WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS204/5
17 March 2003
(03-1538)
Original:  English
MEXICO – MEASURES AFFECTING TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES
Communication from the Chairman of the Panel
The following communication, dated 13 March 2003, addressed to the Chairman of the
Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 12.9 of the Dispute Settlement
Understanding (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 Mexico – Measures Affecting Telecommunications Services  (WT/DS204) was
established by the DSB on 17 April 2002 and composed on 29 August 2002.
It will not be possible for the Panel to complete its work in six months due to the time needed
for translation into Spanish and English of all relevant documents and the complexity of the issues
involved.
In conformity with the changes to the timetable for Panel work agreed with the parties at the
second substantive meeting of the Panel, the Panel expects to complete its work in August 2003.
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