GATT/AIR/2547 28 JANUARY 1988

SUBJECT: ACCESSION OF COSTA RICA

1. THE WORKING PARTY ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNCIL ON 16-17 JUNE 1987 TO

EXAMINE THE REQUEST OF THE GOVERNMENT OF COSTA RICA FOR ACCESSION TO THE

GENERAL AGREEMENT WILL MEET ON 9 MARCH 1988. THE MEETING WILL START AT

10 A.M. IN THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD, 154 RUE DE LAUSANNE, GENEVA.

2. THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE WORKING PARTY (L/6187) ARE AS FOLLOWS:

"TO EXAMINE THE APPLICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OF COSTA RICA TO ACCEDE TO

THE GENERAL AGREEMENT UNDER ARTICLE XXXIII, AND TO SUBMIT TO THE COUNCIL

RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH MAY INCLUDE A DRAFT PROTOCOL OF ACCESSION". MEMBERSHIP IS OPEN TO ALL CONTRACTING PARTIES INDICATING THEIR WISH TO SERVE ON THE WORKING PARTY.

3. THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION IS AVAILABLE TO DELEGATIONS:

- L/6180 - COMMUNICATION FROM COSTA RICA

- L/6050 - MEMORANDUM ON THE FOREIGN TRADE REGIME OF COSTA RICA

- L/6185 AND ADD.I. - QUESTIONS AND REPLIES CONCERNING THE FOREIGN

TRADE REGIME OF COSTA RICA

- OTHER DOCUMENTATION FURNISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF COSTA RICA

WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION IN THE SECRETARIAT IS LISTED

IN L/6050 PAGE 36 AND L/6185 PAGE 6.

4. AT THE COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 16-17 JUNE 1987, THE REPRESENTATIVE OF

COSTA RICA STATED THAT COSTA RICA WAS READY TO ENTER INTO TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS RELATING TO THE ACCESSION TO THE GENERAL AGREEMENT (C/M/211, ITEM 2, PAGES 7 AND 8). CONTRACTING PARTIES WISHING TO ENTER INTO TARIFF NEGOTIATIONS RELATING TO COSTA RICA'S ACCESSION ARE REMINDED THAT IN GATT/AIR/2448, DATED 23 JUNE 1987, THEY WERE INVITED TO CONTACT THE COSTA RICAN AUTHORITIES AND INFORM THE SECRETARIAT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

5. CONTRACTING PARTIES WISHING TO SERVE ON THE WORKING PARTY, AS WELL AS OTHER CONTRACTING PARTIES AND ASSOCIATED GOVERNMENTS AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WISHING TO BE REPRESENTED BY OBSERVERS AT THE MEETING ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE OF THE NAMES OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.

A. DUNKEL

88-0150