WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS217/9
WT/DS234/17
18 December 2002
(02-6962)
UNITED STATES – CONTINUED DUMPING AND
SUBSIDY OFFSET ACT OF 2000
Communication from the Appellate Body
The following communication, dated 13 December 2002, from the Chairman of the Appellate
Body addressed to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance with
Article 17.5 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes .
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I am writing to you pursuant to Article 17.5 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures
Governing the Settlement of Disputes , which stipulates that, as a general rule, the Appellate Body will
circulate its report no later than 60 days after the appellant has formally notified the Dispute
Settlement Body of its decision to appeal.  Article 17.5 states, furthermore, that when the Appellate
Body considers that it cannot provide its report within 60 days, it shall inform the DSB in writing of
the reasons for the delay together with an estimate of the period within which it will submit its report.
The United States notified the Dispute Settlement Body on 18 October 2002 of its decision to
appeal certain issues of law covered in the Panel Report and legal interpretations developed by the
Panel in this case, with the result that the 60-day period expires on Tuesday, 17 December 2002.  Due
to the time required for completion and translation of the Report, the Appellate Body will not be able
to circulate its Report by Tuesday, 17 December 2002.  We estimate that the Appellate Body Report
in this appeal will be circulated to WTO Members no later than Thursday, 16 January 2003.
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