WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS27/37
27 November 1998
(98-4771)
Original:  Spanish
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES - REGIME FOR THE IMPORTATION,
SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OF BANANAS
Request by Panama Regarding Consultations with Ecuador
The following communication, dated 20 November 1998, from the Permanent Mission of
Panama to the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission, the Permanent Mission of
Ecuador and to the Chairman of the Dispute Settleme nt Body, is circulated pursuant to the procedure
provided for under Article 21.5 of the DSU.
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The Permanent Mission of Panama to the World Trade Organization presents its compliments
to the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission to the World Trade Organization and refers
to the Request to Reactivate Consultations of 17 September 1998 by Ecuador, circulated to Members
by the WTO Secretariat in document WT/DS27/30 dated 16 November 1998.
At the same time, it refers to its note M PP-OMC-155-98 to the Permanent Delegation of the
European Commission in which it expressed Panama's desire to be joined in the mentioned
consultations.  Panama still considers that the measures adopted by the European Communities affectits trade interests as a substantial supplier of bananas to the European Communities.  This Mission
would therefore like to express its view that Panama should, and indeed must, continue to be
associated with the consultations.
We respectfully request the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission to the WTO
to let us know its position with respect to Panama's participation in the consultations requested by
Ecuador.
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