> Disputes in the WTO
> Find disputes
cases
> Find disputes
documents
> Disputes chronologically
> Disputes by subject
> Disputes by country
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.
|
Panel request
DS375,
DS376,
DS377: European
Communities and its member states — tariff treatment of certain information
technology products
The EC blocked the establishment of a panel following the joint request from
the US (WT/DS375/8), Japan (WT/DS376/8) and Chinese Taipei (WT/DS377/6).
This request was being made for the first time.
The case relates to duties applied by the EC on three types of information
technology (IT) products.
The US, Japan and Chinese Taipei argued that the EC should not apply any
tariffs on cable and satellite boxes that can access the Internet, flat
panel computer monitors and computers peripherals such as printers, copiers,
faxes and scanners. The three complainants declared that these products were
included in the IT Agreement (ITA) according to which signatories should
apply a duty-free tariff on the products covered by the ITA. The three
complainants added that they had consultations with the EC in June and July
which did not resolve the dispute.
The EC stated that since the adoption of the ITA in 1996, new products and
new technologies had appeared on the market which gave the products listed
in the Agreement new functionalities and designs. The EC added that these
additional functions were making the products different and they
consequently fell outside the scope of the ITA. The EC said that given the
rapid evolution in the IT industry, signatories to the ITA should revisit
the product coverage of the Agreement through negotiation.
Implementation back to top
DS291,
DS292,
DS293: European Communities — Measures affecting the approval
and marketing of biotech products: status report by the European Communities
The EC provided a status report on the implementation of the DSB
recommendations (WT/DS291/37/Add.7, DS292/31/Add.7, DS293/31/Add.7) and
noted that good faith cooperation with the complainants continued.
The EC informed the DSB that Argentina and Canada agreed to further extend
the reasonable period of time until 1 and 31 December 2008, respectively.
The US commented on its growing concern with the EC's approval system for
biotech products and added that the EC had 50 biotech product applications
awaiting approval. The US noted that only one product had reached a final
decision in 2008. The US urged the EC to take prompt measures to resolve
this dispute.
Canada hoped that further progress would be made.
DS343: United States — Measures relating to shrimp from Thailand
Following the adoption of the Panel and Appellate Body reports on 1 August
2008, the US announced its intention to implement the ruling of the DSB.
For
this purpose, the US declared it would need a reasonable period of time.
Thailand stated it would meet with the US in the near future to discuss a
reasonable period of time for prompt implementation.
DS345: United States — Customs bond directive for merchandise subject to
anti-dumping/countervailing duties
Following the adoption of the Panel and Appellate Body reports on 1 August
2008, the US announced its intention to implement the ruling of the DSB. For
this purpose, the US declared it would need a reasonable period of time
(RPT).
India was disappointed at the US request for a RPT as the Indian shrimp
industry continued to face an enormous burden on its exports due to the US
anti-dumping measure. India said it would discuss the RPT with the US to
make it the shortest possible.
Byrd Amendment case (DS217) back to top
Japan informed the DSB it would continue to suspend concessions on US
exports as of 1 September 2008 for another year. Japan said it would reduce
the level of suspension taking into account the decrease in the amount of
distribution attributable to Japan.
Other business back to top
DS27: European Communities — Regime for the importation, sale and
distribution of bananas: recourse to article 21.5 of the DSU by Ecuador
DS27: European Communities — Regime for the importation, sale and
distribution of bananas: recourse to article 21.5 of the DSU by US
At the proposal of the Chairman, items 5 and 6 (WTO/AIR/3230) were removed
from the agenda following the notification from the EC (WT/DS27/89 and
WT/DS27/90) of its intention to appeal the compliance panel reports
(WT/DS27/RW2/ECU and WT/DS27/RW/USA and CORR.1).
Under other business, Ecuador made a statement on this issue. Ecuador,
followed by Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Colombia, stated it was
disappointed that the EC did not commit to the agreement negotiated last
July on bananas.
Ecuador added that the agreement is a standalone arrangement detached from
the result of the Doha modalities. Ecuador concluded that the EC held the
key to the solution in this long-lasting dispute.
Cameroon said that it was always in favour of a negotiated solution but a
negotiation should not exclude other interested parties.
The EC took note of the statements and said that the July banana agreement
was undeniably linked to the Doha negotiations. The EC questioned whether
the DSB was the appropriate forum for this issue to be raised and said that
the TNC or the General Council would be the most appropriate bodies.
DS336: Japan — Countervailing duties on dynamic access memories from Korea
Japan announced it had implemented the DSB's recommendations and had reduced
the countervailing duty rate from 27.2% to 9.1%.
Korea said it was deeply disappointed to hear Japan's statement. Korea
stated that Japan's decision not to withdraw its countervailing duty was
against the DSB's decision. Korea added that it was left with no choice but
to pursue the remedies available through the Dispute Settlement
Understanding.
Next
meeting back to top
The next meeting of the DSB will be
held on 23 September 2008.
|
> Problems viewing this page?
Please contact webmaster@wto.org giving details of the operating system and web browser you are using.
|