WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS243/3
8 February 2002
(02-0637)
Original:  English
UNITED STATES – RULES OF ORIGIN FOR TEXTILES
AND APPAREL PRODUCTS
Request to Join Consultations
Communication from the European Communities
The following communication, dated 30 January 2002, from the Permanent Delegation of the
European Commission to the Permanent Mission of the United States, the Permanent Mission of India
and to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body , is circulated in accordance with Article 4.11 of
the DSU.
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I refer to the "Request for Consultations by India" with respect to United States – Rules of
Origin for Textiles and Apparel Products  (WT/DS243/1 G/L/507, G/RO/D/4) which has been
circulated on 22 January 2002.
Pursuant to the procedure laid down in Article 4.11 of the Understanding on Rules and
Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) and in accordance with Article 7 of the
Agreement on Rules of Origin, the European Communities wish to be joined in the consultationsrequested by India under Article 4 of the DSU, Article XXII:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs
and Trade 1994 (the "GATT") and Article 7 of the Agreement on Rules of Origin (circulated in
document WT/DS243/1, G/L/507, G/RO/D/4, dated 22 Janu ary 2002) regarding the rules of origin for
textile and apparel products set by the United States in Section 334 of the Uruguay Round
Agreements Act, Section 405 of the Trade and Development Act of 2000 and the customs regulationsimplementing these provisions.
The European Communities consider that given the importance of trade in textiles for the
economies of the EC member States, they have a substantial trade interest in the consultations
requested by India.  Our interest also derives from the possible implications that the matter may havefor the EC's textiles trade.
We would be grateful of being informed of the date and venue of the consultations.
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