WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS135/10
20 December 2000
(00-5595)
Original:  English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES – MEASURES AFFECTING ASBESTOS
AND ASBESTOS-CONTAINING PRODUCTS
Communication from the Appellate Body
The following communication, dated 20 December 2000, from the Chairman of the Appellate
Body addressed to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in accordance withArticle 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  (the "DSU"), which stipulates that, as a general rule, the
Appellate Body will circulate its report no later than 60 days after the appellant has 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 it s 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.
Canada notified the Dispute Settlement Body of its decision to appeal certain issues of law
covered in the Panel Report and legal interpretations developed by the Panel in this case on
23 October 2000, with the result that the 60-day period will expire on Friday, 22 December 2000.
The Appellate Body will not be able to circulate its Report by 22 December 2000.  Due to theexceptional workload of the Appellate Body during the current period, and in light of the agreement
of the participants, Canada and the European Communities, the Appellate Body Report in this appeal
will be circulated to WTO Members no later than Monday, 12 March 2001.
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