be assembled in such a way that there are reasonable grounds for believing that those goods are intended to be used in breaches of customs legislation; c) goods that are or may be transported in such a way that there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are intended to be used in breaches of customs legislation; d) means of transport that are or may be used in such a way that there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are intended to be used in breaches of customs legislation.

Spontaneous Assistance The Parties shall provide each other with mutual assistance, on their own initiative and in accordance with their legal or regulatory provisions, where they consider it necessary for the correct application of customs legislation, in particular by providing information obtained pertaining to:

• a)activities which are or appear to be breaches of customs legislation and which may be of interest to the other Party; b) new means or methods used in committing breaches of customs legislation; c) goods known to be the subject of breaches of customs legislation; d) natural or legal persons in respect of whom there are reasonable grounds for believing that they are or have been involved in breaches of customs legislation; e) means of transport in respect of which there are reasonable grounds for believing that they have been, are or could be used in committing breaches of customs legislation.

Delivery and Notification 1. At the request of the requesting authority, the requested authority shall, in accordance with the legal or regulatory provisions applicable to it, take all necessary measures to deliver any documents or to notify any decision emanating from the requesting authority and falling within the scope of this Annex, to an addressee residing or established in the territory of the requested authority.

2. Requests for delivery of documents or notification of decisions shall be made in writing in an official language of the requested authority or in a language acceptable to that authority.

Form and Content of Requests for Assistance 1. Requests made pursuant to this Annex shall be made in writing. They shall be accompanied by the documents necessary to enable compliance with the request. Where required because of the urgency of the situation, oral requests may be accepted, but must be confirmed in writing no later than five days after the oral request. Where this condition is not met, the requested authority may disregard the request or treat it as if it had not been made.

2. Requests submitted in accordance with paragraph 1 shall include the following information:

• a)the requesting authority and, if possible, the name of the responsible official; b) the requested authority; c) the assistance requested; d) the object and reason for the request; e) the legal or regulatory provisions and other legal elements on which the request is based; f) indications as exact and comprehensive as possible about the natural or legal persons who are the subject of the investigations; g) a summary of the relevant facts and of the investigations already carried out; and h) an indication of whether it would not be in a position to provide the assistance requested if it were requested.

3. Requests shall be drawn up in an official language of the requested authority or in a language acceptable to that authority. This requirement shall not apply to the documents accompanying the request referred to in paragraph 1.

4. If a request does not meet the formal requirements set out above, its correction or completion may be requested; in the meantime, precautionary measures may be taken as appropriate, in accordance with the legal or regulatory provisions of the requested authority.

Processing of Requests 1. In order to respond to a request for assistance, the requested authority shall proceed, within the limits of its competence and available resources, as if it were acting on its own account or at the request of other authorities of that same Party, by providing information already in its possession, carrying out or arranging for the carrying out of appropriate investigations. This provision shall also apply to any other authority to which the requested authority has forwarded the request when the latter cannot act on its own.

2. Requests for assistance shall be processed in accordance with the legal or regulatory provisions of the requested Party and as set out in this Annex.

3. Duly authorised officials of a Party may, with the consent of the other Party involved and subject to the conditions laid down by the latter, appear to obtain, in the offices of the requested authority or of any other relevant authority in accordance with paragraph 1, information relating to activities that constitute or may constitute a breach of customs legislation which the requesting authority needs for the purposes of this Annex.

4. Duly authorised officials of a Party may, with the consent of the other Party involved and subject to the conditions laid down by the latter, be present during investigations carried out in the territory of the latter.

5. Should the requested authority not be competent to comply with the request for assistance, it shall forward the request to the competent service and shall notify the requesting authority of the measures taken.

Form in which Information shall be Communicated 1. The requested authority shall communicate the results of investigations in writing to the requesting authority, together with relevant documents, certified or legalised copies and other items.

2. This information may be provided in computerised form or by electronic means.

3. Original documents shall be transmitted, upon request, only in cases where certified or legalised copies are insufficient. These originals shall be returned at the earliest possible opportunity.

Exceptions to the Obligation to Provide Assistance 1. Assistance may be refused or made subject to compliance with certain conditions or requirements, in cases where a Party considers that assistance under this Annex:

• a)would be likely to prejudice the sovereignty of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama or of a Member State of the European Union which has been requested to provide assistance pursuant to this Annex; or b) would be likely to prejudice public order, security or other essential interests, in particular in the cases referred to in Article 10(2); or c) would violate an industrial, commercial or professional secret.

2. The requested authority may postpone assistance on the ground that it will interfere with an ongoing investigation, judicial process or proceeding. In such a case, the requested authority shall consult the requesting authority to determine whether assistance may be provided subject to the terms and conditions the requested authority may require.

3. If the requesting authority requests assistance that it would not be in a position to provide if requested, it shall draw attention to that fact in its request. It shall then be for the requested authority to decide how to respond to such a request.

4. In the cases referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the decision of the requested authority and the reasons for it shall be communicated without delay to the requesting authority.

Information Exchange and Confidentiality 1. Any information communicated in whatever form pursuant to this Annex shall be of a confidential or restricted nature, in accordance with the rules applicable in each of the Parties. It shall be subject to the obligation of confidentiality or professional secrecy applicable in each of the Parties and shall enjoy the protection afforded to this type of information under the legal and regulatory provisions of each Party.

2. Personal data may only be exchanged, in accordance with the legislation of each Party, where the receiving Party undertakes to protect such data in a manner that is at least equivalent to the one applicable to that particular case in the supplying Party.

3. The use, in judicial or administrative proceedings instituted in respect of breaches of customs legislation, of information obtained under this Annex is deemed to be for the purposes of this Annex. Therefore, the Parties may, in their records of data, reports and testimonies, and in proceedings and charges brought before the courts, use as evidence information obtained and documents consulted in accordance with the provisions of this Annex. The competent authority which supplied that information or gave access to those documents shall be notified of such use.

4. Information obtained shall be used solely for the purposes of this Annex. Where one of the Parties wishes to use such information for other purposes, it shall obtain the prior written consent of the authority which provided the information. Such use shall then be subject to any restrictions laid down by that authority.

An official of the requested authority may be authorised, within the limits of the authorisation granted, to appear as an expert or witness in judicial or administrative proceedings regarding the matters covered by this Annex and to produce such objects, documents or certified or legalised copies thereof as may be necessary for the proceedings. The request for appearance must specifically indicate the judicial or administrative authority before which the official must appear, and on what matters and by virtue of what title or qualification the official will be questioned.

Costs of Assistance The Parties shall respectively waive all claims for reimbursement of costs incurred in the application of this Annex, except, as appropriate, for expenses paid to experts and witnesses, and to interpreters and translators who are not public service employees.

Implementation 1. The implementation of this Annex shall be entrusted to the customs authorities or other competent authorities of the Parties, who shall take all practical measures and arrangements necessary for its application. They may propose to the competent bodies the amendments which they consider should be made to this Annex.

2. The Parties shall consult each other and subsequently notify each other of the implementing provisions which are adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Annex.

Other Agreements 1. Taking into account the respective competences of the European Union and its Member States, on the one hand, and of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, on the other, the provisions of this Annex:

• a)shall not affect the obligations of the Parties under any other international agreement or convention; b) shall be considered complementary to the Mutual Assistance Agreements which have been concluded or may be concluded between the Member States of the European Union and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, or between those countries; and c) shall not affect the provisions of the European Union concerning the communication, between the competent services of the European Commission and the customs authorities of the Member States of the European Union, of any information obtained under this Annex which may be of interest to the European Union.

(Note by Sinalevi: By means of subsection 19) sub-paragraph a) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Subsection 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the previous subparagraph c) is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement) 2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1(b), the provisions of this Annex shall prevail over the provisions of any bilateral agreement on mutual assistance which has been concluded between the United Kingdom and any of the Republics of the CA Party before the date of signature of this Agreement, to the extent that the provisions of the latter are incompatible with those of this Annex.

(Thus amended the previous paragraph by subsection 19) sub-paragraph b) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Subsection 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") 3. To resolve issues relating to the applicability of this Annex, the Parties shall consult each other within the framework of the Sub-Committee on Customs, Trade Facilitation and Rules of Origin established under Article 123 of Chapter 3 of Title II (Trade in Goods) of Part IV of this Agreement.

1. The Parties agree that administrative cooperation is essential for the application and control of the preferential treatment granted under Chapter 1 of Title II (Trade in Goods) of Part IV of this Agreement and underline their commitment to combat breaches of customs legislation.

2. Where a Party has made a finding, based on objective information, that another Party has failed to provide administrative cooperation with respect to the preferences granted under Chapter 1 of Title II (Trade in Goods) of Part IV of this Agreement, the affected Party may temporarily suspend the relevant preferential treatment granted to the product or products concerned in accordance with this Annex.

3. For the purposes of this Annex, a failure to provide administrative cooperation on the part of a Party means:

• a)repeated non-compliance with the obligations to verify the originating status of the product or products concerned, at the request of the other Party; b) repeated refusal or unjustified delay in communicating the results of subsequent verifications of the proof of origin, at the request of the other Party; c) repeated refusal or unjustified delay in obtaining authorisation to carry out administrative cooperation missions to verify the authenticity of documents or the accuracy of information relevant to the granting of the preferential treatment. The request for authorisation to carry out administrative cooperation missions shall be established through the competent public authorities of each Party.

4. The application of a temporary suspension shall be subject to the following conditions:

• a)The Party which has made a finding, based on objective information, of a failure to provide administrative cooperation shall, before applying any temporary suspension, notify its finding to the Association Committee without undue delay together with the objective information and enter into consultations within the Association Committee, on the basis of all relevant information and objective findings, with a view to reaching a solution acceptable to both Parties in order to avoid the application of the temporary suspension; b) where the Parties have entered into consultations in the Association Committee as described above and have not been able to agree on an acceptable solution within three months from the notification in order to avoid the application of a temporary suspension, the affected Party may temporarily suspend the relevant preferential treatment of the product or products concerned.

The temporary suspension shall be notified to the Association Committee without undue delay; c) temporary suspensions under this Annex shall be limited to what is necessary to protect the financial interests of the affected Party. They shall not exceed a period of six months, unless at that point the circumstances that justified the temporary suspension remain unchanged. Temporary suspensions shall be notified immediately after their adoption to the Association Committee. They shall be subject to periodic consultations within the Association Committee, in particular with a view to their discontinuation as soon as the conditions that justified their application cease to exist.

5. The Parties shall communicate to the importers the main conclusions of the consultation of the Association Committee and/or the adoption of a temporary suspension under this Annex, in accordance with the internal procedures of the Parties.

Where a Party has made a finding, based on objective information, of an error on the part of the competent public authorities of the other Party in the proper management of the system of preferences upon export in relation to the application of the provisions of Annex II (Concerning the definition of the concept of "originating products" and methods of administrative cooperation), and where this error has consequences for import duties, the Party having to suffer those consequences shall request the Association Committee to examine the possibilities of adopting all appropriate measures with a view to resolving the situation satisfactorily for the Parties.

A. COMPETENT AUTHORITIES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM (Thus amended the previous paragraph by subsection 20) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Subsection 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") The United Kingdom shall notify the Republics of the CA Party of its competent authorities on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

(Thus amended the previous paragraph by subsection 20) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of 29 October 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on 18 July 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Subsection 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on 18 July 2019") B. COMPETENT AUTHORITIES OF THE REPUBLICS OF THE CA PARTY B.1. Competent authorities of Costa Rica - Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA), of the Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG), is the competent authority that regulates the protection of animal health, public veterinary health and the safety of food of animal origin; - Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado (SFE), of the MAG, is the competent authority that regulates the sanitary and phytosanitary protection of plants and of pesticide residues in plants; - Ministerio de Salud is the competent authority that guarantees national public health and the sanitary control of food products intended for human consumption; and - Ministerio de Comercio Exterior (COMEX) is the competent authority responsible for the administration of Chapter 5 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures); or their successors.

B.2. Competent authorities of El Salvador - Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG), through the Dirección General de Sanidad Vegetal y Animal, is the competent authority responsible for the protection of human health, animal health, public veterinary health, and plant health and preservation; - Ministerio de Economía (MINEC), through the Dirección de Administración de Tratados Comerciales (DATCO), is the competent authority responsible for administering the application of Chapter 5 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures); and - Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social (MSPAS), through the Unidad de Control de Alimentos, is the competent authority for ensuring public health in the country, in coordination with the competent authority in the MAG; or their successors.

B.3. Competent authorities of Guatemala - Ministerio de Economía, through the Dirección de Administración del Comercio Exterior, is the competent authority responsible for administering the application of Chapter 5 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures); - Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación, MAGA), through the Unit of Standards and Regulations (Unidad de Normas y Regulaciones, UNR), is the competent authority that regulates the protection of human health (veterinary public health), animal health, plant health and preservation, as well as the maintenance and safety of their unprocessed products and by-products; and - Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social, MSPAS), through the Directorate of Food and Drug Control, is the competent authority for ensuring public health in the country and, in coordination with the UNR, supervising the health control of products for human consumption; or their successors.

B.4. Competent authorities of Honduras - Secretariat of State for Industry and Commerce, through the General Directorate of Economic Integration and Trade Policy, is the competent authority responsible for the administration of the application of Chapter 5 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures); - Secretariat of State for Agriculture and Livestock (Secretaría de Estado en los Despachos de Agricultura y Ganadería, SAG), through the General Directorate of the National Agricultural Health Service (Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria, SENASA) and the Food Safety Division, is the competent authority that regulates the protection of human health (veterinary public health), animal health, plant health and preservation, as well as the conservation and safety of their products and by-products; and - Secretariat of State for Health, through the General Directorate of Health Regulation, is the competent authority for ensuring the country's public health and, in coordination with SENASA, supervising the sanitary control of food products for human consumption; or their successors.

B.5. Competent authorities of Nicaragua - Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce (Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio, MIFIC), through the Directorate of Application and Negotiation of Trade Agreements, is the competent authority responsible for administering the application of Chapter 5 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures); - Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Ministerio Agropecuario y Forestal, MAGFOR), through the General Directorate of Agricultural Protection and Health (Dirección General de Protección y Sanidad Agropecuaria, DGPSA), is the competent authority that regulates the protection of human health (veterinary public health), animal health, plant health and preservation, as well as the maintenance and safety of their products and by-products, based on national and international regulations in order to guarantee consumer food health; and - Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud, MINSA), through the Directorate of Food Regulation, is the competent authority for ensuring national public health and, in coordination with MAGFOR / the DGPSA, ensuring the sanitary control of food for human consumption; or their successors.

B.6. Competent authorities of Panama - National Directorate of Animal Health (Dirección Nacional de Salud Animal, DINASA), of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario, MIDA), is the authority responsible for ensuring the application of animal health measures. MIDA coordinates its functions with the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud, MINSA) and with the Panamanian Food Safety Authority (Autoridad Panameña de Seguridad de Alimentos, AUPSA); - National Directorate of Plant Health (Dirección Nacional de Sanidad Vegetal, DINASAVE), of the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), is the authority responsible for protecting and maintaining phytosanitary conditions and quality, including pest control and prevention, as well as the control of pesticides and fertilizers; - Panamanian Food Safety Authority (AUPSA) is the authority responsible for ensuring compliance with and application of international and national legislation related to food safety and the quality of food intended for human and animal consumption that is to be introduced into the national territory; - Department of Food Protection (Departamento de Protección de Alimentos, DEPA), of the Ministry of Health (MINSA), is the competent authority for supervising and controlling food health, as well as food establishments and food processors, through inspections, analyses, and registration of systems based on scientific criteria, in accordance with international sanitary and phytosanitary measures; DEPA coordinates its functions with DINASA, AUPSA, and DINASAVE; and - National Directorate for the Administration of International Trade Treaties and Trade Defense (Dirección Nacional de Administración de Tratados Comerciales Internacionales y Defensa Comercial, DINATRADEC), of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias, MICI), is the competent authority responsible for the administration and application of Chapter 5 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures); or their successors.

OF ESTABLISHMENTS FOR PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN 1. The competent authority of the importing Party shall draw up the lists of approved establishments and make them public.

2. Requirements and procedures for approval:

• a)the product of animal origin in question must have been authorized by the competent authority of the importing Party; this authorization shall include the import and certification requirements; b) the competent authority of the exporting Party shall approve establishments intended for export and shall provide the importing Party with satisfactory sanitary guarantees that the establishments comply with the relevant sanitary requirements of the importing Party; c) the competent authority of the exporting Party must have the power to suspend or withdraw the export approval of an establishment in the event of non-compliance; d) the importing Party may carry out verifications in accordance with the provisions of Article 148 of Chapter 5 (Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures) of Title II of Part IV of this Agreement, as part of the approval procedure.

These verifications shall relate to the structure, organization, and powers of the competent authority responsible for the approval of establishments and for the sanitary guarantees regarding compliance with the requirements of the importing Party.

These inspections may include on-site inspection of the establishments set out in the list or lists supplied by the exporting Party.

Taking into account the specific structure and division of competencies within the EU Party, within the EU Party such verification may refer to individual Member States of the European Union; and (Sinalevi Note: By means of clause 21) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Subparagraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the preceding paragraph is not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement) e) the importing Party may modify the existing lists of establishments based on the results of the verifications mentioned in letter d).

3. The provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall initially be limited to the following categories of establishments:

• a)all establishments for fresh meat of domestic species; b) all establishments for fresh meat of wild and farmed game; c) all establishments for poultry meat; d) all establishments for meat products of all species; e) all establishments for other products of animal origin intended for human consumption (for example, casings, meat preparations, minced meat); f) all establishments for milk and dairy products intended for human consumption; and g) processing establishments and factory/freezer vessels for fishery products intended for human consumption, including bivalve molluscs and crustaceans.

1. Verifications may be carried out on the basis of audits and/or on-site inspections.

2. For the purposes of this Annex:

• a)the "audited" is the Party subject to verification; and b) the "auditor" is the Party conducting the verification.

3. General principles of verification a) Verifications shall be carried out in cooperation between the auditor and the audited, in accordance with the provisions of this Annex.

• b)Verifications shall aim to verify the effectiveness of the audited's controls, rather than rejecting animals, groups of animals, consignments from food sector establishments, or individual lots of plants or plant products. When a verification reveals a serious risk to human, animal, or plant health, the audited shall immediately take corrective action. The process may include the study of relevant standards, the method of implementation, the assessment of the final outcome, the level of compliance, and the consequent corrective measures.
• c)The frequency of verifications shall be based on performance. A low level of performance shall result in an increased frequency of verifications. Unsatisfactory performance must be corrected by the audited to the satisfaction of the auditor.
• d)Verifications and decisions based on them shall be carried out in a transparent and consistent manner.

4. Principles relating to the auditor Auditors must prepare a plan, preferably in accordance with recognized international standards, covering the following aspects:

• a)subject, depth, and scope of the verification; b) date and place of the verification, as well as a schedule including the date of issuance of the final report; c) language or languages in which the verification will be conducted and the report will be drafted; d) identity of the auditors, including the team leader if it is a team; special professional qualification may be required for the verification of specialized systems and programs; e) schedule of meetings with officials and visits to establishments or facilities, as appropriate; it shall not be necessary to communicate in advance the identity of the establishments or facilities to be visited; f) subject to freedom of information provisions, the auditor shall observe the principle of commercial confidentiality; conflicts of interest must be avoided; and g) respect for rules on occupational health and safety related to sanitary and phytosanitary aspects; this plan must be reviewed in advance together with representatives of the audited.

5. Principles relating to the audited The following principles apply to the measures taken by the audited, in order to facilitate verifications:

• a)the audited shall fully cooperate with the auditor and designate the staff responsible for this task; cooperation may include, for example:
• i)access to all relevant regulations and standards; ii) access to compliance programs and relevant records and documents; iii) access to audit and inspection reports; iv) access to documentation relating to corrective actions and sanctions; or v) facilitation of entry to establishments; b) the audited shall carry out a documented program to demonstrate to the auditor that standards are met in a consistent and uniform manner.

6. Procedures a) Opening meeting. Representatives of the Parties must hold an opening meeting. At this meeting, the auditor shall be responsible for reviewing the verification plan and confirming that adequate resources, documentation, and any other elements necessary for carrying out the verification are available.

• b)Documentary examination. The documentary examination may consist of a review of the documents and records referred to in paragraph 5, letter a), the structures and competencies of the audited, as well as any relevant modification of the inspection and certification systems since the entry into force of this Agreement or since the previous verification, with emphasis on the implementation of elements of the inspection and certification system for animals, products of animal origin, plants, and products of plant origin of interest. It may include an evaluation of the relevant inspection and certification records and documents.
• c)On-site inspections:
• i)To decide whether it is necessary to carry out an on-site inspection, the risk of the animal, plant, or product concerned must be considered, taking into account factors such as the history of conformity with the requirements of the exporting country's industry or sector, the volume of production and import or export of the product, changes in infrastructure, and national inspection and certification systems.
• ii)The on-site inspection may include visits to production and manufacturing facilities, food handling or storage areas, and control laboratories, to verify compliance with the information set out in the documentation referred to in paragraph 6, letter b); d) Follow-up verification. When a follow-up verification is carried out to check the rectification of deficiencies, it may be sufficient to examine only those points that were deemed necessary to correct.

7. Working documents The forms for presenting audit findings and conclusions should be standardized as much as possible in order to make the verification approach more uniform, transparent, and effective. Working documents may include checklists of the elements to be evaluated.

Such checklists may include:

• a)legislation; b) structure and operations of the inspection and certification services; c) establishment data and their working procedures, health statistics, sampling plans, and results; d) enforcement measures and procedures; e) information and complaint procedures; and f) training programs.

8. Closing meeting A closing meeting must be held with representatives of the Parties, in which, where appropriate, the officials responsible for the national inspection and certification programs participate. At this meeting, the auditor shall present the results of the verification. The information shall be presented in a clear and concise manner so that the conclusions of the audit are clearly understood. The audited must develop an action plan to correct any deficiencies observed, preferably with target completion dates.

9. Report The draft verification report shall be sent to the audited within twenty working days. The audited shall have twenty-five working days to make comments on the draft report. The comments made by the audited shall be attached and, where appropriate, incorporated into the final report. However, in the event that a significant risk to human, animal, or plant health is detected during the verification, the audited shall be informed as soon as possible and in any case within ten working days from the conclusion of the on-site verifications.

A. CONTACT POINTS For the EU Party The United Kingdom shall notify the Republics of the CA Party of its contact points on the date of entry into force of this Agreement.

(Thus amended the previous paragraph by clause 22) sub-clause a) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Subparagraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019") For the Republics of the CA Party:

Costa Rica:

Dirección General de Comercio Exterior (DGCE) Ministerio de Comercio Exterior Dirección: avenida 1ª y 3ª, calle 40, Paseo Colón, San José, COSTA RICA Apartado postal: 297-1007 Centro Colón Tel. +506 2299-4700 Fax +506 2255-3281 Sitio web: www.comex.go.cr Centro de Información y Notificación MSF Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG) Servicio Fitosanitario del Estado (SFE) Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA) San José, COSTA RICA Apartado postal: 10094 -1000 Tel. +506 2549-3454 Fax +506 2549-3599 Dirección de Regulación de la Salud Ministerio de Salud Dirección: avenida 6ª y 8ª, calle 16, San José, COSTA RICA Apartado postal: 10123-1000 San José Tel. +506 2258-6765 Fax +506 2255-4512 Sitio web: www.ministeriodesalud.sa.cr Misión de Costa Rica ante la Unión Europea Dirección: Avenue Louise 489, 1050 Ixelles, BÉLGICA Tel. +32 2640-5541 Fax +32 2648-3192 Sitio web: www.costaricaembassy.be or their successors or any other contact point designated and notified by the Party to the other Party.

El Salvador Dirección General de Sanidad Vegetal y Animal Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG) Dirección: final 1ª Avenida Norte y Avenida Manuel Gallardo, Santa Tecla, Departamento de La Libertad, EL SALVADOR Tel. +503 2241-1747and +503 2297-8435 Fax +503 2229-2613 Sitio web: www.mag.gob.sv Dirección de Administración de Tratados Comerciales Ministerio de Economía (MINEC) Dirección: Alameda Juan Pablo II y Calle Guadalupe, Edif. C-2, Tercer Nivel, San Salvador, EL SALVADOR Tel. +503 2247-5788 Fax +503 2247-5789 Sitio web: www.minec.gob.sv Unidad de Control de Alimentos Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social (MSPAS) Dirección: Calle Arce nº 827, San Salvador, EL SALVADOR Tel. +503 2202-7000 Fax +503 2221-0991 Sitio web: www.salud.gob.sv or their successors or any other contact point designated and notified by the Party to the other Party.

Guatemala Dirección de Administración del Comercio Exterior, del Ministerio de Economía Dirección: 8ª Avenida 10-43, zona 1, Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA Tel. +502 2412-0200 y +502 2412-0338 Fax +502 2412-0339 Sitio web: www.mineco.gob.gt Viceministerio de Sanidad Agropecuaria y Regulaciones del Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Alimentación (MAGA) Dirección: 7ª Avenida 12-90 zona 13, Edificio Monja Blanca, Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA Tel. +502 2413 - 7385 Tel. +502 2413 - 7387 Fax +502 2413 - 8387 Sitio web: www.maga.gob.gt Departamento de Regulación y Control de Productos Farmacéuticos de la Dirección General de Regulación, Vigilancia y Control de la Salud, del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social (MSPAS) Dirección: 3ª Calle Final 2-10 zona 15, Valles de Vista Hermosa, Ciudad de Guatemala, GUATEMALA Tel. +502 2369-8784 y +502 2369-8786 Fax +502 2369-3320 Sitio web: www.mspas.gob.gt or their successors or any other contact point designated and notified by the Party to the other Party.

Honduras Secretaría de Estado en los Despachos de Agricultura y Ganadería Dirección General del Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Agropecuaria (SENASA) Dirección: Avenida La FAO, Boulevard Miraflores, Edificio SENASA, Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS Tel. (504) 2231-0786, (504) 2232-6213, (504) 2239-7989 y (504) 2239-7270 Fax (504) 2231-0786 Sitio web: www.sag.gob.hn; www.senasa-sag.gob.hn Dirección General de Integración Económica y Política Comercial Secretaría de Estado en los Despachos de Industria y Comercio Dirección: Edificio San José, Boulevard Kuwait, 3er. nivel, Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS Tel. (504) 2235-5047 Fax (504) 2235-5047 Sitio web: www.sic.gob.hn Secretaría de Estado en el Despacho de Salud Dirección General de Regulación Sanitaria Dirección: Avenida Jerez, Barrio El Centro, Antiguo Edificio BANMA, tercer nivel, Tegucigalpa, HONDURAS Tel (504) 2237-9404 Fax (504) 2237-2726 www.salud.gob.hn or their successors or any other contact point designated and notified by the Party to the other Party.

Nicaragua Ministerio Agropecuario y Forestal (MAGFOR) Dirección General de Protección y Sanidad Agropecuaria Dirección: Km. 3½, Carretera a Masaya, Managua, NICARAGUA Tel. +505 2278-5042 Fax +505 2270-1089 E-mail: [email protected] Sitio web: www.magfor.gob.ni Ministerio de Salud Dirección de Regulación de Alimentos Complejo Nacional de Salud, "Dra. Concepción Palacios." Dirección: Costado Oeste Colonia Primero de Mayo, Managua, NICARAGUA Postal Sector: 15AB P.O. Box: 107 Tel. +505 2289-4839 Fax +505 228-94839 Sitio web: [email protected]; [email protected] Ministerio de Fomento, Industria y Comercio Dirección de Aplicación y Negociación de Acuerdos Comerciales Dirección: Km. 6 Carretera a Masaya, Managua, NICARAGUA P.O. Box: 8 Tel. +505 2267-0161 ext. 1165 Fax +505 2267-0161 ext. 1164 Sitio web: [email protected] or their successors or any other contact point designated and notified by the Party to the other Party.

Panamá Dirección Nacional de Administración de Tratados Comerciales Internacionales y de Defensa Comercial Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias Dirección: Avenida Ricardo J. Alfaro, Edificio Plaza Edison, 2º piso, Ciudad de Panamá, PANAMÁ Tel. +507 560-0610 Fax +507 560-0618 Sitio web: http://www.mici.gob.pa Email: [email protected]; [email protected] or their successors or any other contact point designated and notified by the Party to the other Party.

EU/CENTR-AM/Anexo IX/es 8 B. PUBLICLY AVAILABLE WEBSITES For the EU Party www.gov.uk".

(Thus amended the previous paragraph by clause 22) sub-clause b) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Subparagraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019") For the Republics of the CA Party Costa Rica www.senasa.go.cr www.sfe.go.cr www.ministeriodesalud.sa.cr www.comex.go.cr El Salvador http://www.mag.gob.sv/dgsva http://www.minec.gob.sv Guatemala www.mineco.gob.gt http://portal.maga.gob.gt/portal/page/portal/uc_unr http://portal.mspas.gob.gt/ EU/CENTR-AM/Anexo IX/es 9 Honduras www.sic.gob.hn www.senasa-sag.gob.hn www.salud.gob.hn Nicaragua www.magfor.gob.ni www.minsa.gob.ni www.mific.gob.ni Panamá www.mida.gob.pa www.aupsa.gob.pa www.minsa.gob.pa www.mici.gob.pa

1. The list of commitments set out below indicates the economic activities liberalized under Article 166 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the limitations on market access and national treatment applicable to establishments and investors of the Republics of the CA Party in those activities. The lists consist of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the sector or subsector in which the Party assumes the commitment and the scope of liberalization to which the reservations apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations.

When the column referred to in (b) only includes reservations for specific Member States, the Member States not mentioned therein assume commitments in the sector in question without reservations (N.B. the absence of specific reservations for Member States in a given sector is without prejudice to horizontal reservations or EU-wide sectoral reservations that may apply).

(Sinalevi Note: By means of clause 23) sub-clause b) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama on Subparagraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that the subparagraph beginning with the words "When the column" and ending with the words "that may apply)." is not incorporated into the aforementioned present Agreement) Sectors or subsectors not mentioned in the following list are not committed.

2. To identify individual sectors and subsectors:

• a)ISIC rev.3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set out in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev.3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as set out in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• c)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as set out in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

3. The list set out below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements and procedures where they do not constitute a limitation on market access or national treatment within the meaning of Articles 164 and 165 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations, including language examinations, the non-discriminatory requirement that certain activities may not be undertaken in environmental protection zones or areas of particular historical or artistic interest) apply in any case to investors of the other Party, even if they are not listed.

4. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3 of this Agreement, the list set out below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

5. In accordance with Article 164 of this Agreement, non-discriminatory requirements relating to the types of legal form of an establishment are not included in the list set out below.

6. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall not have self-effect and, consequently, shall not directly confer rights to individual natural or legal persons.

7. The following abbreviations are used in the list below:

AT Austria BE Belgium BG Bulgaria CY Cyprus CZ Czechia DE Germany DK Denmark EU EU Party ES Spain EE Estonia FI Finland FR France EL Greece HU Hungary IE Ireland IT Italy LV Latvia LT Lithuania LU Luxembourg MT Malta NL Netherlands PL Poland PT Portugal RO Romania SK Slovakia SI Slovenia SE Sweden UK United Kingdom (Note from Sinalevi: Through subsection 23) sub-paragraph a) of the annex to International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex to the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to indicate that throughout Section A, the commitments corresponding to specific countries that are not party to this Agreement are not incorporated into the aforementioned Agreement) Lists of Commitments on Establishment

COSTA RICA 1. The list of commitments below indicates the economic activities committed under Article 166 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the limitations, conditions, and qualifications on market access and national treatment applicable to establishments and investors of the EU Party in those activities. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations apply; b) A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates economic activities that have no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments on national treatment or market access have been made.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given economic activity shall not affect any horizontal reservations that may apply.

3. Economic activities not listed in the following list are not committed.

4. For the purposes of identifying the different economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set out in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• c)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures where they do not constitute a limitation on national treatment or market access, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 164 and 165 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations, including language examinations, the non-discriminatory requirement that certain activities may not be undertaken in environmental protection zones or areas of particular historical or artistic interest) apply in any case to investors of the EU Party, even if they have not been listed.

6. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

7. In accordance with Article 164 of this Agreement, the list below does not include non-discriminatory requirements relating to the types of legal form of an establishment.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall have no direct effect and, consequently, do not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons.

1. The list of commitments below indicates the economic activities committed under Article 166 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the limitations, conditions, and qualifications on market access and national treatment applicable to establishments and investors of the EU Party in those activities. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations apply; b) A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates economic activities that have no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments on national treatment or market access have been made.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given economic activity shall not affect any horizontal reservations that may apply.

3. Economic activities not listed in the following list are not committed.

4. For the purposes of identifying the different economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set out in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• c)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures where they do not constitute a limitation on national treatment or market access, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 164 and 165 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations, including language examinations, the non-discriminatory requirement that certain activities may not be undertaken in environmental protection zones or areas of particular historical or artistic interest) apply in any case to investors of the EU Party, even if they have not been listed.

6. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

7. In accordance with Article 164 of this Agreement, the list below does not include non-discriminatory requirements relating to the types of legal form of an establishment.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall have no direct effect and, consequently, do not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons.

Horizontal Commitments 1. The airspace, the subsoil, and the corresponding continental and insular shelf are the property of El Salvador. The State may grant a concession for the exploitation of the subsoil.

2. A foreign person may not own rural property, including a branch of a foreign person, if the person is a national of a country or is incorporated in accordance with the laws of a country that does not permit Salvadoran nationals to own rural property, except when it concerns land for industrial establishments.

3. A company incorporated in accordance with Salvadoran law, the majority of whose capital is owned by foreign persons, or whose partners are mostly foreigners, is subject to the preceding paragraph.

4. Only the following persons may engage in small-scale commerce, industry, and the provision of services in El Salvador:

• a)Salvadoran nationals born in El Salvador; and b) Nationals of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

A company incorporated in accordance with Salvadoran law, the majority of whose capital is foreign-owned, or whose partners are mostly foreigners, may not establish a small-scale enterprise to engage in small-scale commerce, industry, and the provision of services.

For the purposes of this section, a small-scale enterprise is considered to be one with a capitalization not exceeding 200,000 United States dollars.

5. In production cooperative associations, at least seventy-five percent of the members must be Salvadoran persons. The branch of a company not incorporated in accordance with Salvadoran law is not considered a Salvadoran person.

For greater certainty, the objective of a production cooperative association is to provide certain benefits to its members in matters of distribution, sales, administration, and technical assistance. Its functions are not solely economic, but also social.

6. Every employer is obliged to staff its enterprise with at least ninety percent Salvadorans. In special circumstances, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare may authorize the employment of more foreigners, when it is difficult or impossible to replace them with nationals, although employers remain subject to the obligation to train Salvadoran personnel, under the supervision and control of said Ministry, within a period not exceeding five years. The amount of wages earned by Salvadorans may not represent less than eighty-five percent of the total wages. This percentage may be modified with prior authorization from the aforementioned Ministry309.

309 For greater certainty, this clause applies to foreign workers under an employment relationship and without prejudice to the commitments undertaken by El Salvador under Chapter 4 (Temporary Entry of Natural Persons for Business Purposes).

7. El Salvador reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure granting rights or preferences to socially or economically disadvantaged minorities.

8. El Salvador reserves the right to adopt or maintain any measure relating to the application of social rehabilitation legislation and social rehabilitation services, as well as the following services, to the extent that they are social services established or maintained for reasons of public interest.

9. Nothing in this Agreement, nor in this list of specific commitments, shall be construed to require the privatization of public enterprises or public utility services provided in the exercise of governmental authority.

10. Limitations on market access and national treatment, maintained at the level of local governments, are bound, even if they have not been listed. Such limitations shall not be construed as annulling the commitments undertaken by El Salvador in the Chapter on Public Procurement.

11. El Salvador may require a concession, authorization, license, permit, or other requirements as a non-discriminatory condition for carrying out an economic activity or providing a service.

12. For the purposes of this list, legal persons incorporated in accordance with Salvadoran law and having their legal domicile in the country are considered Salvadoran. The legislation and regulations established in favor of Salvadorans shall be applicable to Salvadoran legal persons whose partners or capital are majority foreign.

13. Economic activities considered as public utilities may be subject to public monopolies or to exclusive rights granted to natural or legal persons, public or private.

14. Article 164 of this Agreement refers to non-discriminatory measures.

15. Market access in sectors other than services is unbound. Any more favorable commitment on market access in sectors other than services within the meaning of Article 164 of this Agreement, resulting from an international agreement, shall constitute a commitment derived from this Agreement as of the date of entry into force of that Agreement.

1. The list of commitments below indicates the economic activities committed under Article 166 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the limitations, conditions, and qualifications on market access and national treatment applicable to establishments and investors of the EU Party in those activities. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations apply; b) A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates economic activities that have no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments on national treatment or market access have been made.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given economic activity shall not affect any horizontal reservations that may apply.

3. Economic activities not listed in the following list are not committed.

4. For the purposes of identifying the different economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set out in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• c)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures where they do not constitute a limitation on national treatment or market access, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 164 and 165 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations, including language examinations, the non-discriminatory requirement that certain activities may not be undertaken in environmental protection zones or areas of particular historical or artistic interest) apply in any case to investors of the EU Party, even if they have not been listed.

6. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

7. In accordance with Article 164 of this Agreement, the list below does not include non-discriminatory requirements relating to the types of legal form of an establishment.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall have no direct effect and, consequently, do not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons.

1. The list of commitments below indicates the economic activities committed under Article 166 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the limitations, conditions, and qualifications on market access and national treatment applicable to establishments and investors of the EU Party in those activities. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations apply; b) A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates economic activities that have no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments on national treatment or market access have been made.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given economic activity shall not affect any horizontal reservations that may apply.

3. Economic activities not listed in the following list are not committed.

4. For the purposes of identifying the different economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set out in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• c)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures where they do not constitute a limitation on national treatment or market access, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 164 and 165 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations, including language examinations, the non-discriminatory requirement that certain activities may not be undertaken in environmental protection zones or areas of particular historical or artistic interest) apply in any case to investors of the EU Party, even if they have not been listed.

6. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

7. In accordance with Article 164 of this Agreement, the list below does not include non-discriminatory requirements relating to the types of legal form of an establishment.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall have no direct effect and, consequently, do not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons.

1. The list of commitments below indicates the economic activities committed under Article 166 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the limitations, conditions, and qualifications on market access and national treatment applicable to establishments and investors of the EU Party in those activities. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations apply; b) A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates economic activities that have no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments on national treatment or market access have been made.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given economic activity shall not affect any horizontal reservations that may apply.

3. Economic activities not listed in the following list are not committed.

4. For the purposes of identifying the different economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set out in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• c)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures where they do not constitute a limitation on national treatment or market access, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 164 and 165 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations, including language examinations, the non-discriminatory requirement that certain activities may not be undertaken in environmental protection zones or areas of particular historical or artistic interest) apply in any case to investors of the EU Party, even if they have not been listed.

6. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

7. In accordance with Article 164 of this Agreement, the list below does not include non-discriminatory requirements relating to the types of legal form of an establishment.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall have no direct effect and, consequently, do not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons.

9. The commitments in this list do not imply treatment of EU Party enterprises and investors less favorable than the terms, limitations, and conditions under the GATS.

1. The list of commitments below indicates the economic activities committed under Article 166 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the limitations, conditions, and qualifications on market access and national treatment applicable to establishments and investors of the EU Party in those activities. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations apply; b) A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates economic activities that have no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments on national treatment or market access have been made.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given economic activity shall not affect any horizontal reservations that may apply.

3. Economic activities not listed in the following list are not committed.

4. For the purposes of identifying the different economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set out in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• c)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures where they do not constitute a limitation on national treatment or market access, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 164 and 165 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations, including language examinations, the non-discriminatory requirement that certain activities may not be undertaken in environmental protection zones or areas of particular historical or artistic interest) apply in any case to investors of the EU Party, even if they have not been listed.

6. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

7. In accordance with Article 164 of this Agreement, the list below does not include non-discriminatory requirements relating to the types of legal form of an establishment.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall have no direct effect and, consequently, do not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons.

SERVICES

(Sinalevi Note: By means of subsection 24) sub-paragraph a) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to establish that throughout Section A, the commitments corresponding to specific countries that are not part of this Agreement are not incorporated into the previously referenced Agreement) 1. The list of commitments below indicates the service sectors liberalized pursuant to Article 172 of this Agreement, and, through reservations, the market access and national treatment limitations applicable to the services and service providers of the Republics of the CA Party in those sectors. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicating the sector or subsector in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope of liberalization to which the reservations apply.
• b)A second column describing the applicable reservations.

When the column referred to in (b) only includes reservations for specific Member States, the Member States not mentioned therein undertake commitments in the sector in question without reservations (N.B. the absence of specific reservations for Member States in a given sector is without prejudice to horizontal reservations or sectoral reservations for the entire EU that may apply).

(Sinalevi Note: By means of subsection 24) sub-paragraph b) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed that in the previous paragraph the words "When the column" and ending with the words "that may apply)." are not incorporated into this previously referenced Agreement.)

Cross-border supply of services in sectors or subsectors covered by this Agreement not mentioned in the list below is not committed.

2. To identify individual sectors and subsectors:

• a)CPC means the Central Product Classification as defined by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• b)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as defined by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

3. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements and procedures when they do not constitute a limitation on market access or national treatment within the meaning of Articles 170 and 171 of this Agreement.

Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations, including language examinations), apply in any case to the service providers of the Republics of the CA Party, even if they have not been listed.

4. The list below is understood without prejudice to the viability of Mode 1 in certain services sectors and subsectors and without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the list of commitments on establishment.

5. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

6. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall not have direct effect and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly upon individual natural or legal persons.

Lists of commitments on cross-border supply of services Section A EU Party

COSTA RICA 1. The list of commitments below indicates the sectors or subsectors committed pursuant to Article 172 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the market access and national treatment limitations, conditions, and qualifications applicable to the services and service providers of the EU Party in said sectors or subsectors. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the service sector or subsector in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope to which the reservations apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates the service sector or subsector that has no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments for national treatment or market access have been undertaken.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given service sector or subsector shall not affect the horizontal reservations that apply.

3. The cross-border supply of services in sectors or subsectors not mentioned in the list below is not committed.

4. To identify the various sectors and subsectors:

• a)CPC means the Central Product Classification as contained in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• b)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and authorization of any other kind) and procedures when they do not constitute a limitation on market access or national treatment, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 170 and 171 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors or to pass specific examinations, including language examinations) apply in any case to the services and service providers of the EU Party, even if they are not listed.

6. The list below is understood without prejudice to the viability of Mode 1 in certain services sectors and subsectors and without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the list of commitments on establishment.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall not have direct effect and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly upon individual natural or legal persons.

1. The list of commitments below indicates the sectors or subsectors committed pursuant to Article 172 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the market access and national treatment limitations, conditions, and qualifications applicable to the services and service providers of the EU Party in said sectors or subsectors. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the service sector or subsector in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope to which the reservations apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates the service sector or subsector that has no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments for national treatment or market access have been undertaken.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given service sector or subsector shall not affect the horizontal reservations that apply.

3. The cross-border supply of services in sectors or subsectors not mentioned in the list below is not committed.

4. To identify the various sectors and subsectors:

• a)CPC means the Central Product Classification as contained in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• b)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and authorization of any other kind) and procedures when they do not constitute a limitation on market access or national treatment, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 170 and 171 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors or to pass specific examinations, including language examinations) apply in any case to the services and service providers of the EU Party, even if they are not listed.

6. The list below is understood without prejudice to the viability of Mode 1 in certain services sectors and subsectors and without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the list of commitments on establishment.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall not have legal effect (*) and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly upon individual natural or legal persons.

(*)(By means of International Treaty No. 9154 "Agreement establishing an association between Central America and the European Union and its Member States, of July 3, 2013, the member countries agreed that where it says the phrase "... shall not have legal effect..." it shall say "... shall not have direct effect...") Section B Republic of the CA Party El Salvador GUATEMALA 1. The list of commitments below indicates the sectors or subsectors committed pursuant to Article 172 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the market access and national treatment limitations, conditions, and qualifications applicable to the services and service providers of the EU Party in said sectors or subsectors. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the service sector or subsector in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope to which the reservations apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates the service sector or subsector that has no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments for national treatment or market access have been undertaken.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given service sector or subsector shall not affect the horizontal reservations that apply.

3. The cross-border supply of services in sectors or subsectors not mentioned in the list below is not committed.

4. To identify the various sectors and subsectors:

• a)CPC means the Central Product Classification as contained in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• b)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and authorization of any other kind) and procedures when they do not constitute a limitation on market access or national treatment, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 170 and 171 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors or to pass specific examinations, including language examinations) apply in any case to the services and service providers of the EU Party, even if they are not listed.

6. The list below is understood without prejudice to the viability of Mode 1 in certain services sectors and subsectors and without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the list of commitments on establishment.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall not have direct effect and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly upon individual natural or legal persons.

1. The list of commitments below indicates the sectors or subsectors committed pursuant to Article 172 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the market access and national treatment limitations, conditions, and qualifications applicable to the services and service providers of the EU Party in said sectors or subsectors. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the service sector or subsector in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope to which the reservations apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates the service sector or subsector that has no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments for national treatment or market access have been undertaken.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given service sector or subsector shall not affect the horizontal reservations that apply.

3. The cross-border supply of services in sectors or subsectors not mentioned in the list below is not committed.

4. To identify the various sectors and subsectors:

• a)CPC means the Central Product Classification as contained in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• b)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and authorization of any other kind) and procedures when they do not constitute a limitation on market access or national treatment, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 170 and 171 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors or to pass specific examinations, including language examinations) apply in any case to the services and service providers of the EU Party, even if they are not listed.

6. The list below is understood without prejudice to the viability of Mode 1 in certain services sectors and subsectors and without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the list of commitments on establishment.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall not have direct effect and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly upon individual natural or legal persons.

1. The list of commitments below indicates the sectors or subsectors committed pursuant to Article 172 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the market access and national treatment limitations, conditions, and qualifications applicable to the services and service providers of the EU Party in said sectors or subsectors. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the service sector or subsector in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope to which the reservations apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates the service sector or subsector that has no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments for national treatment or market access have been undertaken.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given service sector or subsector shall not affect the horizontal reservations that apply.

3. The cross-border supply of services in sectors or subsectors not mentioned in the list below is not committed.

4. To identify the various sectors and subsectors:

• a)CPC means the Central Product Classification as contained in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• b)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and authorization of any other kind) and procedures when they do not constitute a limitation on market access or national treatment, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 170 and 171 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors or to pass specific examinations, including language examinations) apply in any case to the services and service providers of the EU Party, even if they are not listed.

6. The list below is understood without prejudice to the viability of Mode 1 in certain services sectors and subsectors and without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the list of commitments on establishment.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall not have legal effect (*) and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly upon individual natural or legal persons.

(*)(By means of International Treaty No. 9154 "Agreement establishing an association between Central America and the European Union and its Member States, of July 3, 2013, the member countries agreed that where it says the phrase "... shall not have legal effect..." it shall say "... shall not have direct effect...")

9. The commitments in this list do not imply treatment of the services and service providers of the EU Party less favorable than that of the terms, limitations, and conditions under the GATS.

1. The list of commitments below indicates the sectors or subsectors committed pursuant to Article 172 of this Agreement and, through reservations, the market access and national treatment limitations, conditions, and qualifications applicable to the services and service providers of the EU Party in said sectors or subsectors. The list consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the service sector or subsector in which the Party undertakes the commitment and the scope to which the reservations apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations.

2. For the purposes of this list, the term "none" indicates the service sector or subsector that has no limitations, conditions, or qualifications with respect to national treatment or market access. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments for national treatment or market access have been undertaken.

For greater certainty, the absence of specific reservations in a given service sector or subsector shall not affect the horizontal reservations that apply.

3. The cross-border supply of services in sectors or subsectors not mentioned in the list below is not committed.

4. To identify the various sectors and subsectors:

• a)CPC means the Central Product Classification as contained in the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• b)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as established by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and authorization of any other kind) and procedures when they do not constitute a limitation on market access or national treatment, conditions, and qualifications within the meaning of Articles 170 and 171 of this Agreement. Such measures (for example, the need to obtain a license, universal service obligations, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors or to pass specific examinations, including language examinations) apply in any case to the services and service providers of the EU Party, even if they are not listed.

6. The list below is understood without prejudice to the viability of Mode 1 in certain services sectors and subsectors and without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the list of commitments on establishment.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. The rights and obligations arising from this list of commitments shall not have legal effect (*) and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly upon individual natural or legal persons.

(*)(By means of International Treaty No. 9154 "Agreement establishing an association between Central America and the European Union and its Member States, of July 3, 2013, the member countries agreed that where it says the phrase "... shall not have legal effect..." it shall say "... shall not have direct effect...")

AND GRADUATE TRAINEES OF THE EU PARTY 1. The list of reservations below indicates the economic activities liberalized pursuant to Article 166 of this Agreement for which limitations on key personnel and graduate trainees apply, in accordance with Article 174 of this Agreement, and specifies said limitations. The lists consist of the following elements:

(a) A first column indicating the sector or subsector in which said limitations apply.

(b) A second column describes the applicable limitations.

When the column referred to in (b) only includes reservations for specific Member States, the Member States not mentioned therein undertake commitments in the sector with reservations (N.B. the absence of specific reservations for Member States in a given sector is without prejudice to horizontal reservations or sectoral reservations for the entire EU that may apply).

(Sinalevi Note: By means of subsection 25) sub-paragraph b) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations, and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama regarding Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed that in the previous paragraph the words "When the column" and ending with the words "that may apply)." are not incorporated into this previously referenced Agreement.)

The European Union and its Member States do not undertake any commitment on key personnel and graduate trainees in economic activities that are not liberalized (remain unbound) pursuant to Article 166 of this Agreement.

2. To identify individual sectors and subsectors:

• a)ISIC rev.3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of all economic activities as defined by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as defined by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• c)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as defined by the United Nations Statistical Office, Statistical Reports, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

3. Commitments regarding key personnel and graduate trainees do not apply in cases where the purpose or consequence of their temporary presence is to interfere with, or otherwise affect, the outcome of any labor dispute or negotiation or its management.

4. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements and procedures when they do not constitute a reservation within the meaning of Article 174 of this Agreement. Such measures (such as the need to obtain a license, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations, including language examinations, the need to have a legal domicile in the territory where the economic activity is performed), even if not listed, apply in any case to key personnel and graduate trainees of the other Party.

5. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

6. All other requirements of the laws and regulations of the EU Party regarding measures on entry, stay, work, and social security shall continue to apply, including regulations concerning periods of stay, minimum wages, as well as collective wage agreements, even if they are not included in the list below.

7. The list below is understood without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the list of commitments on establishment.

8. In sectors where economic needs tests are applied, their main criteria will be the assessment of the relevant market situation in the Member State or region where the service is to be provided, including with respect to the number of existing service providers and the impact on them.

9. The rights and obligations arising from this list of reservations shall have no self-executing effect and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons.

Reservations on key personnel and graduate trainees holding degrees in traineeships of the EU Party (Sinalevi note: By means of subparagraph 25) subparagraph a) of the annex of International Treaty No. 9775 of October 29, 2019, "Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed in Managua, Nicaragua, on July 18, 2019; its Annex, its Joint Declarations and the Understanding Reached between the Delegations of the Governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama on Paragraph 8 of the Annex of the Agreement establishing an Association between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Central America, signed on July 18, 2019", it was agreed to establish that throughout Section A, the reservations corresponding to specific countries that are not part of this Agreement are not incorporated into this previously referenced Agreement)

ON KEY PERSONNEL AND GRADUATE TRAINEES COSTA RICA 1. The schedule of commitments below indicates the economic activities and services sectors and subsectors committed under Article 174, paragraph 2, of this Agreement and the reservations and conditions applicable to key personnel and graduate trainees. The schedule consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services in which the Party undertakes a commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations and conditions apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations and conditions.

2. For the purposes of this schedule, the term "none" indicates economic activities and services sectors and subsectors for which there are no specific reservations and conditions, without prejudice to applicable horizontal reservations and conditions. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments have been undertaken.

3. Costa Rica undertakes no commitment on key personnel and graduate trainees in economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services not mentioned in the list below.

4. For the purpose of identifying individual economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991; c) CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. Commitments regarding key personnel and graduate trainees do not apply in cases where the purpose or consequence of their temporary presence is to interfere with, or otherwise affect, the outcome of any labor dispute or negotiation or its management.

6. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures when they do not constitute a reservation within the meaning of Article 174 of this Agreement. Such measures (such as the need to obtain a license, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations including language examinations, or the need to have a legal domicile in the territory where the economic activity is performed), even if not listed, apply in any case to key personnel and graduate trainees of the EU Party.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. All other requirements of the laws and regulations of Costa Rica concerning entry, stay, work, and the social security regime shall continue to apply, including regulations concerning the duration of stay, minimum wages, and collective wage agreements, even if they are not included in the list below.

9. The list below is understood without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the schedule of commitments on establishment.

10. In those economic activities where the economic needs test is applied, its main criteria will be the assessment of the relevant market situation or the region where the service is to be provided, including with respect to the number of existing service providers and the impact on them.

11. The rights and obligations arising from this schedule of commitments shall have no self-executing effect and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons.

Schedule of Commitments Republic of Costa Rica CA: On key personnel and graduate trainees EL SALVADOR 1. The schedule of commitments below indicates the economic activities and services sectors and subsectors committed under Article 174, paragraph 2, of this Agreement and the reservations and conditions applicable to key personnel. The schedule consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services in which the Party undertakes a commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations and conditions apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations and conditions.

2. For the purposes of this schedule, the term "none" indicates economic activities and services sectors and subsectors for which there are no specific reservations and conditions, without prejudice to applicable horizontal reservations and conditions. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments have been undertaken.

3. El Salvador undertakes no commitment on key personnel in economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services not mentioned in the list below.

4. For the purpose of identifying individual economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991.
• c)CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. Commitments regarding key personnel do not apply in cases where the purpose or consequence of their temporary presence is to interfere with, or otherwise affect, the outcome of any labor dispute or negotiation or its management.

6. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures, nor measures relating to employment and working conditions and social security when they do not constitute a reservation within the meaning of Article 174 of this Agreement. Such measures (such as the need to obtain a license, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations including language examinations, or the need to have a legal domicile in the territory where the economic activity is performed, the need to comply with national regulations and practice on minimum wages and collective wage agreements in the host country) apply in any case to key personnel and graduate trainees of the EU Party, even if they do not appear on the list.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. All other requirements of the laws and regulations of El Salvador concerning entry, stay, work, and the social security regime shall continue to apply, including regulations concerning the duration of stay, minimum wages, and collective wage agreements, even if they are not included in the list below.

9. The list below is understood without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the schedule of commitments on establishment.

10. In those economic activities where the economic needs test is applied, its main criteria will be the assessment of the relevant market situation or the region where the service is to be provided, including with respect to the number of existing service providers and the impact on them.

11. The rights and obligations arising from this schedule of commitments shall have no legal effects(*) and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons. (*)(By means of International Treaty No. 9154 "Agreement establishing an Association between Central America and the European Union and its Member States", of July 3, 2013, the member countries agreed that where the phrase "... shall have no legal effects..." appears it should read "... shall have no self-executing effect...") Schedule of Commitments Republic of El Salvador CA Party on key personnel and graduate trainees GUATEMALA 1. The schedule of commitments below indicates the economic activities and services sectors and subsectors committed under Article 174, paragraph 2, of this Agreement and the reservations and conditions applicable to key personnel and graduate trainees. The schedule consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services in which the Party undertakes a commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations and conditions apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations and conditions.

2. For the purposes of this schedule, the term "none" indicates economic activities and services sectors and subsectors for which there are no specific reservations and conditions, without prejudice to applicable horizontal reservations and conditions. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments have been undertaken.

3. Guatemala undertakes no commitment on key personnel and graduate trainees in economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services not mentioned in the list below.

4. For the purpose of identifying individual economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991; c) CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. Commitments regarding key personnel and graduate trainees do not apply in cases where the purpose or consequence of their temporary presence is to interfere with, or otherwise affect, the outcome of any labor dispute or negotiation or its management.

6. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures, nor measures relating to employment and working conditions and social security when they do not constitute a reservation within the meaning of Article 174 of this Agreement. Such measures (such as the need to obtain a license, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations including language examinations, or the need to have a legal domicile in the territory where the economic activity is performed, the need to comply with national regulations and practice on minimum wages and collective wage agreements in the host country) apply in any case to key personnel and graduate trainees of the EU Party, even if they are not listed.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. All other requirements of the laws and regulations of Guatemala concerning entry, stay, work, and the social security regime shall continue to apply, including regulations concerning the duration of stay, minimum wages, and collective wage agreements, even if they are not included in the list below.

9. The list below is understood without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the schedule of commitments on establishment.

10. In those economic activities where the economic needs test is applied, its main criteria will be the assessment of the relevant market situation or the region where the service is to be provided, including with respect to the number of existing service providers and the impact on them.

11. The rights and obligations arising from this schedule of commitments shall have no legal effects (*) and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons. (*)(By means of International Treaty No. 9154 "Agreement establishing an Association between Central America and the European Union and its Member States", of July 3, 2013, the member countries agreed that where the phrase "... shall have no legal effects..." appears it should read "... shall have no self-executing effect...") Schedule of Commitments Republic of Guatemala CA Party On key personnel and graduate trainees HONDURAS 1. The schedule of commitments below indicates the economic activities and services sectors and subsectors committed under Article 174, paragraph 2, of this Agreement and the reservations and conditions applicable to key personnel and graduate trainees. The schedule consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services in which the Party undertakes a commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations and conditions apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations and conditions.

2. For the purposes of this schedule, the term "none" indicates economic activities and services sectors and subsectors for which there are no specific reservations and conditions, without prejudice to applicable horizontal reservations and conditions. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments have been undertaken.

3. Honduras undertakes no commitment on key personnel and graduate trainees in economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services not mentioned in the list below.

4. For the purpose of identifying individual economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991; c) CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. Commitments regarding key personnel and graduate trainees do not apply in cases where the purpose or consequence of their temporary presence is to interfere with, or otherwise affect, the outcome of any labor dispute or negotiation or its management.

6. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures, nor measures relating to employment and working conditions and social security when they do not constitute a reservation within the meaning of Article 174 of this Agreement. Such measures (such as the need to obtain a license, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations including language examinations, or the need to have a legal domicile in the territory where the economic activity is performed), even if not listed, apply in any case to key personnel and graduate trainees of the EU Party.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. All other requirements of the laws and regulations of Honduras concerning entry, stay, work, and the social security regime shall continue to apply, including regulations concerning the duration of stay, minimum wages, and collective wage agreements, even if they are not included in the list below.

9. The list below is understood without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the schedule of commitments on establishment.

10. In those economic activities where the economic needs test is applied, its main criteria will be the assessment of the relevant market situation or the region where the service is to be provided, including with respect to the number of existing service providers and the impact on them.

11. The rights and obligations arising from this schedule of commitments shall have no legal effects(*) and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons. (*)(By means of International Treaty No. 9154 "Agreement establishing an Association between Central America and the European Union and its Member States", of July 3, 2013, the member countries agreed that where the phrase "... shall have no legal effects..." appears it should read "... shall have no self-executing effect...") Schedule of Commitments Republic of Honduras CA Party On key personnel and graduate trainees NICARAGUA 1. The schedule of commitments below indicates the economic activities and services sectors and subsectors committed under Article 174, paragraph 2, of this Agreement and the reservations and conditions applicable to key personnel and graduate trainees. The schedule consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services in which the Party undertakes a commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations and conditions apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations and conditions.

2. For the purposes of this schedule, the term "none" indicates economic activities and services sectors and subsectors for which there are no specific reservations and conditions, without prejudice to applicable horizontal reservations and conditions. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments have been undertaken.

3. Nicaragua undertakes no commitment on key personnel and graduate trainees in economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services not mentioned in the list below.

4. For the purpose of identifying individual economic activities:

• a)ISIC rev. 3.1 means the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 4, ISIC rev. 3.1, 2002.
• b)CPC means the Central Product Classification as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC prov., 1991; c) CPC ver. 1.0 means the Central Product Classification as set forth in the United Nations Statistics Office, Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 77, CPC ver. 1.0, 1998.

5. Commitments regarding key personnel and graduate trainees do not apply in cases where the purpose or consequence of their temporary presence is to interfere with, or otherwise affect, the outcome of any labor dispute or negotiation or its management.

6. The list below does not include measures relating to qualification requirements and procedures, technical standards, and licensing requirements (including any concession, permit, registration, and other type of authorization) and procedures when they do not constitute a reservation within the meaning of Article 174 of this Agreement. Such measures (such as the need to obtain a license, the need to obtain recognition of qualifications in regulated sectors, the need to pass specific examinations including language examinations, or the need to have a legal domicile in the territory where the economic activity is performed), even if not listed, apply in any case to key personnel and graduate trainees of the EU Party.

7. In accordance with Article 159, paragraph 3, of this Agreement, the list below does not include measures relating to subsidies granted by the Parties.

8. All other requirements of the laws and regulations of Nicaragua concerning entry, stay, work, and the social security regime shall continue to apply, including regulations concerning the duration of stay, minimum wages, and collective wage agreements, even if they are not included in the list below.

9. The list below is understood without prejudice to the existence of public monopolies and exclusive rights as described in the schedule of commitments on establishment.

10. In those economic activities where the economic needs test is applied, its main criteria will be the assessment of the relevant market situation or the region where the service is to be provided, including with respect to the number of existing service providers and the impact on them.

11. The rights and obligations arising from this schedule of commitments shall have no legal effects (*) and, consequently, shall not confer rights directly on individual natural or legal persons. (*)(By means of International Treaty No. 9154 "Agreement establishing an Association between Central America and the European Union and its Member States", of July 3, 2013, the member countries agreed that where the phrase "... shall have no legal effects..." appears it should read "... shall have no self-executing effect...") Schedule of Commitments Republic of Nicaragua CA Party On key personnel and graduate trainees PANAMA 1. The schedule of commitments below indicates the economic activities and services sectors and subsectors committed under Article 174, paragraph 2, of this Agreement and the reservations and conditions applicable to key personnel and graduate trainees. The schedule consists of the following elements:

• a)A first column indicates the economic activities, sectors or subsectors of services in which the Party undertakes a commitment and the scope of application to which the reservations and conditions apply.
• b)A second column describes the applicable reservations and conditions.

2. For the purposes of this schedule, the term "none" indicates economic activities and services sectors and subsectors for which there are no specific reservations and conditions, without prejudice to applicable horizontal reservations and conditions. The term "unbound" indicates that no commitments have been undertaken.