RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/DS35/2
12April 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-1396)
Original: English
HUNGARY -EXPORT SUBSIDIES INRESPECT OF
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
Request toJoinConsultations
Communication from Japan
Thefollowing communication, dated 12April 1996, from thePermanent Mission ofJapan
tothePermanent Mission ofHungary andtotheDispute Settlement Body, iscirculated inaccordance
withArticle 4.11oftheDSU.
_______________
Upon instructions frommyauthorities, Ihereby notify thattheGovernment ofJapan, pursuant
toparagraph 11ofArticle 4oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing theSettlement
ofDisputes, desires tobejoined intheconsultations under Article XXII oftheGATT 1994, requested
byArgentina, Australia, Canada, NewZealand, Thailand andtheUnited States inregard totheexport
subsidies thattheGovernment ofHungary provides withrespect toagricultural products, inlightof
thesubstantial trade interest ofJapan inthismatter. Suchrequest wascirculated on2April 1996 in
document WT/DS35/1.
Japan hasaserious concern overthesaidsubsidies, which arenotinconformity withthe
commitments specified inHungary 'sSchedule, andthusareinviolation ofbothparagraph 3ofArticle 3
oftheAgreement onAgriculture andoftheMarrakesh Protocol totheGeneral Agreement onTariffs
andTrade 1994. Japan, astheworld 'slargest netimporter ofagricultural products, willinevitably
incur agreat dealofadverse influence fromthese measures, since theexport subsidies inagricultural
products arewithout doubt mosttrade distortive andmarket disruptive, andthusithasasubstantial
trade interest inthiscase.