All Community exports of non-hazardous waste will be stopped to those countries once the regulation is in force.

About 55 percent of association's exports go to the community, and 27 percent of community exports go to association nations.

It aims to provide better protection against all violations of intellectual property rights, trademarks, designs and patents in the interests of Community exports and the holders of these rights.

In the course of 1996, bilateral trade increased by around 30 % compared with the previous year, and Community exports registered a rise of over 60 %, thus consolidating a trade surplus of approximately ECU 180 million.

Officials close to the discussions said the most important progress was made on agriculture, where France's objections to the Blair House accord of last year, calling for a 21 percent cut over six years in the volume of community exports of subsidized grain and other food, have wounded relations with the United States.