Dispute settlement
United States - Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products - Recourse 1
On 24 October 2008 Mexico requested consultations with the United States with respect to the following measures: (i) the United States Code Title 16 Section 1385 (“Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act”) (ii) the Code of Federal Regulations Title 50 Section 216.91 (“Dolphin‑safe labeling standards”) and Section 216.92 (“Dolphin‑safe requirements for tuna harvested in the ETP [Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean] by large purse seine vessels”) and (iii) the ruling in Earth Island Institute v. Hogarth 494 F.3d 757 (9th Cir. 2007).
United States - Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Shrimp from Viet Nam - 2014
On 16 February 2012 Viet Nam requested consultations with the United States concerning a number of anti-dumping measures on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from Viet Nam. In addition to two administrative reviews and the five year “sunset review” the request for consultations concerns several US laws regulations administrative proceedings and practices including zeroing.
Foreword
This updated edition of WTO Dispute Settlement: One-Page Case Summaries has been prepared by the Legal Affairs Division of the WTO with assistance from the Rules Division and the Appellate Body Secretariat. This new edition covers all panel and Appellate Body reports adopted by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body as of 31 December 2014.
WTO Dispute Settlement: One-Page Case Summaries, 1995–2014
WTO Dispute Settlement: One-Page Case Summaries provides a succinct summary of the key findings of every dispute panel report up to the end of 2014 and where applicable the subsequent Appellate Body report. Each one-page summary comprises three sections: the core facts; the key findings contained in the reports; and where relevant other matters of particular significance. The disputes are presented in chronological order (by dispute settlement number). Two indexes at the end of the publication list the disputes by WTO agreement and by WTO member responding to the complaint.
China - Measures Imposing Anti-Dumping Duties on High-Performance Stainless Steel Seamless Tubes ("HP-SSST") from Japan. Measures Imposing Anti-Dumping Duties on High-Performance Stainless Steel Seamless Tubes ("HP-SSST") from the European Union.
On 20 December 2012 Japan requested consultations with China pursuant to Articles 1 and 4 of the DSU Article XXII:1 of the GATT 1994 and Articles 17.2 and 17.3 of the Anti-Dumping Agreement with respect to the measures and claims set out below. On 13 June 2013 the European Union requested consultations with China pursuant to the same above-mentioned provisions and with respect to the measures and claims set out below. In both complaints the consultations concerned China's measures imposing anti-dumping duties on certain HP-SSST from Japan and the European Union respectively as set forth in MOFCOM's Preliminary Determination notice and MOFCOM's Final Determination notice including any and all annexes and any amendments thereof.
Argentina - Measures Affecting the Importation of Goods
On 21 August 2012 Japan requested consultations with Argentina concerning certain measures imposed by Argentina on the importation of goods. Japan challenges: (i) the requirement to present for approval of a non-automatic import licence: Declaración Jurada Anticipada de Importación (DJAI); (ii) non-automatic licences required in the form of Certificados de Importación (CIs) for the importation of certain goods; (iii) requirements imposed on importers to undertake certain trade-restrictive commitments; and (iv) the alleged systematic delay in granting import approval or refusal to grant such approval or the grant of import approval subject to importers undertaking to comply with certain allegedly trade-restrictive commitments.
United States - Countervailing Duty Measures on Certain Products from China
On 25 May 2012 China requested consultations with the United States concerning the imposition of countervailing duty measures by the United States on certain products from China. China challenges various aspects of certain identified countervailing duty investigations including their opening conduct and the preliminary and final determinations that led to the imposition of countervailing duties. China also challenges the “rebuttable presumption” allegedly established and applied by the US Department of Commerce that majority government ownership is sufficient to treat an enterprise as a “public body”.
United States - Countervailing Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India
On 12 April 2012 India requested consultations with the United States with regard to the imposition of countervailing duties by the United States on certain hot rolled carbon steel flat products from India (“subject goods”).
Peru - Additional Duty on Imports of Certain Agricultural Products
On 12 April 2013 Guatemala requested consultations with Peru with respect to the imposition by Peru of an “additional duty” on imports of certain agricultural products such as rice sugar maize milk and certain dairy products. Guatemala claims that the measure at issue is inconsistent with: - Article 4.2 and footnote 1 of the Agreement on Agriculture; - Articles II:1(a) II:1(b) X:1 X:3(a) XI and XI:1 of the GATT 1994; and - Articles 1 2 3 5 6 and 7 of the Customs Valuation Agreement.
United States - Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Shrimp from Viet Nam - 2014
On 16 February 2012 Viet Nam requested consultations with the United States concerning a number of anti-dumping measures on certain frozen warmwater shrimp from Viet Nam. In addition to two administrative reviews and the five year “sunset review” the request for consultations concerns several US laws regulations administrative proceedings and practices including zeroing.
United States - Certain Country of Origin Labelling (Cool) Requirements - Recourse 1
On 1 December 2008 Canada requested consultations with the United States concerning certain mandatory country of origin labelling (COOL) provisions in the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 as amended by the 2008 Farm Bill and as implemented through an Interim Final Rule of 28 July 2008. These include the obligation to inform consumers at the retail level of the country of origin in respect of covered commodities including beef and pork. The eligibility for a designation of a covered commodity as exclusively having a US origin can only be derived from an animal that was exclusively born raised and slaughtered in the United States. This would exclude such a designation in respect of beef or pork derived from livestock that is exported to the United States for feed or immediate slaughter.
India - Measures Concerning the Importation of Certain Agricultural Products
On 6 March 2012 the United States requested consultations with India with respect to the prohibitions imposed by India on the importation of various agricultural products from the United States purportedly because of concerns related to Avian Influenza. The measures at issue are: the Indian Livestock Importation Act 1898 (9 of 1898) ("Livestock Act"); a number of orders issued by India's Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying and Fisheries pursuant to the Livestock Act most recently S.O. 1663(E); as well as any amendments related measures or implementing measures.
WTO Appellate Body Repertory of Reports and Awards
The fifth edition of the WTO Appellate Body Repertory of Reports and Awards (the ‘Repertory’) serves first and foremost as a source of information for those interested in the field of international trade law and international dispute settlement. Initially developed as an internal research tool to assist the Appellate Body Secretariat in carrying out its duty to provide legal support to Appellate Body Members the Repertory has become a practical tool for officials from WTO Member States and in particular for Members (including developing-country Members) who may not have the resources to prepare a similar compendium in-house. The Repertory is also a useful publication for academics students private practitioners trade officials and other followers of international trade law and international dispute settlement.
E
Accessions to the World Trade Organization (WTO) have profound implications for the private sector. The market liberalization required by accession commitments must be accompanied by deep structural reforms. Even though least-developed countries (LDCs) and developing countries usually benefit from special and differential treatment the liberalization process can still lead to market adjustments that can test the status quo and require actions that will impact the private sector. This chapter discusses how the private and public sectors have cooperated to make the most of accession while mitigating its risks. The chapter concludes that the business community values predictability. Therefore acceding governments should find a way to integrate the private sector in the negotiating process. Gaining a thorough understanding of the objectives and implications of accession in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is a good starting point for building a partnership between the acceding government and its private sector. The acceding government should also seek consensus with the private sector on key accession commitments on the direction of reform desired by stakeholders at the local level and allow sufficient time to prepare the private sector to adjust to the expected changes in the business environment. The experience of recently acceded governments has shown that regular engagement with the private sector before during and after accession enables new WTO members to make deeper liberalization commitments. When these commitments are the result of a consultative process between policy-makers and business the likelihood of their successful implementation is greater.
Foreword to the 1995–2013 edition
The WTO Appellate Body Repertory of Reports and Awards is intended to serve first and foremost as a source of information for those interested in the field of international trade law. It presents a systematic compilation of Appellate Body jurisprudence over the past 18 years. The Repertory was initially developed as an internal research tool to assist the Appellate Body Secretariat in carrying out its duty to provide legal advice to Appellate Body Members. The Secretariat subsequently decided to make the Repertory available to the public to serve as a practical tool for officials from WTO Members particularly for those who may not have the resources to prepare similar compendiums in-house. We hope that the Repertory will also assist academics students private practitioners and others with an interest in international trade law and dispute settlement practice who need to consult and access precise information about the evolution of and most recent developments in Appellate Body jurisprudence.
WTO Appellate Body Repertory of Reports and Awards, 1995–2013, 5th edition
Trade multilateralism in the twenty-first-century century faces a serious test as weakness in the global economy and fast-paced technological changes create a challenging environment for world trade. This book examines how an updated and robust rules-based multilateral framework anchored in the WTO remains indispensable to maximizing the benefits of global economic integration and to reviving world trade. By examining recent accessions to the WTO it reveals how the growing membership of the WTO has helped to support domestic reforms and to strengthen the rules-based framework of the WTO. It argues that the new realities of the twenty-first century require an upgrade to the architecture of the multilateral trading system. By erecting its 'upper floors' on the foundation of existing trade rules the WTO can continue to adapt to a fast-changing environment and to maximize the benefits brought about by its ever-expanding membership.
Argentina - Measures Affecting the Importation of Goods
On 21 August 2012 Japan requested consultations with Argentina concerning certain measures imposed by Argentina on the importation of goods. Japan challenges: (i) the requirement to present for approval of a non-automatic import licence: Declaración Jurada Anticipada de Importación (DJAI); (ii) non-automatic licences required in the form of Certificados de Importación (CIs) for the importation of certain goods; (iii) requirements imposed on importers to undertake certain trade-restrictive commitments; and (iv) the alleged systematic delay in granting import approval or refusal to grant such approval or the grant of import approval subject to importers undertaking to comply with certain allegedly trade-restrictive commitments.
China - Measures Related to the Exportation of Rare Earths, Tungsten, and Molybdenum
On 13 March 2012 the United States requested consultations with China with respect to China’s restrictions on the export of various forms of rare earths tungsten and molybdenum. The request refers to materials falling under but not limited to 212 eight-digit Chinese Customs Commodity Codes and over 30 measures. The request also refers to a number of Chinese published as well as unpublished measures that operating separately or collectively allegedly impose and administer export restrictions. These restrictions include export duties export quotas minimum export price requirements export licensing requirements and additional requirements and procedures in connection with the administration of the quantitative restrictions.
United States - Countervailing Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India
On 12 April 2012 India requested consultations with the United States with regard to the imposition of countervailing duties by the United States on certain hot rolled carbon steel flat products from India (“subject goods”).
United States - Countervailing Duty Measures on Certain Products from China
On 25 May 2012 China requested consultations with the United States concerning the imposition of countervailing duty measures by the United States on certain products from China. China challenges various aspects of certain identified countervailing duty investigations including their opening conduct and the preliminary and final determinations that led to the imposition of countervailing duties. China also challenges the “rebuttable presumption” allegedly established and applied by the US Department of Commerce that majority government ownership is sufficient to treat an enterprise as a “public body”.
Foreword
This updated edition of WTO Dispute Settlement: One-Page Case Summaries has been prepared by the Legal Affairs Division of the WTO with assistance from the Rules Division and the Appellate Body Secretariat. This new edition covers all panel and Appellate Body reports adopted by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body as of 31 December 2012.