UNITED STATES – ANTI-DUMPING ACT OF 1916

Communication from the Chairman of the Panel

            The following communication, dated 17 September 1999 and addressed to the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 12.9 of the DSU.

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            Article 12.8 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) provides that the period in which a panel shall conduct its examination, from the date that the composition and terms of reference of the panel have been agreed upon until the date the final report is issued to the parties to the dispute, shall, as a general rule, not exceed six months.

            Article 12.9 of the DSU provides that when a panel considers that it cannot issue its report within six months, it shall inform the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in writing of the reasons for the delay together with an estimate of the period within which it will issue its report.

            The Panel on "United States – Anti-Dumping Act of 1916" (WT/DS136) was established by the DSB on 1 February 1999 and parties agreed to its composition and terms of reference on 1 April 1999.  Due to administrative constraints, the Panel is not able to issue its report within six months.

            The Panel expects to issue its final report to the parties in January 2000.