JAPAN - PROCUREMENT OF A
NAVIGATION SATELLITE
Request to Join Consultations
Communication from the United
States
The following
communication, dated 9 April 1997, from the Permanent Mission of the United
States to the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission, the Permanent
Mission of Japan and to the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in
accordance with Article 4.11 of the DSU.
_____________________
Pursuant to paragraph 11 of
Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement
of Disputes, the United States Government hereby notifies the European
Communities that, in light of the substantial trade interest of the United
States, it desires to be joined in the consultations requested by the European
Communities in a communication circulated to WTO Members on 1 April 1997
(WT/DS73/1) entitled Japan - Procurement of a Navigation Satellite.
As a significant exporter
of satellites and satellite systems integration programs, the United States has
a substantial trade interest in the matter that is the subject of the Japanese
request. In addition, the European
Communities has raised issues relating to technical standards developed in the
United States, which is indicative of our substantial trade interest.