DS472: Brazil — Certain Measures concerning Taxation and Charges

The European Union made its second request for the establishment of a panel to examine this dispute. The EU said that the dispute concerned several Brazilian programmes in the automobile, information and communication technologies and automation sectors that conferred tax advantages to domestic products. The EU was troubled by the continuous extension and expansion of these measures to cover an increasing number of sectors. It, therefore, believed that it was important that Brazil abided by the WTO rules and requested the establishment of a panel in order to secure a solution to this dispute. Brazil regretted the EU's decision to request the establishment of a panel, reaffirmed the WTO-consistency of its programmes and said it was prepared to demonstrate their consistency before the panel.

The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) established a panel. Argentina, Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, Chinese Taipei, Turkey and the United States reserved their third-party right to participate in the panel's proceedings.

 

DS457: Peru — Additional Duty on Imports of Certain Agricultural Products: Joint Request by Peru and Guatemala for a Decision by the DSB

Peru and Guatemala said that, taking into account the current workload of the Appellate Body, both delegations had agreed that the 60-day time period for adoption of a panel report or for appeal, as applicable to this dispute, would be extended to 25 March 2015. For this purpose, they submitted a text for decision by the DSB. Guatemala also highlighted the importance of initiating appeals in the order in which panel reports were circulated. The United States thanked Peru and Guatemala for their joint request and said that, given the current circumstances, it was essential that members cooperated regarding the timing and order of appeals.

Further to the joint request by Peru and Guatemala, the DSB agreed that it shall, no later than 25 March 2015, adopt the panel report in the dispute "Peru – Additional Duty on Imports of Certain Agricultural Products (WT/DS457/R and Add.1)" or Guatemala or Peru notify the DSB of their decision to appeal.

 

Status reports

Several members (US, EU, China, Thailand, Japan and the Philippines) submitted status reports or made statements concerning different disputes.

 

Next meeting

The next regular meeting of the DSB is scheduled for 26 January 2015.