WTO Dispute Settlement Body Releases Oct. 26 Meeting Agenda

The World Trade Organization's published agenda for the Dispute Settlement Body's Oct. 26 meeting includes U.S. status reports on the implementation of DSB recommendations on: antidumping measures on certain hot-rolled steel products from Japan; antidumping and countervailing measures on large residential washers from South Korea; certain methodologies and their application to antidumping proceedings involving China; and Section 110(5) of the U.S. Copyright Act. Status reports also are expected from Indonesia on measures related to the import of horticultural products, animals and animal products, and from the EU on measures affecting the approval and marketing of biotech products.

The U.S. also will make a statement in a dispute on its Chinese origin marking requirement for goods coming from Hong Kong, and Costa Rica will make a statement on the dispute regarding the Dominican Republic's antidumping duties on corrugated steel bars. Argentina will request the establishment of a dispute settlement panel in the disputes on U.S. antidumping duties on oil country tubular goods, and Indonesia will request a panel on EU countervailing duties on biodiesel.

Also scheduled are discussions on revising the WTO's dispute settlement function. Numerous countries, but not the U.S., also will propose nominations for the Appellate Body.