WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS58/12
9 September 1998
(98-3456)
Original:  English
UNITED STATES – IMPORT PROHIBITION OF
CERTAIN SHRIMP AND SHRIMP PRODUCTS
Communication from the Appellate Body
The following communication, dated 9 September 1998, from the Chairman of the Appellate
Body addressed to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with
Article 17.5 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes .
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I am writing to you pursuant to Article 17.5 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes , which stipulates that, as a general rule, the Appellate Body will
circulate its report no later than 60 days after the appellant has formally notified its decision to appeal.Article 17.5 states, furthermore, that when the Appellate Body considers that it cannot provide its
report within 60 days, it shall inform the DSB in wr iting of the reasons for the delay together with an
estimate of the period within which it will submit its report.
The United States notified the Dispute Settlement Body of its decision to appeal certain issues
of law covered in the Panel Report and legal interpretations developed by the Panel on 13 July 1998,
with the result that the 60-day period will expire on Monday, 14 September 1998.  Due to the timerequired for finalization and translation of the Report, the Appellate Body will not be able to circulate
its Report by 14 September 1998.  We estimate that the Appellate Body Report in this appeal will be
circulated to WTO Members by 12 October 1998.
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