The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) has established a compliance panel to consider the measures taken by the United States in its dispute with Mexico over tuna.
As previously discussed in a DSB meeting in April, the US’s new rule directly addressed the DSB’s findings on the US dolphin-safe labelling measure which brought the US into compliance with its WTO obligations.
The US said that it had discussed the rule with Mexico but Mexico had insisted that negotiation proceedings to review Mexico’s request for authorisation to suspend concessions should continue.
It was therefore requested by the US that the DSB establish a compliance panel to confirm that the US has brought its measure into compliance with recommendations and rulings by the body.
Mexico indicated that it would also request a further compliance panel to examine the amended US measure.
In the absence of an agreement between the parties, the pending arbitration should not be suspended simply as a result of a declaration of compliance by the member concerned, noted Chinese Taipei.
The DSB agreed to refer to the original panel, if possible, the matter raised by the US in document WT/DS381/31.
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, Guatemala, India, Japan and Norway reserved their third-party rights to participate in the panel’s proceedings.
