US first panel request blocked in EC steel safeguards case

At its meeting on 30 August 2002, the European Communities blocked the United States' first request for the establishment of a panel on EC provisional safeguard measures on imports of certain steel products.

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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.

Implementation of the recommendations of the DSB

DS206: United States — Anti-dumping and countervailing measures on steel plate from India

The US said that it had informed India of its intention to implement the DSB recommendations in a letter sent on 27 August. India said that as compliance in this case did not involve any legislative modification, it was confident that the US could implement quickly. India added that it was ready to discuss the issue of the implementation time.

Panel requests deferred

DS257: United States — Final countervailing duty determination with respect to certain softwood lumber from Canada

The US blocked Canada’s first request for the establishment of a panel. (NB: Canada presented a request for the establishment of a panel in the same case on 29 July 2002 but later withdrew it. This is then a new first request.) The US argued that this was a hypothetical dispute as it concerned a proposed methodology for expedited reviews yet to be applied by the Commerce Department.

DS250: United States — Equalizing excise tax imposed by Florida on processed orange and grapefruit products

The US blocked Brazil’s first request for the establishment of a panel. The US argued that the panel request concerned a measure on which Brazil had not requested consultations.

DS260: European Communities — Provisional safeguard measures on imports of certain steel products

The EC blocked the US’ first request for the establishment of a panel. The EC said that its provisional safeguard measures were imposed in conformity with WTO rules. The EC added that its safeguard measures were provoked by the EC’s need to protect its producers from a highly probable flood of injurious imports of steel products following the introduction of the US safeguard measures.

Appeal

DS213: United States — Countervailing duties on certain corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Germany

The US announced that previous to the meeting it had appealed the panel report.

Adoption of report

DS221: United States — Section 129(c)(1) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act

The DSB adopted the panel report on this dispute. The US said it was happy with the panel’s analysis. Canada said it had mixed feelings about the panel report and that it raised significant systemic issues.

Next meeting

The next regular meeting of the DSB is scheduled for 1 October 2002.

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