WTO Dispute Settlement Proceeding Regarding United States-Continued Suspension of Obligations in the EC-Hormones Dispute

Resumo

The Office of the United States Trade Representative ("USTR") is providing notice that on January 13, 2005, the United States received from the European Communities ("EC") a request for the establishment of a panel under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization ("WTO Agreement") regarding the U.S. suspension of obligations to the EC in the WTO dispute European Communities--Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products (Hormones). The EC asserts that it has put into force new legislation that brings it into conformity with the recommendations and rulings of the Dispute Settlement Body ("DSB") and its obligations under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures ("SPS Agreement"). The EC therefore challenges the continued U.S. suspension of obligations and imposition of import duties in excess of bound rates on imports from the EC, the alleged U.S. "unilateral determination" that the new EC legislation is in violation of the EC's WTO obligations, and the alleged U.S. failure to have recourse to WTO dispute settlement proceedings. In particular, the EC asserts that by failing to discontinue suspension of obligations to the EC, the