WORLD TRADE WT/DS8/12
WT/DS10/12
ORGANIZATION WT/DS11/10
21January 1997
(97-0192)
Original: English
JAPAN -TAXES ONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Surveillance ofImplementation ofRecommendations andRulings
Communication from theEuropean Communities
Thefollowing communication, dated 16January 1997 ,from thePermanent Delegation of
theEuropean Commission totheChairman oftheDispute Settlement Body, iscirculated attherequest
ofthatdelegation.
_______________
Asyouareaware, on1November 1996, theDispute Settlement Body adopted the
Recommendations andRulings ofthepanel andtheAppellate Body reports onthedispute “Japan -
Taxes onAlcoholic Beverages ”.
On24December1996,theUnitedStates,oneofthecomplainingpartiesinthatdispute,requested
thatthe“reasonable period oftime”forimplementation ofthose recommendations andrulings be
determined bybinding arbitration pursuant toparagraph 3(c)ofArticle 21oftheUnderstanding on
Rules andProcedures Governing theSettlement ofDisputes (DSU). On6January 1997, theUnited
States addressed aletter totheDirector-General oftheWTO requesting theappointment ofanarbitrator
asprovided infootnote 12oftheDSU.
Asoneofthecomplaining parties tothedispute on“Japan -Taxes onAlcoholic Beverages ”,
whose interests willnecessarily beaffected bytheoutcome ofthearbitration requested bytheUnited
States, theEuropean Community considers itself entitled toparticipate inthearbitration procedure.
Accordingly, theEuropean Community expects tobeassociated atallstages oftheprocedure.