WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS290/16
16 May 2003
(03-2621)
Original:  English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – PROTECTION OF TRADEMARKS
AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS AND FOODSTUFFS
Request to Join Consultations
Communication from Chinese Taipei
The following communication, dated 2 May 2003, from the Permanent Representative of
Chinese Taipei to the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission, the Permanent Mission ofAustralia 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 Article 4.11 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the
Settlement of Disputes (DSU), the Government of  the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu,
Kinmen and Matsu hereby notifies the consulting parties and the Dispute Settlement Body that it
wishes to join in the consultations requested by Australia on the protection of trademarks and the
registration and protection of geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs in the
European Communities.  Australia's request for consultations, pursuant to Article 4 of the 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), was circulated on
23 April 2003 in the document WT/DS290/1.
The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu has both substantial
trade and systemic interest in the consultations on the matter in dispute.  It would be very much
appreciated if we could be informed of the date and venue of the consultations, so as to enable us to
participate.
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