WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS277/4
24 December 2003
(03-6705)
Original:  English
UNITED STATES – INVESTIGATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
IN SOFTWOOD LUMBER FROM CANADA
Communication from the Chairman of the Panel
The following communication, dated 19 December 2003, to the Dispute Settlement Body, is
circulated pursuant to Article 12.9 of the DSU.
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Article 12.8 of the DSU stipulates that the period in which a panel shall conduct its
examination, from the date that the composition and terms of reference of the panel have been agreed
upon until the date that the final report is issued to the parties, shall, as a general rule, not exceed six
months.
Article 12.9 of the DSU states that when a panel considers that it cannot issue its report within
six months, it shall inform the DSB in writing of the reasons for the delay, together with an estimate
of the period within which it will issue its report.
The Panel on U nited States – Investigation of the International Trade commission in Softwood
Lumber from Canada (DS277) was established by the DSB on 7 May 2003 and composed on
19 June 2003.
It will not, however, be possible for the Panel to complete its work in six months in light of
scheduling conflicts.
The Panel expects to complete its work in February 2004.
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