WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS183/2
1 November 1999
(99-4706)
Original:  English
BRAZIL – MEASURES ON IMPORT LICENSING AND MINIMUM IMPORT PRICES
Request to Join Consultations
Communication from the United States
The following communication, dated 27 October 1999, from the Permanent Mission of the
United States to the Permanent Mission of Brazil, the Permanent Delegation of the European
Commission and to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with
Article 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), th e United States Government hereby notifies the
Government of Brazil that, in light of the substantial trade interest of the United States, it desires to be
joined in the consultations under Article 19 of the WTO Agreement on Agriculture, Article 6 of the
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, Articl e 19 of the WTO Agreement on Implementation of
Article VII of the GATT 1994, and Article XX II of GATT 1994 requested by the European
Communities in a document circulated on 25 October 1999 (WT/DS183/1) concerning various
measures on import licensing and minimum pricing taken by Brazil impacting textile productsSorbitol and Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC).
The United States has a substantial trade inte rest in the product markets affected by the
alleged Brazilian actions detailed in the request of the European Communities.  In 1998,  US textile
exports to Brazil totaled $127.98 million declining from $178.2 million in 1997.  US textile exportstotaling $58.5 million in the first six months of 1999, down from $91.5 million in the first six month
of 1998.  For CMC, US exports to brazil totaled $1.14 million in 1998 and $1.25 million in the first
six months of 1999.  US exports of Sorbitol totaled $1.1 million in 1998 and $503,000 in the first six
months of 1999.
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