WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS290/2
30 April 2003
(03-2296)
Original:  English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – PROTECTION OF TRADEMARKS
AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS AND FOODSTUFFS
Request to Join Consultations
Communication from Malta
The following communication, dated 25 April 2003, from the Permanent Mission of Malta to
the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission, the Permanent Mission of Australia and tothe 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), the Government of Malta hereby notifies the consulting
parties and the Dispute Settlement Body that Malta 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), concerning 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 f oodstuffs and agricultural products in the EC.
The United States' request for consultations was circulated on 10 April 2003 as document
WT/DS174/1/Add.1.  The Australian  request for consultations was circulated on 23 April 2003 as
document WT/DS290/1.
Malta 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 theUnited 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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