  
  
WT/DS599/3  
18 February  2021 
(21-1374) Page: 1/1 
 Original:  Spanish  
 
  
PANAMA - MEASURES CONCERNING THE IMPORTATION  
OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS FROM COSTA RICA  
REQUEST TO JOIN CONSULTATIONS  
Communication from Bolivia  
The following communication, dated 2 7 January  2021 from the delegation of Bolivia  to the 
delegations of Panama and Costa Rica, is circulated to the Dispute Settlement Body 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, the Pluri national State of  Bolivia hereby notifies the Government of the Republic of 
Panama, the Government of the Republic of Costa Rica and the Dispute Settlement Body that Bolivia 
wishes to be joined in the consultations requested by Costa Rica in the document s circulated to 
WTO Members on 1 4 January  2021 (WT/DS599/1, G/AG/GEN/179, G/SPS/GEN/1873, G/L/1383) 
entitled "Panama - Measures concerning the importation of certain products from Costa Rica" , in 
accordance with the provisions of Articl e XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 
1994. 
This request is based on the Bolivian Government's substantial trade interest in strengthening  
national capacity to deal with possible sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures that may be  
adopted by WTO Members . Specifically , the adoption and application of covered measures to protect 
a specific sector , restrictive measures aimed at limiting trade between Parties , measures not based 
on technical and/or scientific principles  and not supported by risk assessment , and discriminatory 
measures between WTO Members who find themselves in identical or similar sanitary or 
phytosanitary conditions , among others.  
Similarly, the sister Republic of Panama, like the rest of countries in Central America , constitute s a 
potential market for the diversification of Bolivian agricultural exports such as : beef and beef 
products , primary and processed agricultural products , primary and processed fruit products , and 
bee honey , among others . 
For this reason,  Bolivia has a national interest in knowing  the SPS requirements of these countries 
with a view to avoiding unnecessary export conflicts and comply ing with the provisions of WTO rules 
and the Agreement  on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.  
Lastly , a copy of this  letter  is being sent to the Government of the  Republic of  Costa Rica and the 
Chairperson of the Dispute Settlement Body . 
 
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