1.1 On 12 June 1998, the European Communities requested consultations with the United States pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), Article XXII:1 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994) and Article 30 of the agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM Agreement) with respect to the imposition of countervailing duties by the United States on certain hot-rolled lead and bismuth carbon steel products (leaded bars) originating in the United Kingdom in the context of three successive annual reviews (WTO document WT/DS138/).