WTO Consultations Regarding Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930

摘要

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice that the European Communities ("EC") has requested consultations with the United States under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO), regarding section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1337) and the related rules of practice and procedure of the International Trade Commission contained in chapter II of Title 19 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. The EC alleges that section 337 is inconsistent with Article III of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 ("GATT 1994") and Articles 2 (in conjunction with Article 2 of the Paris Convention), 3, 9 (in conjunction with Article 5 of the Berne Convention), 27, 41, 42, 49, 50, and 51 of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights ("TRIPS Agreement"). A first round of consultations with the EC was held on February 28, 2000, in Geneva, Switzerland. The Government of Canada and the Government of Japan participated as third parties. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.