WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS75/15
WT/DS84/13
23 April 1999
(99-1736)
Original:  English
KOREA – TAXES ON ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Surveillance of Implementation of Recommendations and Rulings
Appointment of Arbitrator under Article 21.3(c) of the
Understanding on Rules and Procedures Go verning the Settlement of Disputes
The following communication, dated 23 April 1999, from the Permanent Mission of Korea,
the Permanent Delegation of the European Commission and the Permanent Mission of the
United States, to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated pursuant to
Article 21.3(c) of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes .
_______________
Our governments take note of the requests by the United States and the European
Communities dated 9 April in WT/DS75/13 and WT/DS75/14 that the reasonable period of time forimplementing the rulings and recommendations in the above-referenced matter be determined by
binding arbitration pursuant to Article 21.3(c) of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU).
Our governments would like to inform you that we have agreed on Mr. Claus-Dieter
Ehlermann of the Appellate Body as the arbitrator for determining the reasonable period of time in the
above-referenced proceeding.  We would appreciate it if you could consult with Mr. Ehlermann todetermine his availability to serve as arbitrator.
In addition, we note that a period of 90 days is set forth in DSU Article 21.3(c) for completion
of arbitration proceeding and the issuance of an arbitration award.  The panel report in this dispute
was adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body on 17 February.  We would request that this period beextended for a period of 20 additional days and that Mr. Ehlermann issue his arbitration award no
later than 7 June 1999.
__________