  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/DS246/8 
5 March 2004 
 (04-0992) 
 Original:   English 
 
  
 
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – CONDITIONS FOR THE GRANTING OF  
TARIFF PREFERENCES TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
 
Communication from the Appellate Body  
  
 The following communication, dated 5 March 2004, from the Chairman of the Appellate 
Body addressed to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is  circulated in accordance with 
Article 17.5 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes . 
 
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  I am writing to you pursuant to Article 17.5 of the  Understanding on Rules and Procedures 
Governing the Settlement of Disputes ,  which stipulates that, as a general rule, the Appellate Body will 
circulate its report no later than 60 days afte r the appellant has formally notified the Dispute 
Settlement Body of its decision to appeal.  Article 17.5 states, furthermore, that when the Appellate 
Body considers that it cannot provide its report with in 60 days, it shall inform the DSB in writing of 
the reasons for the delay together with an estimate of the period within which it will submit its report. 
  The European Communities notified the Disput e Settlement Body on 8 January 2004 of its 
decision to appeal certain issues of law covere d in the Panel Report and legal interpretations 
developed by the Panel in this case, with the result that the 60-day period expires on Monday,  
8 March 2004.  Due to the time required for comple tion and translation of the Report, the Appellate 
Body will not be able to circulate its Report by Monday, 8 March 2004.  We estimate that the Appellate Body Report in this appeal will be circ ulated to WTO Members no later than Wednesday,  
7 April 2004.  
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