DISPUTE SETTLEMENT

DS: Japan — Import Quotas on Dried Laver and Seasoned Laver

This summary has been prepared by the Secretariat under its own responsibility. The summary is for general information only and is not intended to affect the rights and obligations of Members.

  

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Summary of the dispute to date

The summary below was up-to-date at

Consultations

Complaint by Korea.

On 1 December 2004, Korea requested consultations with Japan concerning Japan’s import quotas on dried laver and seasoned laver. According to the request for consultations, Korea believes that Japan’s extremely restrictive import quotas on dried laver and seasoned laver are inconsistent with, inter alia:

  • Articles X.3 and XI of the GATT 1994;
     
  • Article 4.2 of the Agreement on Agriculture; and
     
  • Article 1.2 and 1.6 of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures.

On 4 February 2005, Korea requested the establishment of a panel. At its meeting on 17 February 2005, the DSB deferred the establishment of a panel.

 

Panel and Appellate Body proceedings

At its meeting on 21 March 2005, the DSB established the panel. China, the European Communities and the United States reserved their third-party rights.

On 18 May 2005, Korea requested the Director-General to compose the panel. On 30 May 2005, the Director-General composed the panel.

On 30 November 2005, the Chairman of the Panel informed the DSB that it would not be possible for the Panel to complete its work in six months and that the Panel expected to complete it work by March 2006.  This extension was caused by scheduling difficulties and by the need to allow the parties sufficient time to submit evidence and to comment on evidence submitted by each other.

 

Mutually agreed solution

On 23 January 2006, Korea and Japan informed the DSB of a mutually agreed solution under Article 3.6 of the DSU.  A brief panel report noting the settlement was circulated to Members on 1 February 2006, in accordance with the provisions of Article 12.7 of the DSU.

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