DOMINICAN REPUBLIC — ANTIDUMPING MEASURES ON
CORRUGATED STEEL BARS

COMMUNICATION FROM THE PANEL

The following communication, dated 7 October 2022, was received from the Chairman of the Panel with the request that it be circulated to the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB).

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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 further stipulates 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 Dominican Republic – Antidumping Measures on Corrugated Steel Bars (DS605) was established by the DSB on 20 December 2021 and composed on 8 April 2022.

Taking account of the Working Procedures and the Timetable that were prepared in consultation with the parties, the Panel does not expect to issue its final report to the parties before the first quarter of 2023. This is due to the complexity of the case, and the parties' requests for additional time to prepare submissions.

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.