China –
Measures Related to Demonstration Bases
and Common Service Platforms Programmes
Request to Join Consultations
Communication
from Japan
The following communication, dated 24 February
2015, from the delegation of Japan 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.
_______________
I wish to refer to the consultations
requested by the United States pursuant to Articles 1 and 4 of the Understanding on Rules
and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes ("DSU"), Article XXII
of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 ("GATT 1994"), and
Articles 4 and 30 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures in the
communication circulated to WTO Members on 19 February (WT/DS489/1, G/L/1105, G/SCM/D105/1) titled "China – Measures Related to Demonstration
Bases and Common Service Platforms Programmes". My authorities have instructed me to notify the consulting
Members and the Dispute Settlement Body of the desire of Japan to be joined in these
consultations, pursuant to paragraph 11 of Article 4 of the DSU.
As these
consultations concern the certain measures allegedly providing subsidies
contingent on export performances to enterprises in several industries in China,
Japan
has a substantial trade interest
in these consultations
as a major trading partner of China including in those sectors covered by the
measures in question.[1]
__________
[1] In 2014, the total value of exports from Japan to China (excluding Hong-Kong) was approximately 127 billion US dollars, while the total value of imports was
approximately 182 billion US dollars. (Source: Statistics of the Ministry of
Finance of Japan (The original currency of the statistics is Japanese yen)).