venezuela – import licensing measures on

certain agricultural products

Request for Consultations by the United States

            The following communication, dated 7 November 2002, from the Permanent Mission of the United States to the Permanent Mission of Venezuela and to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 4.4 of the DSU.

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            My authorities have instructed me to request consultations with the Government of Venezuela pursuant to Articles 1 and 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 6 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures (Import Licensing Agreement), Article 19 of the Agreement on Agriculture, and Article 8 of the Agreement on Trade‑Related Investment Measures (TRIMs Agreement), with respect to Venezuelan import licensing systems and practices that restrict agricultural imports from the United States.

            Venezuela has established import licensing requirements for numerous agricultural products, including corn, sorghum, dairy products (for example, cheese, whey, whole milk powder, and non‑fat dry milk), grapes, yellow grease, poultry, beef, pork, and soybean meal.  Thus, to import any of these products, an importer must obtain a license in accordance with Venezuelan procedures.  Venezuela maintains these import licensing systems and practices through numerous measures, including: