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WTO NEWS: 2001 NEWS ITEMS

Dispute Settlement Body 12 March 2001

Panels established on measures by Belgium, Canada and Chile

The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), on 12 March 2001, established three panels:

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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.


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Case DS222: “Canada — Export credits and loans guarantees for regional aircraft”.

Brazil requested the establishment of a panel to examine the WTO compatibility of Canada's new aircraft financing system. This was Brazil's first request but only one request is necessary for a panel to be established in cases of claimed forbidden subsidies. The DSB agreed to establish a panel. The European Communities, India and the United States reserved third-party rights to participate in the Panel's proceeding.



Case DS210 : Belgium — Administration of measures establishing customs duties for rice.”  Back to top

The United States requested for the second time the establishment of a panel to look at Belgium's customs duties practices on imports of rice. The EC argued that because the US had altered its request, this request should be considered as its first one. Nonetheless, the EC still accepted going ahead with a panel. The DSB agreed to establish a panel. India reserved third-party rights.



 Case DS207 : Chile — Price band system and safeguard measures relating to certain agricultural products.”  Back to top

Argentina requested for the second time the establishment of a panel concerning Chile's price band system and safeguard measures. The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) agreed to establish a panel. The European Communities, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Nicaragua, Paraguay and the United States reserved their third-party rights.

 

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Appellate Body report adopted

Case DS141: European Communities — Anti-dumping duties on imports of cotton-type bed linen from India

The DSB adopted the Appellate Body report and the Panel report as modified by the Appellate Body report.

Several Members commented on the panel and Appellate Body's determination that the practice of “zeroing” is incompatible with the WTO Agreement on Anti-Dumping Practices.

 

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Status reports: Surveillance of implementation of recommendations adopted by the DSB

Case DS27: European Communities — Regime for the importation, sale and distribution of bananas

The European Communities presented its status report on its new “first come — first served” banana import regime (see document WT/DS27/51/Add.16). The report includes the European Council Regulation which amends the banana regime. The European Communities announced that its new regime will apply from 1 July 2001.

Several delegations criticized the new regime, including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the United States.

Case DS76: Japan — Measures affecting agricultural products

Japan and the United States announced that they had completed their technical consultations and that they would notify the DSB of the mutually satisfactory solution in the near future (see document WT/DS76/11/Add.12).


Case DS90: India — Quantitative restrictions on imports of agricultural, textile and industrial products

India (see document WT/DS90/16/Add.6) repeated its intention to implement by the deadline of 1 April 2001.

  
  
Case DS34: Turkey — Restrictions on imports of textile and clothing products

Turkey and India announced (see document WT/DS34/12/Add.6) that, following the expiry of the reasonable period of time for implementation (19 February 2001), they had agreed on 8 March 2001 to hold consultations within the next 30 days. In these consultations, the two parties will discuss Turkey's compliance with the DSB's recommendations.

The two countries also announced that they had reached a procedural agreement (see document WT/DS34/13) on compliance review and request for sanctions in case they cannot agree during the consultations.

  
  
Case DS87: Chile — Taxes on alcoholic beverages

Chile announced that its new legislation — which provides for the progressive reduction of taxes to a single rate for all alcoholic beverages of 27 per cent as from 21 March 2003 — entered into force on 9 February 2001.

Chile said it now considered it has complied with the DSB's recommendations.

 

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Implementation of the recommendations of the DSB

Case DS155: Argentina — Measures Affecting the Export of Bovine Hides and the Import of Finished Leather

Argentina announced its intention to implement the DSB's recommendations and that it had already taken the first step to introduce some changes in the administration of its customs regulation. Argentina also said that in order to complete the implementation process it would need a reasonable period of time.

 

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Other business

Case DS139: Canada — Certain measures affecting the automotive industry

Under “other business”, Canada informed the DSB that it has complied with its recommendations.

How to search for and download official documents

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