WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS143/1
G/AG/GEN/26
21 September 1998
(98-3617)
Original:  English
SLOVAK REPUBLIC – MEASURE AFFECTING IMPORT
DUTY ON WHEAT FROM HUNGARY
Request for Consultations from Hungary
The following communication, dated 18 September 1998, from the Permanent Mission of
Hungary to the Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic and to the Chairman of the DisputeSettlement Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 4.4 of the DSU.
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The Government of Hungary requests urgent consultation with the Slovak Republic pursuant
to Article 4.8 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes,
Article XXIII:I(a) of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and Article 19 of the
Agreement on Agriculture regarding a regulation adopted by the Slovak Republic which entered into
force on 10 September 1998 and which increased the import duty of wheat originating in Hungary.
The increased import duty on wheat (HS 1001.1000, 1001.90) amounts to 2540 SKK/t which
equals approximately to 70% ad valorem.  The bound rates for these tariff lines in the Slovak
Schedule for the year 1998 are set at the level of 4,4% (HS 1001.1000), 27% (HS 1001.9010) and
22,5% (HS 1001.9091, 1001.9099).  The only country subject to this measure is Hungary.  The
Government of Hungary is of the view that this measure is inconsistent with the obligations of the
Slovak Republic under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 and the Agreement onAgriculture.  The provisions of the agreements with which this measure is inconsistent include, but
are not limited to, the following:
(i) General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, Article I
(ii) General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, Article II(iii) Agreement on Agriculture, Article 4
Taking into account the clear inconsistency of this measure with the most fundamental
obligations of the Slovak Republic under the WTO and the severe economic and trade losses that are
being caused by this measure and in view of the fact that the measure is expected to remain in forceuntil 10 March 1999, the solution of this case is of extreme urgency.  It is for this very reason that
Hungary invokes the urgency provision of the DSU as indicated above.
The Government of Hungary reserves the right to raise additional claims, legal matters and
any other matters regarding the measure of the Slovak Republic during the course of theconsultations.
We look forward to receiving your reply to this request within a short period of time so as to
enable us to hold consultations before 28 September 1998 in line with Article 4.8 of the
Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes.
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