WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding KoreaMeasures Affecting Imports of Fresh, Chilled, and Frozen Beef

Résumé

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice of the request by the United States for the establishment of a dispute settlement panel under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade organization (``WTO''), to examine: (1) Korea's retail distribution system, which discriminates against beef from the United States by imposing sales and other requirements on such beef from which Korean beef is exempt; (2) Korea's imposition of charges that exceed the other duties or charges provided for in Korea's WTO Schedule of concessions; (3) Korea's provision of excessive domestic support to agricultural producers; and (4) other Korean Government measures that have disrupted market access and impaired the ability of U.S. producers to fill the quota allotted by the Korean government for beef imports. In this dispute, the United States alleges that the Korean measures are inconsistent with the obligations of Korea under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994, the Agreement on Agriculture, and the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures. The USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.