WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS290/7
2 May 2003
(03-2355)
Original:  English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – PROTECTION OF TRADEMARKS
AND GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS FOR AGRICULTURAL
PRODUCTS AND FOODSTUFFS
Request to Join Consultations
Communication from Slovenia
The following communication, dated 30 April 2003, from the Permanent Mission of Slovenia
to the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission, the Permanent Mission of Australia and tothe Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 4.11 of the
DSU.
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Pursuant to paragraph 11 of Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), th e Government of the Republic of Slovenia hereby
notifies the consulting parties and the Dispute Settlement Body that the Republic of Slovenia
desires to be joined in the consultations requested by the United States pursuant to Article 4 of the
Understanding on Rules and Procedures Go verning the Settlement of Disputes  (DSU), Article 64 of
the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  (TRIPS Agreement) and
Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994  (GATT 1994), regarding the
protection of trademarks and geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs in the
European Communities (EC), as well as the consultations requested by Australia pursuant to Article 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), Article 64 of the
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights  (TRIPS Agreement) and
Article 14 of the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade  (TBT Agreement) relating to the
protection of trademarks and to the registration and protection of geographical indications for
foodstuffs and agricultural products in the EC.
The United States' request for consultations was circulated on 10 April 2003 as
WT/DS174/1/Add.1.  The Australian  request for consultations was circulated on 23 April 2003 as
WT/DS290/1.
The Republic of Slovenia has a substantial trade and systemic interest in the protection of
trademarks and geographical indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs which is the subject
of the United States' and Australia's requests for consultations and hence desires to be joined in these
consultations.  We look forward to receiving confirmation of receipt and acceptance of this request to
join the consultations and advice regarding the timing and venue for the consultations.
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