 
  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/DS265/23 
WT/DS266/23 
WT/DS283/4 
24 June 2004 
 
 (04-2725) 
 Original:   English 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – EX PORT SUBSIDIES ON SUGAR 
 
Communication from the Chairman of the Panel  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 23 June 2004, addressed to the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), is circulated in accordance with Article 12.9 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU). 
 
_______________ 
 
  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 te rms 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 pane l 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 European Communities – Export Subsidies on Sugar (WT/DS265, WT/DS266 
and WT/DS283)  was established by the DSB on 29 August 2003 and composed on 
23 December 2003.   It will not, however, be possible for the Panel to  complete its work in six months due to the 
complexity of the matter. 
  The Panel expects to complete its work by early September 2004.  
__________ 
  