WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS275/2
22 November 2002
(02-6498)
Original:  English
VENEZUELA – IMPORT LICENSING MEASURES ON
CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Request to Join Consultations
Communication from the European Communities
The following communication, dated 20 November 2002, from the Permanent Delegation of
the European Commission to the Permanent Mission of Venezuela, the Permanent Mission of the
United States and to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance withArticle 4.11of the DSU.
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We refer to the communication from the Permanent Mission of the United States addressed to
the Permanent Mission of Venezuela and to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body entitled
"Venezuela – Import Licensing Measures on Certain Agricultural Products" (WT/DS275) and which
was circulated on 12 November 2002 in accordance with Article 4.4 of the DSU as document
WT/DS275/1, G/L/587, G/LIC/D/35, G/AG/GEN/55 a nd G/TRIMS/D/19.
The communication refers to consultations being sought with Venezuela 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 6 of the
Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures (Im port Licensing Agreement), Article 19 of the
Agreement on Agriculture, and Article 8 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures(TRIMs Agreement) with respect to Venezuelan import licensing systems and practices that restrict
agricultural imports from the United States.
In view of the substantial trade interest of the European Communities in this matter, my
authorities have instructed me to notify you of the desire of the European Communities to be joined inthe consultations between Venezuela and the Unite d States pursuant to Article 4.11 of the DSU.
The European Communities looks forward to receiving your reply to this request.
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