WORLD TRADE WT/DS111/1
G/L/217
ORGANIZATION G/AG/GEN/16
G/RO/D/2
G/LIC/D/16
8January 1998
(98-0037)
Original: Spanish
UNITED STATES -TARIFF RATE QUOTA FOR IMPORTS
OFGROUNDNUTS
Request forConsultations byArgentina
Thefollowing communication, dated 19December 1997, from thePermanent Mission of
ArgentinatothePermanentMissionoftheUnitedStatesandtotheDisputeSettlementBody,iscirculated
inaccordance withArticle 4.4oftheDSU.
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Ihavethehonour tocontact youoninstruction frommyGovernment torequest consultations
withtheUnited States pursuant toArticle 4oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing
theSettlement ofDisputes (DSU), Article XXII:1 oftheGATT 1994, Article 19oftheAgreement
onAgriculture, Article 7oftheAgreement onRules ofOrigin andArticle 6oftheAgreement onImport
Licensing Procedures withrespect tothetradedamage sustained bymycountry asaresult oftheway
inwhich theUnited States administers thetariff-rate quota fortheimport ofgroundnuts (peanuts) for
confectionary andpeanut paste negotiated between thetwoGovernments during theUruguay Round.
TheGovernment ofArgentina considers thattheparticularly narrow interpretation bytheUnited
States bothoftheobligation contained initsnational schedule andoftherequirements forArgentina
tobenefit fullyfrom theconcessions granted, nullifies orimpairs thebenefits accruing toArgentina
directly orindirectly under theGATT 1994andvarious WTO Agreements, andimpedes itsattainment
oftheobjectives ofthose Agreements andoftheGATT 1994.
InArgentina 'sview, thewayinwhich thequota isadministered could beinconsistent with
certain provisions including, butnotlimited to,thefollowing:
(a) Articles II,XandXIIIoftheGATT 1994;
(b) Articles 1,4and15oftheAgreement onAgriculture:
(c) Article 2oftheAgreement onRules ofOrigin; and
(d) Article 1oftheAgreement onImport Licensing Procedures.
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