UNITED STATES – ANTI-DUMPING MEASURES

ON CERTAIN SHRIMP FROM VIET NAM

Communication from the Chairman of the Panel

            The following communication, dated 19 April 2011, addressed to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), is circulated in accordance with Article 12.9 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (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 Measures on Certain Shrimp from Viet Nam (DS404) was established by the DSB on 18 May 2010, and composed on 26 July 2010. 

            On 12 January 2011, the Panel informed the DSB that it expected to issue its final report to the parties on 6 May 2011.  The Panel now expects to issue the final report to the parties by the end of May 2011.