The World Trade Organization launched a database that establishes an interactive platform to research information relating to the dispute settlement process under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1947. The database is based on a WTO report on GATT disputes during 1948-95, that was published in 2018. The database provides access to the main documents in GATT disputes, including consultation requests, adjudicators, disputing parties and claims and defenses. The resources section gives access to different GATT dispute settlement procedures, which have evolved over time. A one-page summary has key dates, documents and other information relating to each GATT dispute, the WTO said.
The World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body established a panel to address Japan's concerns over China's antidumping duties on stainless steel products, Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Sept. 28. Japan requested the panel in August. China's antidumping duties began in July 2019 on stainless steel goods from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and the European Union. Japan said the duties violate the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (the WTO Anti-dumping Agreement) “due to flaws in the Chinese authorities' determination and its investigation procedures.”
The World Trade Organization circulated the agenda for the Sept. 27 meeting of the dispute settlement body, which includes a briefing on the implementation status of the dispute resolutions for the U.S.'s antidumping duties on hot-rolled steel products from Japan, Section 110(5) of the U.S. Copyright Act, the U.S.'s antidumping and countervailing duties on large residential washers from South Korea, and certain methodologies and their application to antidumping proceedings involving China. The DSB will also hear about the U.S.'s Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000, and will receive a statement from the U.S. about the European Union's measures affecting trade in large civil aircraft. China will also issue a statement regarding the panel report in the dispute over the U.S.'s safeguard measures on solar panel imports.
China will appeal a World Trade Organization panel ruling that U.S. safeguard measures on solar panels imposed by President Donald Trump in 2018 are legal under international trade law (see 2109020041), per a notice WTO circulated, at China's request, Sept. 20. “China regrets that currently no division of the Appellate Body can be established to hear this appeal,” the notice said. “In this exceptional circumstance, and in the interests of fairness and orderly procedure in the conduct of the appeal, China will await further instructions from the division, when it may eventually be composed, or the Appellate Body, regarding any further steps to be taken by China in this appeal.”
Tariff rate quotas of 30% imposed in 2018 under a global safeguard tariff against solar cells and solar panels were legal under international trade law, a panel at the World Trade Organization announced. The Section 201 tariffs fell to 25%, then 20%, and were supposed to fall to 15% in 2021, but are at 18% instead (see 1711010040 and 2010130028).
In an unusual move, China has been granted its request for a compliance panel at the World Trade Organization for the dispute between it and the U.S. over how China administers its wheat, rice and corn tariff rate quotas (see 2107160054 and 1904180020).
The World Trade Organization circulated the agenda for the Aug. 30 meeting of the dispute settlement body, which includes a briefing on the implementation status of the dispute resolutions for the U.S.'s antidumping measures on certain hot-rolled steel goods from Japan; Section 110(5) of the U.S. Copyright Act; the antidumping and countervailing duties on large residential washers from South Korea; and certain methdologies and their application to antidumping investigations concerning China. The DSB will also hear about the U.S.'s Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000, and will receive a statement from the U.S. about the European Union's measures affecting trade in large civil aircraft.
Saudi Arabia requested dispute consultations at the World Trade Organization for the first time since joining the multilateral body, over the European Union's antidumping duties on mono-ethylene glycol imports from the kingdom, the WTO said Aug. 19. Saudi Arabia said the duties, imposed June 10, are inconsistent with the WTO's Antidumping Agreement and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994. “Mono-ethylene glycol is a liquid used in the production of polyester fibres and film, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins and engine coolants,” the WTO said.
Japan requested a dispute resolution panel at the World Trade Organization regarding China's antidumping duties on stainless steel products from Japan, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Aug. 19. China imposed the duties in July 2019 on stainless steel goods from Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and the European Union on the grounds that the Chinese domestic industry was being injured by foreign exports. In particular, Japan is challenging the duties on stainless steel slabs, hot-rolled stainless steel sheets (cut sheets and plates) and hot-rolled stainless steel coils. The value of stainless steel exports from Japan to China is worth around $630 million, METI said.
The World Trade Organization reached an agreement with the European Law Students Association, the trade body announced on Aug. 6, to expand cooperation on the annual John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition on WTO Law. WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang and ELSA Vice President Louis Bremond penned a Memorandum of Understanding on July 23. The competition simulates a dispute settlement proceeding with written entries and hearings and has been around since 2002. The WTO acts as a technical sponsor for the event, sending legal experts to act as panelists and advise ELSA on the academic components to running the competition. A final oral round is conducted in Geneva.