United States – measures concerning the importation,
marketing and sale of tuna and tuna products

Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by mexico

Communication from the Panel

The following communication, dated 16 April 2014, was received from the Chairperson of the Panel with the request that it be circulated to the Dispute Settlement Body.

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Article 21.5 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) provides that the panel shall circulate its report within 90 days after the date of referral of the matter to it.

Article 21.5 of the DSU further provides that, when a panel considers that it cannot provide its report within this time frame, it shall inform the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in writing of the reasons together with an estimate of the period within which it will submit its report.

On 22 January 2014, the DSB referred the dispute United States – Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale of Tuna Products, Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Mexico (WT/DS381) to the original panel, if possible. The Panel was composed on 27 January 2014.^[1] 

The Panel expects to issue its final report to the parties by December 2014, in accordance with the timetable adopted after consultation with the parties.