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 28 January 2015, was received from
the Chairperson of the Panel with the request that it be circulated to the
Dispute Settlement Body.
_______________
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 and Tuna Products, Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Mexico (WT/DS/381)
to the original panel, if possible. The Panel was composed on
27 January 2014.[1] In its communication to the DSB on 16 April
2014 (WT/DS381/22), the Panel indicated that it expected to issue its final
report to the parties by the end of December 2014. However, due to the
complexity of the dispute, the Panel was not able to issue its final report to
the parties by the aforementioned date.
The Panel now expects to be able
to issue its final report to the parties by 30 January 2015.
I would be grateful if you would
circulate this letter to the Members of the DSB.
__________
[1] See WT/DS381/21 (compliance panel
constitution document).