ARGENTINA -  SAFEGUARD MEASURES ON IMPORTS OF FOOTWEAR

                                                     Request to Join Consultations

                                              Communication from the United States

        The following communication, dated 7 May 1998, from the Permanent Mission of the United States to the Permanent Mission of Argentina and to the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 4.11 of the DSU.

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        I am writing to inform you that, pursuant to paragraph 11 of Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, the United States wishes to be joined in consultations under Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 requested by Indonesia in WT/DS123/1.  Indonesia's request, which was circulated to WTO Members on 27 April 1998, referred to provisional and definitive safeguard measures imposed by Argentina on imported footwear under Resolutions 226/97, dated 24 February 1998, and 987/97, dated 12 September 1997.

        The United States, as a major exporter of footwear, has a substantial trade interest in these consultations.