The document was inked by Kazakh ambassador to the EU Konstantin Zhigalov and Ireland's ambassador Anne Anderson, whose country presides over the European Union in the first half of 2004.
The agreement introduces the dual control system of 12 steel products without quantity restrictions. It also implies that these products should have quality certificates granted by Astana and Brussels.
The agreement effective till 2005 was signed as part of preparations for the session of the Kazakhstan-EU Cooperation Council in mid-July 2004.
According to the Kazakh Statistics Agency, in 2003 the exports of mill products, alloy and non-alloy stainless steel from Kazakhstan to EU countries (Spain, Greece, France, UK, and Italy) totaled $28.7 million and imports (from Finland, UK, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Sweden) - $3.4 million.
The agreement guarantees the access of Kazakh products in the European market, the press service of Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry stressed.
