STATUS AS AT : 20-04-2024 03:15:33 EDT
CHAPTER X
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
3 . Convention on Transit Trade of Land-locked States
New York, 8 July 1965
Entry into force
:
9 June 1967, in accordance with article 20.
Registration :
9 June 1967, No. 8641
Status :
Signatories : 27. Parties : 43
Text :
United Nations,  Treaty Series , vol. 597, p. 3.
Note :
The Convention was adopted by the United Nations Conference on Transit Trade of Land-locked Countries, which had been convened pursuant to the decision of the General Assembly of the United Nations taken at its 1328th plenary meeting on 10 February 1965.  The Conference met at the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York from 7 June to 8 July 1965.
Participant
Signature
Ratification, Accession(a), Succession(d)
Afghanistan
 8 Jul 1965
 
Argentina
29 Dec 1965
 
Armenia
  24 May 2013 a
Australia
   2 May 1972 a
Belarus
28 Dec 1965
11 Jul 1972
Belgium
30 Dec 1965
21 Apr 1970
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
29 Dec 1965
 
Brazil
 4 Aug 1965
 
Burkina Faso
  23 Mar 1987 a
Burundi
   1 May 1968 a
Cameroon
10 Aug 1965
 
Central African Republic
30 Dec 1965
 9 Aug 1989
Chad
   2 Mar 1967 a
Chile
20 Dec 1965
25 Oct 1972
Congo
  11 Jun 2014 a
Croatia 1
   3 Aug 1992 d
Czech Republic 2
  30 Sep 1993 d
Denmark
  26 Mar 1969 a
Eswatini
  26 May 1969 a
Finland
  22 Jan 1971 a
Georgia
   2 Jun 1999 a
Germany 3
20 Dec 1965
 
Holy See
30 Dec 1965
 
Hungary
30 Dec 1965
20 Sep 1967
Italy
31 Dec 1965
 
Kazakhstan
   1 Nov 2007 a
Lao People's Democratic Republic
 8 Jul 1965
29 Dec 1967
Lesotho
  28 May 1969 a
Luxembourg
28 Dec 1965
 
Malawi
  12 Dec 1966 a
Mali
  11 Oct 1967 a
Mongolia
  26 Jul 1966 a
Montenegro 4
  23 Oct 2006 d
Nepal
 9 Jul 1965
22 Aug 1966
Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
30 Dec 1965
30 Nov 1971
Niger
   3 Jun 1966 a
Nigeria
  16 May 1966 a
Norway
  17 Sep 1968 a
Paraguay
23 Dec 1965
 
Russian Federation
28 Dec 1965
21 Jul 1972
Rwanda
23 Jul 1965
13 Aug 1968
San Marino
23 Jul 1965
12 Jun 1968
Senegal
   5 Aug 1985 a
Serbia 1
  12 Mar 2001 d
Slovakia 2
  28 May 1993 d
Spain
   5 May 2010 a
Sudan
11 Aug 1965
 
Sweden
  16 Jun 1971 a
Switzerland
10 Dec 1965
 
Tajikistan
  13 Jul 2011 a
Türkiye
  25 Mar 1969 a
Uganda
21 Dec 1965
 
Ukraine
31 Dec 1965
21 Jul 1972
United States of America
30 Dec 1965
29 Oct 1968
Uzbekistan
   7 Feb 1996 a
Zambia
23 Dec 1965
 2 Dec 1966
Declarations and Reservations
(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made
upon ratification, accession or succession.)
Belarus

Belarus

Declaration and reservation made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

       The Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic considers it necessary to draw attention to the discriminatory nature of articles 17, 19, 22 and 23 of the Convention, under which a number of States are deprived of the opportunity to become Parties to the Convention. The Convention deals with matters that affect the interests of all States, and it should therefore be open for participation by all States.  According to the principle of sovereign equality, no States have the right to exclude other States from participation in a Convention of this type.
       The Government of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 16 of the Convention on Transit Trade of Land-locked States, under which members of the arbitration commission may be appointed by the President of the International Court of Justice, and declares that, in each individual case, the consent of the contending States is necessary for the appointment of members of the arbitration commission by the President of the International Court of Justice.

Belgium

Belgium

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratifica- tion:

       1. With regard to the application of article 3 of the Conven- tion, the Belgian Government considers that the exemption relates exclusively to duties or taxes on imports or exports, and not to taxes on transactions, such as the Belgian tax on transport and auxiliary services, which also apply to internal trade.
       2. Belgium can apply article 4, paragraph 1, only in so far as State-owned means of transport and handling equipment are concerned.

Upon signature (the reservation referred to below was not made upon ratification):

       3. The Belgian Government intends, upon depositing its instrument of ratification of the Convention, to make a reserva- tion concerning the rights and obligations of Belgium arising from its adherence to certain international treaties relating to economic matters or trade.

Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

Upon signature:

       I have been instructed by my Government to place on record the Bolivian view, which is already to be found in the records of the Conference, that Bolivia is not a land-locked State but a nation which is deprived by temporary circumstances of access to the sea across its own coast and that unrestricted and uncondi- tional freedom of transit must be recognized in international law as an inherent right of enclosed territories and countries for reasons of justice and because of the need to facilitate such transit as a contribution to general progress on a basis of equality.
       Bolivia will on no occasion fail to maintain these views, which are inherent in national sovereignty, and, by signing the Convention, will give evidence of its willingness to co-operate with the United Nations and the developing countries without a sea-coast.

Chile

Chile

Reservation with respect to article 16 made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

       In any dispute with American countries over the interpreta- tion or implementation of this Convention, Chile shall proceed in accordance with whatever inter-American instruments concerning the peaceful settlement of disputes may be binding both on Chile and on the other American country.

Czech Republic 2

Czech Republic2


Germany

Germany

       "In respect of article 2, paragraph 1, article 5 and article 7 :

       "The Federal Republic of Germany starts from the assump- tion that normal frontier controls which, in accordance with international agreements and with existing national legislation, are carried through in an adequate and non-discriminatory manner, meet the requirements of article 2, paragraph 1, article 5 and article 7.

       "In respect of article 2, paragraph 2 :

       "The Federal Republic of Germany understands this provi- sion to imply that, as long as agreements according to article 2, paragraph 2, have not been concluded, the national regulations of the transit state will apply.

       "In respect of article 4, paragraph 1 and article 6, paragraph 1 :

       "The Federal Republic of Germany is not in a position to assume obligations as provided for in article 4, paragraph 1 and in article 6, paragraph 1.  Considering transport conditions in the Federal Republic of Germany, however, it may be taken for granted that sufficient means of transport as well as handling equipment and storage facilities will be available for traffic in transit.  Should difficulties arise nevertheless, the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany would be prepared to seek remedies.

       " In respect of article 4, paragraph 2 and article 6, paragraph 2 :

       "The Federal Republic of Germany is not in a position to assume obligations as contained in article 4, paragraph 2 and article 6, paragraph 2.The Government of the Federal Republic of Germany is, however, prepared, within the scope of its possibi- lities, to use its influence as regards tariffs and charges so as to facilitate traffic in transit as much as possible."

Hungary 5

Hungary5

       The Hungarian People's Republic is of the opinion that articles 17, 19, 22 and 23 of the Convention, which debar a number of States the right to become parties to the Convention, are of a discriminatory nature.  The Convention is a general multilateral international treaty, and therefore, as follows from the principles of international law, every State shall have the right to become a party to it.

Italy

Italy

       The Permanent Representative of Italy wishes to notify the Secretary-General that the Italian Government intends to enter specific reservations to the Convention on depositing its instrument of ratification.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg

       The Government of Luxembourg envisages the possibility, on depositing the instrument of ratification of the Convention on Transit Trade of Land-locked States, of entering a reservation relating to its membership in regional economic unions or common markets.

Mongolia 6

Mongolia6

       The Government of the Mongolian People's Republic deems it essential to draw attention to the discriminatory nature of the provisions of articles 17, 19, 22 and 23 of the Convention, under which a number of States are excluded from participation in this Convention.  The Convention deals with matters of interest to all States and should therefore be open for participation by all States.

Russian Federation

Russian Federation

Declaration and reservation made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

       The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics considers it necess- ary to draw attention to the discriminatory nature of articles 17, 19, 22 and 23 of the Convention under which a number of States are deprived of the opportunity to become Parties to the Convention.  The Convention deals with matters that affect the interests of all States, and it should therefore be open for participation by all States.  According to the principle of sovereign equality, no States have the right to exclude other States from participation in a Convention of this type.
       The Government of the Soviet Socialist Republics does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 16 of the Convention on Transit Trade of Land-locked States, under which members of the arbitration commission may be appointed by the President of the International Court of Justice, and declares that, in each individual case, the consent of the contending States is necessary for the appointment of members of the arbitration commission by the President of the International Court of Justice.

Slovakia 2

Slovakia2


Sudan

Sudan

       "The Government of the Republic of the Sudan will not consider itself bound by the third sentence of article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention in respect of the passage across its territory of goods destined to or coming from South Africa or Portugal or goods the ownership of which could be claimed by South Africa or Portugal. The reservation is made in accordance with the spirit of Security Council resolution S/5773, in which the Security Council condemned the apartheid Policies of the Government of the Republic of South Africa, resolution A/AC.109/124 in which the Special Committee condemned the colonial policy of Portugal and its persistent refusal to carry out the resolutions of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Special Committee, and resolution CM/Res.6 (1) of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity.  The reservations will remain in force pending the ending of the prevailing situation in South Africa and the Portuguese colonies.
       "Nor will the Republic of the Sudan, as a member of the Arab League, consider itself bound by the same provision in respect of the passage across its territory of goods destined for or coming from Israel."

Ukraine

Ukraine

Declaration and reservation made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

       The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic considers it necessary to draw attention to the discriminatory nature of articles 17, 19, 22 and 23 of the Convention, under which a number of States are deprived of the opportunity to become Parties to the Convention. The Convention deals with matters that affect the interests of all States, and it should therefore be open for participation by all States.  According to the principle of sovereign equality, no States have the right to exclude other States from participation in a Convention of this type.
       The Government of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 16 of the Convention on Transit Trade of Land-locked States, under which members of the arbitration commission may be appointed by the President of the International Court of Justice, and declares that, in each individual case, the consent of the contending States is necessary for the appointment of members of the arbitration commission by the President of the International Court of Justice.

End Note
1.The former Yugoslavia had signed and ratified the Convention on 8 July 1965 and 10 May 1967, respectively. See also note 1 under “Bosnia and Herzegovina", "Croatia", "former Yugoslavia", "Slovenia", "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and "Yugoslavia"  in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
2.Czechoslovakia had signed and ratified the Convention on 10 December 1965 and 8 August 1967, respectively, with reservations made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification. For the text of the reservations, see United Nations,  Treaty Series , vol. 597, p. 111. See also note 1 under “Czech Republic” and note 1 under “Slovakia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
3.See note 2 under “Germany” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
4.See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
5.In a communication received on 8 December 1989, the Government of Hungary notified the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the reservation relating to article 16 made upon ratification.  For the text of the said reservation, see United Nations,  Treaty Series , vol. 605, p. 399.
6.In a communication received on 19 July 1990, the Government of Mongolia notified the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the reservation relating to article 16 made upon ratification.  For the text of the said reservation, see United Nations,  Treaty Series , vol. 593, p. 137.