The Cotance case against Argentina and the subsequent WTO panel citing unfair trade practices in the leather sector has been upheld. More than 800 people attended an EU symposium on Market Access in Brussels at the end of November where the result was announced.
Cotance lodged their complaint against Argentina in January 1997 claiming a tacit ban on exports of raw and semi-tanned bovine hides and discriminatory internal taxes on imported goods including finished leather from the EU.
Since informal consultations with the Argentinian authorities did not lead to a solution, the EC initiated at WTO dispute settlement proceeding in November 1998. The panel was established in July 1999 but have only now issued their report condemning Argentina on all points.
