RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/ADP/Q1/BOL/1
G/SCM/Q1/BOL/1
22 March 2000
(00-1191)
Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices
Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing MeasuresOriginal:  Spanish
NOTIFICATION OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS UNDER
ARTICLES 18.5 AND 32.6 OF THE AGREEMENTS
Replies of BOLIVIA1
to Questions from HONG KONG, CHINA2
The following communication, dated 9 March 2000, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Bolivia.
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Question (a)
What is the legal status of the Agreement in Bolivia?  Does it have the force of law?
Reply
By Law 1637 of 5 July 1995, Bolivia ratified the Final Act of the Uruguay Round establishing
the World Trade Organization (WTO) and embodying the results of the multilateral trade negotiations
under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.
Question (b)
Are Bolivian AD officials required, legally or otherwise, to observe the provisions of the
Agreement in the conduct of AD proceedings, or to consult them, for example on the
interpretation of domestic legislation?
Reply
Under the new Law on the Organization of the Executive, No. 1788 of 16 September 1997,
the Vice-Ministry for Industry and Internal Trade is responsible for implementing the legislation on
this subject as a consequence of Bolivia's participation in the Final Act of the Uruguay Round.  TheVice-Ministry in question has begun the task of bringing its regulations into line with WTO
requirements.
Question (c)
What steps has Bolivia taken, and what further steps will it take, to ensure the
conformity of its laws, regulations and administrative procedures with the provisions of the
Agreement, in accordance with Article 18.4?
                                                     
1 G/ADP/N/1/HKG/1 and G/SCM/N/1/HKG/1.
2 G/ADP/W/341-G/SCM/W/349.G/ADP/Q1/BOL/1
G/SCM/Q1/BOL/1
Page 2
Reply
With the aim of complying with Article 18.4 of  the Agreement, the Bolivian Government is
preparing a law on the subject of anti-dumping, subsidies and countervailing measures, which will
conform with the provisions of the WTO Agreement.
Question (d)
How will Bolivia ensure compliance with the provisions of the Agreement before its laws
are brought into total conformity with it?
Reply
Bolivia's current provisions on the subject have force of law and will remain in force until the
new regulations consistent with the WTO Agreement are approved.  Consequently, the Governmentof Bolivia is expediting the preparatory work and arranging technical cooperation with international
organizations which can contribute to this task.
Question (e)
If Bolivia is contemplating modification to its existing legislation or adoption of new
legislation, what is the intended purpose and coverage?  What is the legislative timetable?
Reply
The new national regulations under preparation will have the force of law and the procedures
will be approved through a Supreme Decree with the participation of the Executive.
As this work is still under way, there is no legislative timetable.
Question 2
What judicial review procedures has Bolivia put  in place in observance of its obligations
under Article 13 (Judicial Review) of the Agreement?
Reply
Judicial review procedures will be taken into account in the new legislations being prepared,
in accordance with Article 13 of the Agreement.
Question 3
What is Bolivia's policy and law for the implementation of WTO Panel Reports?G/ADP/Q1/BOL/1
G/SCM/Q1/BOL/1
Page 3
Reply
The Bolivian Government is in the process of updating its rules to bring them into line with
those of the WTO;  they will include provisions needed for the application of the findings of WTO
Panel Reports.
Note: The Government of Bolivia enacted Supreme Decree No. 23308 on 22 October 1992 and the
regulation thereto, No. 25191-93, on 14 February 1993, at a time when the GATT rules
served as guidelines and were not binding on Bolivia.  Bolivia ratified the Uruguay Round
Agreement on 5 July 1995, by means of Law No. 1637;  many aspects of the current
regulations are therefore not in conformity with the WTO Agreements.  Work is currentlyunder way to bring our national regulations into line with the WTO Agreements.
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