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UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Excellency Aleksandar Vučić, President of Serbia, witnessed the exchange of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The CEPA was signed by His Excellency Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and His Excellency Tomislav Momirović, Serbia’s Minister of Internal and Foreign Trade.

Trade in Goods

Preferential Tariff Rates

• More than 96% of UAE imports from Serbia will benefit from immediate tariff elimination.
• More than 95% of Serbia imports from UAE will benefit from immediate tariff elimination.

To find the preferential tariff rate under the CEPA visit the below Serbia Market Access Dashboard

Origin, Health & Safety Rules

Benefiting from the preferential CEPA tariff is not automatic. All exported goods must also meet the prescribed rules of origin and comply with health, safety, and relevant technical requirements. For more information, please refer to the agreed rules of origin in the CEPA.

Trade Facilitation

The CEPA makes it easier for goods to move across borders in a simple, less costly, and timely manner through trade facilitation and customs cooperation arrangements.

Trade Remedies

Under the CEPA, local producers supplying the UAE market can obtain temporary relief from surges in imports that cause or threaten to cause serious injury to the domestic market or from situations where there are unfair trading practices. If UAE exporters are facing such measures in the CEPA partner country, then they are guaranteed that investigations are conducted fairly and in accordance with the rules and can contact the Ministry of Economy to help preserve UAE exporters’ unhindered access to the market through the direct channels of communication set up by the CEPA.

Trade in Services

Sets clear and transparent rules to facilitate the cross-border supply of services, in addition to service providers enjoying favourable treatment across services sectors and subsectors, including professional services, financial services, logistics, maritime, travel and tourism, and air transport services. For detailed information, please refer to the Trade in Services chapter, and its annexes on Schedules of Specific Commitments which includes the services sectors and sub-sectors.

Transparency in Government Procurement

The CEPA creates a mechanism for both sides to cooperate, share information and consult with the aim of bringing greater transparency to matters related to government procurement.

Intellectual Property Rights Protection and Enforcement

The CEPA complements existing international principles and standards for the treatment, protection, and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in a manner that is conducive to invention, innovation, and creativity.

Benefits for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

The CEPAs recognizes the specific needs of SMEs and seeks to make it easy for SMEs and enterprises to grow their businesses and attract investment by providing information and putting in place joint platforms to assist SMEs in developing linkages and building capacities.

Investment Facilitation

The CEPA aims to promote and enhance investment flows, identify opportunities for expanding investment and overcoming investment impediments as well as to collaborate and get feedback from the business community.

Supporting Trade in the Digital Age

The CEPA brings greater coherence to a continuously evolving digital trading landscape integral to today’s global economy. Enhancing confidence in digital trade and ensuring that digital trade flows benefit both businesses and consumers. These disciplines include maintaining the practice of not imposing any customs duties on electronic transactions, reaffirming the importance of cybersecurity, and providing for an economic collaboration framework on digital trade issues.

Settlement of Trade Disputes

The CEPA’s state-to-state trade dispute settlement mechanism reinforces the partners’ commitment to trade liberalization that benefits the economy.

An Evolving Partnership

The CEPA contains commitments for deeper and future-looking cooperation among the two partners in a variety of areas and issues that will enhance trade liberalization and foster investment opportunities.

CEPA puts in place administrative and communication structures comprised of designated focal points, committees and subcommittees that meet regularly and are tasked with the management and implementation of the different aspects of the CEPA.