WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS174/17
14 May 2003
(03-2560)
Original:  English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – PROTECTION OF TRADEMARKS
AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS AND FOODSTUFFS
Request to Join Consultations
Communication from Romania
The following communication, dated 2 May 2003, from the Permanent Mission of Romania
to the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission, the Permanent Mission of the
United States and to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance withArticle 4.11 of the DSU.
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Pursuant to paragraph 11 of Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), the Government of Romania hereby notifies the
consulting parties and the Dispute Settlement Body that Romania desires to be joined in the
consultations requested by the United States pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and
Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes  (DSU), Article 64 of the Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  (TRIPS Agreement) and Article XXII of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994  (GATT 1994), regarding the protection of trademarks and
geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs in the European Communities (EC),
as well as the consultations requested by Australia pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on
Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes  (DSU), Article XXII of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994  (GATT 1994), Article 64 of the Agreement on Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  (TRIPS Agreement) and Article 14 of the Agreement on
Technical Barriers to Trade  (TBT Agreement) relating to the protection of trademarks and to the
registration and protection of geographical indications for foodstuffs and agricultural products in
the EC.
The United States' request for consultations was circulated on 10 April 2003 as
WT/DS174/1/Add.1.  The Australian  request for consultations was circulated on 23 April 2003 as
WT/DS290/1.
Romania has a substantial trade and systemic interest in the protection of trademarks and
geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs which is the subject of theUnited States' and Australia's requests for consultations and hence desires to be joined in these
consultations.  We look forward to receiving confirmation of receipt and acceptance of this request to
join the consultations and advice regarding the timing and venue for the consultations.
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