The Government of the Republic of Slovenia
and
the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil
(hereinafter referred to as “the Contracting Parties”)
Willing to expand and strengthen trade and economic co-operation between the two countries on the basic of principles of equal sovereignty and reciprocity;
With the wider purpose of intensifying bilateral relations on mutually advantageous basis;
Have agreed upon the following:
Article I
The Contracting Parties shall stimulate and facilitate the development of trade and bilateral economic co-operation, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and with their respective internal legislation.
Article II
The Contracting Parties shall grant each other the Most-Favoured-Nation treatment, in accordance with the rules of World Trade Organization and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 94) for the goods originating from their respective territories, as well as those of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) for services and service suppliers.
Article III
The provisions of Article II of this Agreement shall not be applied to advantages, favors, immunities and privileges granted or to be granted by each Contracting Party:
a) to neighboring countries in view of facilitating transit through frontiers and/or co-operation with frontier zones;
b) to third countries on account of their participation in free trade zone, customs union, common market or other economic integration agreement of which it is member;
c) to third countries on the basis of agreements to avoid double taxation or multilateral agreements in which the other Contracting Party does not take part, such as the Global System of Commercial Preferences among developing countries (GSCP).
Article IV
The export and the import of goods agreed upon within the frame of this Agreement shall be carried out by means of contracts and agreements between public or private enterprises, organisations and institutions of each country.
Article V
The payments for transactions carried out within the frame of this Agreement shall be settled in free convertible currency, unless otherwise agreed by the parties involved in a specific transaction, in accordance with the legislation in force in each country.
Article VI
1. The Contracting Parties shall, within its possibilities, endeavour to ensure stable conditions to develop trade and other forms of economic co-operation between both counties aiming particularly at the co-operation in the economic, industrial, fito-sanitary, technical and scientific field.
2. In order to achieve the effective application of this Agreement, the Contracting Parties may conclude special protocols and prepare detailed co-operation programmes.
Article VII
1. With the purpose of enhancing trade and economic relations between both countries, the Contracting Parties shall stimulate the participation of enterprises in commercial fairs and exhibitions promoted in the territory of both countries.
2. The Contracting Parties agree to exempt from customs duties, levies and other charges based on their respective laws and regulations the import of:
a) promotion material, free samples originating from the country of the other Contracting Party, as well as articles which are obtained in the country of the other Contracting Party at competitions, exhibitions and other festivities;
b) goods and equipment for fairs and exhibitions, which are not intended for sale.
Article VIII
With regard to matters related to dumping, subsidies and countervailing measures, the Contracting Parties shall act in accordance with the relevant principles and rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Article IX
In order to develop economic co-operation, the Contracting Parties shall promote the exchange of information, specially in relation to their respective legislation and economic programmes, as well as any other information of mutual interest.
Article X
Each Contracting Party shall, in accordance with its internal legislation, approve on its territory the transit of goods originating from the country of the other Contracting Party and destined for third countries, as well as the transit of goods originating from a third country and destined for the territory of the other Contracting Party.
Article XI
1. The Contracting Parties agree upon creating the Slovenian – Brazilian Joint Commission for Economic Co-operation, with the purpose of supervising the application of this Agreement and forwarding proposals and recommendations aiming at expanding trade and strengthening co-operation between both countries.
2. The Contracting Parties shall stimulate the participation of representatives of the entrepreneurial sector in the Joint Commission, to which they may submit their suggestions and recommendations.
3. The Joint Commission shall meet when both Contracting Parties deem it necessary, alternately in the Republic of Slovenia and in the Federative Republic of Brazil.
Article XII
1. Possible disputes concerning the interpretation and application of this Agreement shall be settled by direct negotiations through diplomatic channels.
2. Possible disputes concerning the execution of contracts concluded within the frame of this Agreement shall be settled in accordance with their specific provisions and/or with competent legislation.
Article XIII
The provisions of this Agreement shall remain in force for contracts concluded during its validity and executed after its termination.
Article XIV
This Agreement shall be submitted to approval in accordance with internal formalities of each Contracting Party and shall enter into force 30 days after the date of the last notification on this procedure is received.
Article XV
This Agreement shall be valid for the period of two years and shall be automatically extended for successive periods of one year, unless any of the Contracting Parties notifies the other, in written form and through diplomatic channels, about its intention to terminate it, no later than six months prior to the expiry date.
Article XVI
This Agreement may be amended by both Contracting Parties in accordance with Article XIV.
Done in Ljubljana on 16 June of 1997, in duplicate, each in Slovenian, Portuguese and English languages, all texts being equally authentic. In case of differences in interpretation, the text in English shall prevail.
For the
Government of the
Republic of Slovenia
Vojka Ravbar, (s)
For the
Government of the
Federative Republic of Brazil
Affonso Celso de Ouro-Preto, (s)