WTO Disputes

It appears that Mexico is moving ahead with its complaint against U.S. dolphin-safe tuna labeling measures.  Here is the panel request: http://www.worldtradelaw.net/pr/ds381-4(pr).pdf  The specific claims are as follows: 1. Mexican products are not accorded immediately and unconditionally any advantage, favour,

In the ongoing arbitration in the U.S. - Cotton Subsidies case, the parties disagree on the purpose of "countermeasures" imposed under SCM Agreement Articles 4.10 and 7.9.  In its written submission, the United States argues: 340. Articles 4.10 and 7.9 of the SCM agreement

Some people in France want to retaliate for the extra import duties just imposed by the U.S. on French cheese: "Symbol versus symbol," said Philippe Folliot, a French member of parliament whose Tarn constituency contains many roquefort producers. "Since the United States has decided to surtax

I haven't seen much detail about this, but there are two reports of a new WTO complaint by Mexico against U.S. tuna restrictions: The Mexican government says it has formally requested World Trade Organization consultations on U.S. labeling restrictions that it says effectively exclude Mexican tuna

In another small victory for transparency, the Appellate Body hearing in the latest Bananas appeals will be open to the public:  http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news08_e/hearing_22sept08_e.htm  Of note is that one of the parties is Ecuador, which makes this, I believe, the

From the EEC - Import Restrictions case, adopted in 1983: 12. In the view of the European Community, in order to judge the compatibility of these restrictions with the provisions of GATT, it was not enough to limit examination to a purely legal exercise. All restrictions with which the Panel was

Over at Trade Diversion, Jonathan Dingel provides an excellent description of the information technology dispute, and then calls on us for guidance: How will the WTO dispute panel evaluate the difference between a LCD monitor and a flat panel TV? Will the panel have to think hard about the meaning

We can add Australia and New Zealand to the club of Members requesting open panel hearings in their disputes: At the request of the parties in the dispute “Australia — Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples from New Zealand (WT/DS367)”, the dispute panel has agreed to open its first substantive

Brazil decided to sue the U.S. in the WTO for the latter’s alleged illegal farm subsidies as well as import tariffs on the Brazilian ethanol (54 cents per gallon). See Financial Times, Aug 3, 2008, Brazil to dispute US subsidies.

At long last, the panel report in China – Auto Parts has come out. Regarding my previous posting on this dispute, click here . For two "preview" postings by Simon, click here and here . For another posting on the interim report by Henry, click here . Unsurprisingly (yet still frustratingly) it