CRO NATIONAL SABOR ENDORSES LAW ON CUSTOMS TARIFF

ZAGREB, June 14 (Hina) - The Croatian National Sabor's House of Representatives on Wednesday endorsed a law on customs tariffs by the majority of the vote. This represents the first step in the adjustment of tariffs in line with the agreement on Croatia's joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO). At the motion of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), the Lower House unanimously endorsed a conclusion by which it obliged the Government to submit a report on undertaken additional measures for the protection of the domestic agriculture within 120 days of Croatia's joining the WTO. During the discussion, Croatian Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic said the WTO General Council would, on July 19, pass a decision on Croatia's joining the WTO, after which the Sabor will have an opportunity to ratify the decision. The law was supported by the majority of Croatian MPs, apart from members of the Croatian Party of Rights (HSP). Representatives of the HDZ and the Croatian Peasants Party, however, expressed concern saying that joining the WTO would have a negative impact on the Croatian agriculture. The WTO is an intimidating organisation, Fizulic said and added if this was the case the organisation would not have 136 member countries. (hina) it jn