WORLD TRADE WT/DS56/7
4August 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3289)
Original: English
ARGENTINA -MEASURES AFFECTING IMPORTS OF
FOOTWEAR, TEXTILES, APPAREL AND OTHER ITEMS
Communication from theChairman ofthePanel
Thefollowing communication, dated 31July1997 andaddressed totheDispute Settlement
Body, iscirculated inaccordance withArticle 12.9oftheDSU.
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Article12.8oftheUnderstandingonRulesandProceduresGoverningtheSettlementofDisputes
(DSU) provides thattheperiod inwhich apanel shallconduct itsexamination, fromthedatethatthe
composition andterms ofreference ofthepanel havebeenagreed upon untilthedatethefinalreport
isissued totheparties tothedispute, shall, asageneral rule,notexceed sixmonths.
Article 12.9states thatwhen apanel considers thatitcannot issueitsreport within sixmonths,
itshallinform theDispute Settlement Body (DSB) inwriting ofthereasons forthedelay together with
anestimate oftheperiod within which itwillissue itsreport.
ThePanel onArgentina -Measures Affecting Imports ofFootwear, Textiles, Apparel andother
Items (WT/DS56) wasestablished bytheDSBon25February 1997andparties agreed toitscomposition
andterms ofreference on4April 1997. Duetoadministrative constraints andtothefactthatitwas
found appropriate togivetotheparties sufficient timetoprepare theirsubmissions, thePanel willnot
beabletoissue itsreport within sixmonths.
ThePanel, inagreement withtheparties, expects tocomplete itswork atthebeginning of
November 1997.