97/162/EC: Commission Decision of 18 February 1997 on the initiation of international consultation and dispute settlement procedures concerning changes to United States rules of origin for textile products resulting in the non-conferral of Community origin on certain products processed in the European Community

• Articles: 3

Article 1

1. The appropriate consultation procedures, followed if necessary by referral to the Textiles Monitoring Body provided for in Article 8 of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing annexed to the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization, and subsequently by recourse to the WTO dispute settlement body, shall be initiated in respect of the US rules of origin for textiles and clothing, in accordance with Title III, Sub-section D, Section 334 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

2. The appropriate consultation procedures, followed if necessary by the dispute settlement procedures provided for in Articles 7 and 8 of the Agreement on Rules of Origin, annexed to the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization, shall be initiated in respect of the US rules of origin for textiles and clothing, in accordance with Title III, Sub-section D, Section 334 of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.

Article 2

1. Application of the provisions of Article 1 (1) and (2) shall be suspended if a bill is laid before the US Congress by 4 April 1997 proposing amendments to US legislation on rules of origin for textiles and clothing which would bring it into full compliance with US undertakings as established by the Uruguay Round.

2. If after a period of four months following the submission to the US Congress of the bill referred to in Article 2 (1), the US Congress does not adopt an amendment to the legislation on rules of origin for textiles and clothing which would bring it into full compliance with US undertakings as established by the Uruguay Round, the provisions of Article 1 (1) and (2) will once again apply.

Article 3

This Decision shall apply from the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Done at Brussels, 18 February 1997.

For the Commission

Leon BRITTAN

Vice-President

(1) OJ No L 349, 31. 12. 1994, p. 71.

(2) OJ No L 41, 23. 2. 1995, p. 3.

(3) OJ No C 351, 22. 11. 1996, p. 6.