WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS145/1/Rev.1
G/SCM/D29/1/Rev.1
12 October 1998
(98-3914)
Original:  English
ARGENTINA – COUNTERVAILING DUTIES ON IMPORTS OF
WHEAT GLUTEN FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Request for Consultations from the European Communities
Revision
The following communication, dated 7 October 1998, from the Permanent Delegation of the
European Communities to the Permanent Mission of Argentina and to the Chairman of the Dispute
Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 4.4. of the DSU.
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On behalf of the European Communities, I hereby request consultations with Argentina
pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement ofDisputes (DSU) and Article 30 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures
(SCM Agreement), with regard to definitive countervailing duties imposed by Argentina on imports
of wheat gluten from the European Union.  The European Communities intend that these
consultations be conducted in accordance with the procedures and practices of Article XXIII GATT.
Argentina imposed a countervailing duty on the above imports with effect from 23 July 1998.
The investigation which led to the imposition of these duties had been initiated on 23 October 1996.Article 11.11 of the SCM Agreement specifies that investigations shall in no case be concluded more
than 18 months after their initiation.  In the case in question, Argentina's investigation exceeded
18 months;  it has consequently not complied with this provision and has violated Article 10 of the
SCM Agreement.
I look forward to receiving your reply to this request from the European Communities and to
setting a mutually convenient date for these consultations.
A copy of this letter is being sent to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body and to the
Director of the Legal Department of the World Trade Organization Secretariat for onward distributionto the Chairman of the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Committee.
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