WORLD TRADE WT/DS58/10
22September 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3803)
Original: English
UNITED STATES -IMPORT PROHIBITION OF
CERTAIN SHRIMP AND SHRIMP PRODUCTS
Communication from theChairman ofthePanel
Thefollowing communication, dated 17September 1997, addressed totheDispute Settlement
Body, iscirculated inaccordance withArticle 12.9oftheDSU.
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Article 12.8 oftheDSU stipulates thattheperiod inwhich thepanel shall conduct its
examination, fromthedatethecomposition andterms ofreference ofthepanel havebeenagreed upon
untilthedatethefinalreport isissued totheparties shall, asageneral rule,notexceed sixmonths.
Pursuant toArticle 12.9oftheDSU, when apanel considers thatitcannot issue itsreport within six
months, itshallinform theDSBinwriting ofthereasons forthedelay together withanestimate of
theperiod within which itwillissue itsreport.
ThePanel on“United States -Import Prohibition ofCertain Shrimp andShrimp Products ”
wasestablished bytheDSBon25February 1997, andparties agreed onitscomposition andterms
ofreference on15April 1997. Iwishtoinform youthatthePanel hasnotbeenabletocomplete its
work within thesixmonths provided forintheDSU. Thecomplexity ofthematter andtheneedto
seektechnical andscientific expertise pursuant toArticle 13oftheDSUareresponsible forthisdelay.
ThePanel would intend tofinalize itswork bytheendofMarch 1998.