WTO extends adoption deadline for panel report in Tuna II case

At its meeting on 11 November 2011, at the US and Mexico’s request, the DSB agreed to extend the deadline for the adoption or appeal of the panel report in the Tuna case between both parties

DS381: United States — measures concerning the importation, marketing and sale of tuna and tuna products

The panel report (WT/DS381/R) related to this dispute was circulated on 15 September 2011.

Under Article 16.4 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), the 60-day period within which the DSB is obliged to adopt a panel report that is not appealed would have expired on 15 November 2011.

Taking into account the current workload of the Appellate Body, the US and Mexico jointly requested (WT/DS381/9) that the DSB adopt a draft decision to extend the 60-day time period to 20 January 2012.

Japan referred to its statements from the previous DSB meetings of 21 April 2011 and 27 September 2011 and added that a decision of this kind must remain an exception.

The DSB agreed to extend the deadline for the adoption or appeal of the panel report to 20 January 2012.

WTO: 2011 NEWS ITEMS. 11 November 2011

Next meeting

The next meeting of the DSB will be held on 18 November 2011