RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE G/STR/W/12
29February 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-0742)
Original: English Working Party onState Trading Enterprises
REPLY TOQUESTION FROM THE UNITED STATES1ONTHE
ARTICLE XVII NOTIFICATION OFSOUTH AFRICA2
Thefollowing communication, dated 20February 1996, hasbeenreceived fromthePermanent
Mission ofSouth Africa.
_______________
Question
WenotethatSouth Africa didnotinclude SASOL andMOSSGAS initsArticle XVIInotification.
Weunderstand thatthese entities "enjoy special orexclusive rights orprivileges" inthemeaning of
theUnderstanding ontheInterpretation ofArticle XVIIoftheGATT 1994. Could South Africa explain
whythese entities werenotincluded inthenotification?
Sasol andMossgas werenotincluded inSouth Africa notification ofStateTrading Enterprises, since
neither ofthese twocompanies enjoy, inthemeaning oftheworking definition ofSTEs inthe
Understanding ontheInterpretation ofArticle XVII ofGATT 1994, "special rights orprivileges ...
intheexercise ofwhich theyinfluence through theirpurchases orsalesthelevelordirection ofimports
orexports" oftheproducts theydealin.Bothofthese companies areinfactminor operators ina
competitive environment inwhich there aremany players.
1G/STR/W/2
2G/STR/N/1/ZAF