WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/DS334/1 
G/L/759 
G/LIC/D/39 G/TRIMS/D/21 G/AG/GEN/70 
7 November 2005 
 
(05-5210) 
 Original:   English 
 
  
TURKEY – MEASURES AFFECTING THE IMPORTATION OF RICE 
 
Request for Consultations by the United States
 
 
 
 The following communication, dated 2 November 2005, from the delegation of the United States to the delegation of Turkey and to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is 
circulated in accordance with  Article 4.4 of the DSU. 
 
_______________ 
 
  My authorities have instructed me to request  consultations with the Government of Turkey 
pursuant to Articles 1 and 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement 
of Disputes  ("DSU"), Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994  
("GATT 1994"), Article 6 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures  ("Import Licensing 
Agreement"), Article 8 of the Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures  ("TRIMs 
Agreement"), and Article 19 of the Agreement on Agriculture  ("Agriculture Agreement") with respect 
to Turkey's import restrictions on rice from the United States.   
 
 Under Turkey's import regime for rice, Turkey  requires an import license to import rice.  
However, Turkey fails to grant licenses to import ri ce at the bound rate of duty.  In addition, Turkey 
operates a tariff-rate quota for rice imports requiring th at in order to import specified quantities of rice 
at reduced tariff levels, importers must purchase sp ecified quantities of domestic rice, including from 
the Turkish Grain Board (TMO), Turkish producers,  or producer associations ("the domestic purchase 
requirement").    The United States understands that the measur es through which Turkey has maintained these 
restrictions include:   
• Decree No. 96/7794 related to the General Assessment of the Regime Regarding 
Technical Regulations and Standardizati on for Foreign Trade (Official Gazette, 
No. 22541, 1 February 1996, Repeated);  
 
• Decision of the board of ministers: Decree No. 2004/7135 related to the 
implementation of a tariff quota for certain types of paddy rice and rice types imports (Official Gazette, No. 25439, 20 April 2004); 
 
• A notification related to implementation of  tariff quotas for certain types of paddy 
and rice imports, from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No. 25445, 27 April 2004); 
 WT/DS334/1, G/L/759,  
G/LIC/D/39, G/TRIMS/D/21,  G/AG/GEN/70 
Page 2 
  
• Decision of the board of ministers: Decree No. 2004/7333 related to the management 
of quota and tariff contingent on import (O fficial Gazette, No. 25473, 26 May 2004); 
 
• Decision of the board of ministers: Decree No. 2004/7756 related to the 
implementation of a tariff contingent on the import of certain paddy rice and rice 
types (Official Gazette, No. 25565, 27 August 2004); 
 
• A notification about the implementation of a tariff contingent on the import of certain 
paddy rice and rice types, from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No. 25577, 8 September 2004); 
 
• A notification on Standardization in Foreign Trade, Notification No. 2005/05 
(Official Gazette, No. 25687, 31 December 2004); 
 
• A notification about the amendment of the notification related to the implementation 
of a tariff contingent on the import of certain paddy rice and rice types, from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No. 25767, 26 March 2005); 
 
• A notification about the amendment of the notification related to the implementation 
of a tariff contingent (customs duty) on the import of certain paddy rice and rice types, from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (Official Gazette, No. 25812, 11 May 2005);  
 
• Decision of the board of ministers: Decree No. 2005/9315 related to the 
implementation of a tariff contingent on th e import of certain types of paddy rice and 
rice types (Official Gazette, No. 25935, 13 September 2005);  
 
• A notification related to the implementation of a tariff contingent on the import of 
certain paddy rice and rice types, from the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat (Official 
Gazette, No. 25943, 21 September 2005); and  
 
• any amendments or extensions to these me asures, and any related or implementing 
measures.   
  Turkey appears to administer  the domestic purchase requirement through its import licensing 
regime.  
 Turkey's import restrictions on rice thus a ppear to be inconsistent with the following 
provisions:  
• Article 2.1 and paragraph 1(a) of  Annex 1 of the TRIMs Agreement; 
 
• Articles III (including paragraphs 4, 5,  and 7) and XI:1 of the GATT 1994; 
 
• Article 4.2 of the Agriculture Agreement; and 
 
• Articles 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5(a), 3.5(b), 3.5(d), 3.5(e), 3.5(f), 3.5(g), 
3.5(h), 3.5(k), 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.4 of the Import Licensing Agreement.   
  WT/DS334/1, G/L/759,  
 G/LIC/D/39, G/TRIMS/D/21,   G/AG/GEN/70 
 Page 3 
  
Turkey's measures also appear to nullify or impair the benefits accruing to the United 
States directly or indirectly under the cited agreements.  
 We  look forward to receiving your reply to th e present request and to fixing a mutually 
convenient date for consultations.  
__________