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Summary of the dispute to date back to top
The summary below was up-to-date at
Consultations
Complaint by the Dominican Republic. (See also DS434 and DS435)
On 18 July 2012, the Dominican Republic requested consultations with Australia concerning certain Australian laws and regulations that allegedly impose trademark restrictions and other plain-packaging requirements on tobacco products.
The Dominican Republic challenges the following measures:
- Australia's Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011, and its implementing regulations, as amended by the Tobacco Plain Packaging Amendment Regulation 2012 (No. 1);
- the Trade Marks Amendment (Tobacco Plain Packaging) Act 2011; and
- any related measures adopted by Australia, including measures that implement, complement or add to these laws and regulations, as well as any measures that amend or replace these laws and regulations.
The Dominican Republic claims that Australia's measures appear to be inconsistent with Australia's obligations under:
- Articles 2.1, 3.1, 15.4, 16.1, 20, 22.2(b) and 24.3 of the TRIPS Agreement;
- Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of the TBT Agreement; and
- Article III:4 of the GATT 1994.
On 23 July 2012, New Zealand and Uruguay requested to join the consultations. On 25 July 2012, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Norway requested to join the consultations. On 26 July 2012, Honduras requested to join the consultations. On 27 July 2012, Brazil, El Salvador, the European Union and Ukraine requested to join the consultations. On 30 July 2012, South Africa requested to join the consultations. On 2 August 2012, Canada requested to join the consultations. Subsequently, Australia informed the DSB that it had accepted the requests of Brazil, Canada, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Honduras, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, South Africa, Ukraine and Uruguay to join the consultations.
On 9 November 2012, the Dominican Republic requested the establishment of a panel. At its meeting on 17 December 2012, the DSB deferred the establishment of a panel. |
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