RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/DS16/1
G/LIC/D/1
S/L/14
G/L/26
ORGANIZATION 4October 1995
(95-2905)
Original: English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES -REGIME FOR THE IMPORTATION, SALE AND
DISTRIBUTION OFBANANAS
Request forConsultations byGuatemala, Honduras, Mexico andtheUnited States
Thefollowing communication, dated 28September 1995, from thePermanent Missions of
Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico andtheOffice oftheUnited States Trade Representative tothePermanent
Delegation oftheEuropean Commission, iscirculated attherequest oftheseMissions andinaccordance
withArticle 4.4oftheDSU.
_______________
ThePermanent Missions inGeneva ofGuatemala, Honduras, Mexico andtheUnited States
wishtoconvey toyou,onbehalf oftheirrespective governments, arequest forconsultations withthe
European Communities pursuant toArticle 4oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing
theSettlement ofDisputes, Article XXIII oftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994, Article 6
oftheAgreement onImport Licensing Procedures, andArticle XXIII oftheGeneral Agreement on
Trade inServices regarding theECregime fortheimportation, saleanddistribution ofbananas
establishedbyRegulation404/93(OJL47of25February1993,p.1)andthesubsequentEClegislation,
regulations andadministrative measures which implement, supplement andamend thatregime.
These measures appear tobeinconsistent withECobligations under theGeneral Agreement
onTariffs andTrade 1994, theAgreement onImport Licensing Procedures andtheGeneral Agreement
onTrade inServices. TheECmeasures appear tobeinconsistent withthefollowing provisions, among
others:
1) Articles I,II,III,XandXIIIoftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994;
2) Articles 1and3oftheAgreement onImport Licensing Procedures; and
3) Articles II,XVIandXVII oftheGeneral Agreement onTrade inServices.
These measures alsoappear tonullify orimpair benefits accruing toGuatemala, Honduras,
Mexico andtheUnited States directly orindirectly under thecited agreements, andtoimpede the
objectives oftheGATT 1994 andAgreement onImport Licensing Procedures.
Welookforward toreceiving yourreply tothisrequest andtofixing amutually convenient
dateforconsultations.