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Exchange of Notes between Canada and Ethiopia constituting a Commercial Modus Vivendi to regulate Commercial Relations between the two countries [1955] CATSer 7 (3 June 1955)

E103039 - CTS 1955 No. 11

EXCHANGE OF NOTES BETWEEN CANADA AND ETHIOPIA CONSTITUTING A COMMERCIAL MODUS VIVENDI TO REGULATE COM­MERCIAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

I

The Canadian Government Trade Commissioner to the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, June 3rd, 1955

Excellency,

I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that, with a view to strengthening the trading relations between our two countries, I have been authorized by the Government of Canada to conclude the following commercial Modus Vivendi to regulate commercial relations between Canada and the Empire of Ethiopia.

ARTICLE I

Articles, the growth, produce or manufacture of either country imported in the other shall in no case be subject in matters concerning customs duties and subsidiary charges, or as regards the methods of levying such duties and the rules and formalities connected with importation and with respect to the laws and regulations affecting the taxation, sale, distribution or use of imported goods, to any duties, taxes or charges other or higher, or to any rules or formalities other or more burdensome than those to which the like articles the growth, produce or manufacture of any third foreign country are or may hereafter be subject.

ARTICLE II

The advantages now accorded, or which may hereafter be accorded by Canada, exclusively to members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, including their dependent overseas territories, and to the Republic of Ireland shall be excepted from the operation of this agreement.

ARTICLE III

Each country undertakes not to establish discriminatory practices with respect to the products of the other country in the application of any import or exchange restrictions which it may impose, except for the purpose of safe­guarding its external financial position and balance of payments.

Should either country, under the exception provided above, impose discriminatory import and exchange restrictions, such restrictions shall be applied in such a way:

(a) as to avoid unnecessary damage to the commercial economic interests of the other country;

(b) as not to result, directly or indirectly, in discrimination as between countries whose currencies are or become convertible into dollars.

ARTICLE IV

It is understood that the present Note and Your Excellency's reply will constitute an agreement between the two Governments which shall come into force immediately upon receipt of Your Excellency's Note and which shall remain in force for one year and automatically thereafter subject to termination by either Government on giving three months' prior notice.

Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

M. R. M. Dale,

Canadian Government Trade Commissioner

II

The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia to the Canadian Government Trade Commissioner

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Addis Ababa, 3rd June, 1955

No. 59F3/29/4F

M. R. M. Dale Esq.,
Canadian Government Trade Commissioner,
Addis Ababa

Sir,

On behalf of the Imperial Ethiopian Government, I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your note of 3rd June, 1955, and to declare the full agreement of the Imperial Ethiopian Government to the terms thereof reading as follows:

"Excellency,

I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that, with a view to strengthening the trading relations between our two countries, I have been authorized by the Government of Canada to conclude the following commercial Modus Vivendi to regulate commercial relations between Canada and the Empire of Ethiopia.

ARTICLE I

Articles, the growth, produce or manufacture of either country im­ported into the other shall in no case be subject in matters concerning customs duties and subsidiary charges, or as regards the methods of levying such duties and the rules and formalities connected with importation, and with respect to the laws and regulations affecting the taxation, sale, distribution or use of imported goods, to any duties, taxes or charges other or higher, or to any rules or formalities other or more burdensome than those to which the like articles the growth, produce or manufacture of any third foreign country are or may hereafter be subject.

ARTICLE II

The advantages now accorded or which may hereafter be accorded by Canada, exclusively to members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, including their dependent overseas territories, and to the Republic of Ireland shall be excepted from the operation of this agreement.

ARTICLE III

Each country undertakes not to establish discriminatory practices with respect to the products of the other country in the application of any import or exchange restrictions which it may impose, except for the purpose of safeguarding its external financial position and balance of payments.

Should either country, under the exception provided above, impose discriminatory import and exchange restrictions, such restrictions shall be applied in such a way:

(a) as to avoid unnecessary damage to the commercial or economic interests of the other country;

(b) as not to result, directly or indirectly, in discrimination as between countries whose currencies are or become convertible into dollars.

ARTICLE IV

It is understood that the present Note and Your Excellency's reply will constitute an agreement between the two Governments which shall come into force immediately upon receipt of Your Excellency's Note and which shall remain in force for one year and automatically thereafter subject to termination by either Government on giving three months' prior notice.

Accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration".

I avail myself of this opportunity to extend to you, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

B. D. Ogbagzy