WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS174/12
30 April 2003
(03-2294)
Original:  English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – PROTECTION OF TRADEMARKS
AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS AND FOODSTUFFS
Request to Join Consultations
Communication from Bulgaria
The following communication, dated 25 April 2003, from the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria
to the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission, the Permanent Mission of theUnited States 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 paragraph 11 of Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), th e Government of the Republic of Bulgaria hereby
notifies the consulting parties and the Dispute Settlement Body that Bulgaria desires to be joined in
the consultations requested by the United States pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules
and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes  (DSU), Article 64 of the Agreement on Trade-
Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  (TRIPS Agreement) and Article XXII of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994  (GATT 1994), regarding the protection of trademarks and
geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs in the European Communities (EC),
as well as the consultations requested by Australia 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 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) relating to the protection of trademarks and to the
registration and protection of geographical indications for foodstuffs and agricultural products in the
EC.
The United States' request for consultations was circulated on 10 April 2003 as
WT/DS174/1/Add.1.  The Australian  request for consultations was circulated on 23 April 2003 as
WT/DS290/1.
Bulgaria has a substantial trade and systemic interest in the protection of trademarks and
geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs which is the subject of the
United States' and Australia's requests for consultations and hence desires to be joined in these
consultations.  We look forward to receiving confirmation of receipt and acceptance of this request to
join the consultations and advice regarding the timing and venue for the consultations.
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