russian federation – ADDITIONAL DUTIES ON CERTAIN PRODUCTS

FROM THE UNITED STATES

Communication from the Panel

The following communication, dated 15 December 2020, addressed to the Chairperson of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), is circulated in accordance with Article 12.9 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU).

_______________

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 accordingly and indicate the reasons, together with an estimate of the period within which it will issue its report.

The Panel in Russian Federation − Additional Duties on Certain Products from the United States (DS566) was established by the DSB on 18 December 2018 and composed on 25 January 2019. 

On 4 September 2019, the Panel informed the DSB that it expected to issue its report by the second half of 2020. However, due to the delays caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Panel now expects to issue its final report to the parties by the second half of 2021.

The report will only be available to the public once it is circulated to the Members in all three working languages of the WTO. The date of circulation depends on completion of translation and the Panel is not in a position to provide an estimated circulation date at this time.

I would be grateful if you would circulate this letter to the DSB.

__________