I.

Summary off factual information

On 4 October 1996, the US requested consultations with Argentina concerning the

imposition of specific duties on these items in excess of the bound rate and other
measures by Argentina. The US contended that these measures violate Articles II,
VII, VIII and X of GATT 1994, Article 2 of the TBT Agreement, Article 1 to 8 of
the Agreement on the Implementation of Article VII of GATT 1994, and Article 7
of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing.
On 9 January 1997, the US requested the establishment of a panel. At its meeting
on 22 January 1997, the DSB deferred the establishment of a panel.
During the consultations, a mutually agreed solution was reached between the
United States and Argentina regarding Argentina's labelling requirements.
However, the parties failed to reach a mutually satisfactory solution on the other
aspects raised during the consultations
On 25 February 1997, the DSB established a panel pursuant to the request made by
the United States, in accordance with Article 6 DSU. In document WT/DS56/6, the
Secretariat reported that the parties had agreed that the Panel would have the
standard terms of reference as follows:
"To examine, in the light of the relevant provisions of the covered
agreements cited by the United States in document WT/DS56/5, the matter referred
to the DSB by the United States in that document and to make such findings as will
assist the DSB in making the recommendations or in giving the rulings provided
for in those agreements".