Dispute Settlement Body 23 October 2002
DSB adopts reports on price band system and sardines

The Dispute Settlement Body, on 23 October 2002, adopted Appellate Body reports on disputes involving Argentina's complaint about Chile's price band system for agricultural products and on Peru's complaint about the European Communities' trade description of sardines, respectively.

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NOTE:
This summary has been prepared by the WTO Secretariat’s Information and Media Relations Division to help public understanding about developments in WTO disputes. It is not a legal interpretation of the issues, and it is not intended as a complete account of the issues. These can be found in the reports themselves and in the minutes of the Dispute Settlement Body’s meetings.

Implementation of the recommendations of the DSB back to top

DS211: Egypt — Definitive anti-dumping measures on steel rebar from Turkey

Egypt and Turkey said they would try to agree a reasonable period of time for an early compliance by Egypt to the panel recommendations in this dispute.

Appellate body reports adopted back to top

DS207: Chile — Price band system and safeguard measures relating to certain agricultural products

Before the adoption of the report several countries intervened to comment on the findings and on the implications of this issue in the context of the agriculture trade and policies. Argentina expressed “total satisfaction” for the Appellate Body’s findings and hoped that discussions will start soon with Chile on the timing and modalities of the implementation. Chile showed disappointment with the report and gave several reasons why in its opinion it should not be adopted.

DS231: European Communities — Trade description of sardines

The EC expressed disappointment with the ruling but said that while it disagreed with several aspects of the report, the EC will actively work to implement, within the shortest possible timeframe, the DSB recommendations and rulings. Peru said that despite its reservations with respect to certain procedural issues of the Appellate Body report it welcomed and accepted the rulings. Several countries made statements expressing some reservations with statements and conclusions contained in the report.

Amendments to rules 1, 24 and 27 of the working procedures for appellate review.

The DSB was informed of some amendments introduced by the Appellate Body to the Working Procedures for Appellate Review concerning third parties in a dispute. The amendments enable third parties that do not file written submissions on appeal to participate actively at the hearing. Under the amended rules, third parties that notify the Appellate Body Secretariat in a timely manner of their intent to attend may participate actively at the oral hearing. In addition, even third parties that neither file a written submission nor notify in a timely manner their intent to attend may, at the discretion of the Division hearing the appeal, be permitted to participate actively at the oral hearing.

Several countries sought clarification on certain aspects of the amendments but there were also interventions in which concern was expressed about the procedure for these amendments to be adopted and for the lack of consultations with members before their adoption.

Next meeting back to top

The next regular meeting of the DSB is scheduled for 11 November 2002.