From the U.S. statement at today's DSB meeting:
• Mr. Chairman, the United States is disappointed that Mexico has chosen to move forward with a request for panel establishment.
• The United States considers its dolphin-safe labeling regime central to the protection of the dolphin population in the Eastern Tropical Pacific ocean.
• We are confident that, if this dispute were to proceed to a panel, the U.S. dolphin safe labeling measures that Mexico has challenged would be found to be consistent with U.S. WTO obligations.
• For all of these reasons, the United States strongly urges Mexico to reconsider its decision to pursue a panel in this dispute, and we are not in a position to agree to the establishment of a panel at this time.
