ARGENTINA - SAFEGUARD MEASURES ON IMPORTS OF FOOTWEAR
Request for Consultations by Indonesia
The following communication, dated 22 April 1998, from the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the Permanent Mission of Argentina and to the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 4.4 of the DSU.
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Upon instruction from my authorities, I wish to convey the request of the Government of Indonesia for consultations with the Government of Argentina pursuant to Article XXII:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 ("GATT 1994"), Articles 1 and 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes ("DSU") and Article 14 of the Agreement on Safeguards regarding the provisional and the definitive safeguard measures imposed by Argentina on imports of footwear.
The Government of Argentina introduced a provisional safeguard measure in the form of minimum specific duties on imports of footwear under Resolution 226/97, published in the Official Journal of the Argentine Republic No. 28592 on 24 February 1997 effective as of 25 February 1997.
Under Resolution 987/97, published in Official Journal of the Argentine Republic No. 28729 on 12 September 1997 effective as of 13 September 1997, Argentine imposed a definitive safeguard measure in the form of minimum specific duties on imports of footwear. The Government of Indonesia considers that these measures are inconsistent with the obligations of Argentina under theGATT1994 Article XIX and the WTO Agreement on Safeguards, in particular of Articles 2, 4, 5, 6 and 12. These measures cause serious injury to the trade interests of Indonesia, which is a significant exporter of footwear.
We look forward to receiving your reply to this request for consultations and arranging a mutually convenient date and place for consultations.