China – Measures Related to Demonstration Bases
and Common Service Platforms Programmes

Request to Join Consultations

Communication from the European Union

The following communication, dated 20 February 2015, from the delegation of the European Union to the delegation of China, the delegation of the United States and to the Chairperson of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 4.11 of the DSU.

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Following the request for consultations of the United States that was circulated to the WTO Members on 19 February 2015 (WT/DS489/1), and pursuant to Article 4.11 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), the European Union hereby notifies the Government of the People's Republic of China, the Government of the United States of America and the Dispute Settlement Body of its desire to join the consultations requested by the United States in DS 489, in light of its substantial trade interest in this dispute.

The European Union, with over 400 billion Euros worth of worldwide exports in 2014, is a major exporter of goods covered under the dispute in the textiles, agriculture, medical products, light industry, chemical engineering, new materials, hardware and building materials' industries. Chinese goods under the dispute also compete in the European Union's market where, in 2014, imports from China surpassed 100 billion Euros, more than a quarter of EU's total imports worldwide (extra-EU). Therefore the European Union has manifestly a substantial trade interest to participate as third-party in these consultations.

The European Union looks forward to being informed of the date and venue of the consultations.

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