ARGENTINA - MEASURES AFFECTING IMPORTS OF

                            FOOTWEAR, TEXTILES, APPAREL AND OTHER ITEMS

                                        Request for Consultations by the United States

        The following communication, dated 4 October 1996, from the Permanent Mission of the United States to the Permanent Mission of Argentina and 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 Argentina pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, Article XXII:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 ("GATT 1994"), Article 14 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade, Article 19 of the Agreement on the Implementation of Article VII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, and Article 7 of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, regarding certain measures implemented by Argentina affecting imports of footwear, textiles, apparel and other items.  The measures in question include:

-Executive Order 304/95 and any related measures which impose specific duties on various textile and apparel items in excess of the bound rate of 35 per cent ad valorem for these items provided in Argentina's Schedule LXIV;