WT/DS610/7  
 
14 February 2022  
(22-1302) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
 
CHINA - MEASURES CONCERNING TRADE  IN GOODS AND SERVICES  
REQUEST TO JOIN CONSULTATIONS  
Communication from Canada  
The following communication, dated 10 February 2022, from the delegation of Canada to the 
delegation of China, and the delegation of the European Union, is circulated to the Dispute 
Settlement Body in accordance with Article 4.11 of the DSU.  
 
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Pursuant to Article 4.11 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of 
Disputes  (DSU), the Government of Canada hereby notifies its request to join the consultations 
requested by the European Union in relation to China 's measures affecting the importation of goods 
from, and the exportation of goods to, the European Union ("EU") and affecting  trade in services 
between the EU and China.1 The European Union 's request for consultations (WT/DS610/1) was 
circulated to Members on January 31, 2022.  
 
Canada has a substantial trade interest in these consultations. The EU contends that China has 
adopte d novel, numerous, and persisting measures affecting the import, and exports of goods 
between the EU and China. In particular, these Chinese measures allegedly affect all goods 
originating in Lithuania, transiting through Lithuania or with some other link to Lithuania. In addition, 
the EU indicates that China 's measures restrict or prohibit trade in services between the EU and 
China that are linked to Lithuania.  
 
Canada has serious concerns with China 's alleged measures given its substantial trade relationship 
with the EU, and its Member states, and China. The EU is a single market that includes Lithuania. 
The alleged measures interfere with EU trade and supply chains by affecting goods exported from 
or imported to Lithuania, goods transiting throug h Lithuania, goods that have Lithuanian sanitary 
certificates, or goods that are otherwise linked to Lithuania. Canada exports numerous goods that 
are incorporated or integrated into goods and supply chains in the EU. Accordingly, the alleged 
measures disr upt trade and undermine supply chains in a manner that likely affects a range of 
sectors in Canada 's economy, which rely on stable access to global markets.  
 
Canada and the Member States of the EU have a strong bilateral trade relationship. The EU is 
Canad a's third largest trading partner and Lithuania is Canada 's largest market in the Baltics for 
merchandise imports and exports. In 2021, Canadian goods exports to the EU were $30.2 billion, 
and Canadian imports from the EU were $67.3 billion. There is signi ficant trade in goods between 
Canada and the EU and Canadian exports form an integral part of supply chains in the EU. Any 
interference or interruption of exports from the EU or Lithuania to China presents a real and 
substantial risk to Canadian exports.  
 
1 Communication from the European Union, "China – Measures Concerning Trade in Goods and Services: 
Request for Consultations by the European Union, " dated January 27, 2022 (WT/DS610/1, G/L/1426, 
G/TFA/D4/1, G/SPS/GEN/1988, S/L/435) (circulated January 31, 2022) ( "EU Request for Consultations ") 
(requesting consultations pursuant to Articles 1 and 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Proc edures Governing 
the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), in conjunction with Article XXII:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and 
Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), Article 24.8 of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), Article 11 of the Agreement 
on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) and Article XXII of the General 
Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).  WT/DS610/7  
 
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  Finally, the EU alleges in its request for consultations that China 's measures appear to be inconsistent 
with China 's Protocol of Accession. Canada considers that global trade has been negatively affected 
by China 's deviation from the balance of rights and  obligations it negotiated with the EU and the 
other WTO Members when it acceded to the WTO.  
 
Based on the foregoing, Canada has a substantial trade interest in participating in these 
consultations, and an interest in assuring that China 's measures are ap plied in accordance with the 
WTO Agreements and China 's Protocol of Accession to the WTO.  
 
Canada therefore respectfully requests that it be permitted to join the consultations in this dispute.  
 
A copy of this letter is being sent to the Chairman of the D ispute Settlement Body, with a request 
that it be circulated to Members.  
 
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