How can Moldova protect itself from the inflow of EU goods once the DCFTA enters into force?

Whereas the EU opens its market immediately for all Moldovan products, like under ATPs, the Moldovan market will not be liberalised immediately for all products. It will be a gradual process, which the Moldovan Government negotiated with the EU to facilitate the transition to a more open trade regime.

The negotiated scheme for liberalisation of trade in goods foresees several mechanisms which will protect the Moldovan economy from sudden changes in the most sensitive sectors from the point of view of domestic development:

1) Liberalisation of trade in sensitive industrial products (mostly textile and clothingproducts) is subject to transition periods (3 to 5 years).

2) Liberalisation of trade in sensitive agricultural products is subject either to transition periods (i.e. wine, which will start to be liberalised only 5 years after the entry into force of the Agreement), or to quantitative limitations on duty-free import from the EU (dairy, meat products).

3) Liberalisation process is subject to review, taking into account the developments in the Moldovan agricultural sectors.

4) Moldova has also the right to resort to a temporary safeguard mechanism, should there be a sudden influx of imports from the EU of a given product. Such a safeguard mechanism allows introduction of import duty for a limited period of time.

These transition mechanisms will provide the necessary time for adjustments and reforms needed in the Moldovan economy.