DS486: EU — Countervailing Measures on Certain Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) from Pakistan

Pakistan recalled that it had made its first request for the establishment of a panel in this dispute at the February regular meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). A bilateral meeting was held with the European Union on 9 March 2015 but did not provide any signal that a mutually agreed solution could be reached. In that regard, Pakistan requested, for the second time, that the DSB establish a panel to examine the EU’s measures. The EU said that it had imposed the countervailing duties based on the grounds that imports from Pakistan were receiving trade distorting subsidies and had generated an injury to the European PET industry. The DSB established the panel. China and the US reserved their third-party rights to participate in the panel’s proceedings.

 

DS485: Russia — Tariff Treatment of Certain Agricultural and Manufacturing Products 

The EU referred to its statement made at the 10 March DSB meeting where it had made its first request for the establishment of a panel to examine the tariff treatment Russia accords to certain agricultural and manufacturing goods. The EU noted that despite efforts to find a solution with Russia, the measures remained in place and continued to hamper trade. The EU requested, for the second time, the establishment of a panel to examine this dispute. Russia said that it remained convinced that this matter could be resolved through further consultations with the EU. The DSB established a panel. Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Japan, Korea, Moldova, Norway, Ukraine and the United States reserved their third-party rights to participate in the panel’s proceedings.

 

DS488: United States — Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from Korea

As it had stated at the DSB meeting on 10 March, Korea was of the view that the US anti-dumping measures on certain oil country tubular goods from Korea were inconsistent with the US obligations under the Anti-Dumping Agreement and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994. The US measures continued to nullify or impair benefits accruing to Korea under WTO agreements. Korea requested for the second time that the DSB establish a panel to examine this dispute. The US said that its actions were fully consistent with US obligations under the WTO agreements and was ready to engage in the proceedings and explain to the panel that Korea had no legal basis for its claims. The DSB established a panel. Canada, China, EU, India, Russia and Turkey reserved their third-party rights to participate in the panel’s proceedings.

 

DS454: China — Measures Imposing Anti-Dumping Duties on High-Performance Stainless Steel Seamless Tubes (HP-SSST) from Japan

In light of the current workload of the Appellate Body, Japan and China jointly requested the DSB to agree to provide additional time for the adoption or appeal of the panel report in this dispute. In their view, the decision would provide greater flexibility in scheduling any possible appeal of the panel report in this dispute. The DSB agreed that it shall, no later than 20 May 2015, adopt the report of the panel in this dispute unless either party to the dispute notifies the DSB of its decision to appeal.

 

DS460: China — Measures Imposing Anti-Dumping Duties on High-Performance Stainless Steel Seamless Tubes (HP-SSST) from the EU

Taking into account the current workload of the Appellate Body, the EU and China jointly requested the DSB to agree to provide additional time for the adoption or appeal of the panel report in this dispute. In their view, the decision would provide greater flexibility in scheduling any possible appeal of the panel report in this dispute. The DSB agreed that it shall, no later than 20 May 2015, adopt the report of the panel in this dispute unless either party notifies the DSB of its decision to appeal.

 

DS457: Peru — Additional Duty on Imports of Certain Agricultural Products: Report of the Panel

Peru communicated to the DSB its decision to appeal the panel report in this dispute and consequently this item was removed from the agenda.

 

Other business

Under “Other Business” and for transparency purposes, the Chairman made a statement on the issue of the workload before the Appellate Body and the delays at the panel stage. The Chairman said that he had recently met with several delegations, at their request, in order to hear their views regarding the impact on the dispute settlement system of the current AB workload and the delays in panel proceedings. He said that a group of delegations had been working together in order to find a common solution to these matters but a common approach has yet to be found. Given the importance of the matters, the Chairman offered his assistance should members find it useful.

 

Next meeting

The next regular meeting of the DSB is scheduled for 22 April 2015.