WORLD TRADE WT/DS27/13
G/L/209
ORGANIZATION 20November 1997
(97-5113)
Original: English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES -REGIME FOR THE IMPORTATION,
SALE AND DISTRIBUTION OFBANANAS
Surveillance ofImplementation ofRecommendations andRulings
Request forArbitration by
Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico andtheUnited States
Thefollowing communication, dated 17November 1997, fromEcuador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Mexico andtheUnited States totheChairman oftheDispute Settlement Body, iscirculated attherequest
ofthese delegations.
_______________
On25September, theDispute Settlement Body adopted recommendations andrulings inrespect
ofthepanel andAppellate Body reports inEuropean Communities -Regime fortheImportation, Sale
andDistribution ofBananas. On16October 1997, theECannounced totheDSBthatitwould require
a“reasonable period oftime”inorder to“comply withitsinternational obligations ”.
Since 29October, pursuant toArticle 21.3(b) oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures
Governing theSettlement ofDisputes (DSU), wehaveattempted toreach agreement withtheECon
a“reasonable period oftime”fortheEC’simplementation ofalltheDSBrulings andrecommendations.
However, wehavebeenunable tomake progress. TheECrepresentative hasinformed usthatheis
“notauthorized ”toconfirm thatsuchperiod oftimeasmaybeagreed upon istheperiod inwhich
theECintends toimplement theDSB recommendations andrulings. Such refusal isparticularly
unfortunate given theplain textoftheDSU andthelonghistory ofthisdispute. Inlightofthe
uncertainty which suchrefusal castsuponanyperiod oftimetowhich ourgovernments arebeing asked
toagree,thegovernmentsofEcuador,Guatemala,Honduras,MexicoandtheUnitedStatesarecompelled
torequest withthisletter thatthe“reasonable period oftime”bedetermined bybinding arbitration
pursuant toArticle 21.3(c).
Pursuant tofootnote 12totheDSU, therepresentatives ofEcuador, Guatemala, Honduras,
Mexico andtheUnited States willimmediately opendiscussions withtheECwithaviewtoachieving
agreement onanarbitrator within thenexttendays.
Please circulate thisrequest toMembers oftheDispute Settlement Body andrequest the
Secretariat tonotify theCouncil forTrade inGoods.