In respect of trade between Contracting Parties at least one of which is not a member of the WTO, no such Contracting Party shall increase any customs duty or charge of any kind imposed on or in connection with importation or exportation of Energy Materials and Products listed in Annex EM II or Energy-Related Equipment listed in Annex EQ II above the lowest of the levels applied on the date of the decision by the Charter Conference to list the particular item in the relevant Annex.
A Contracting Party may increase such customs duty or other charge above that level only if:
(a) in case of a customs duty or other charge imposed on or in connection with importation, such action is not inconsistent with the applicable provisions of the WTO Agreement, other than those provisions of the WTO Agreement listed in Annex W; or
(b) in exceptional circumstances not elsewhere provided for in this Treaty, the Charter Conference decides to waive the obligation otherwise imposed on a Contracting Party by this paragraph, consenting to an increase in a customs duty, subject to any conditions the Charter Conference may impose.
The Charter Conference shall conduct an annual review with respect to any possibility of moving items of Energy Materials and Products or Energy-Related Equipment from Annexes EM I or EQ I to Annexes EM II or EQ II.
In particular, where the Trade Amendment foresees notification requirements and procedures, including with regard to Understanding 2 to the Amendment, they would follow WTO practice, provided that duplication of notifications with the WTO did not occur.
Editor's note: document CC 124, point 13, of 24 May 1998 (not published). The Conclusion was drawn by the Chairman to the first Energy Charter Conference on 24 April 1998. The Conference agreed without objection to this conclusion.