This Trade Summary provides an overview of WTO dispute settlement decisions and panel activities, and EU decisions and measures on commercial policy, customs policy and external relations, for the first quarter of 2020.
I. WTO
1. Dispute Settlement
United States notifies decision to appeal compliance
panel ruling in steel dispute with India
On December 18, 2020, the United States, under Article 16 of the
Dispute Settlement Understanding, notified the Dispute Settlement
Body of its decision to appeal issues of law and legal
interpretations developed by the WTO compliance panel in its report
in the case brought by India in "United States -
Countervailing Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat
Products from India" (DS436).
(WTO Press Release, January 16, 2020)
Japan initiates second WTO dispute complaint regarding
Korean support for shipbuilders
Japan has requested WTO dispute consultations with Korea regarding
alleged subsidies provided by the Korean government to its
shipbuilding industry.
(WTO Press Release, February 10, 2020)
Turkey initiates WTO dispute complaint against EU steel
safeguard
Turkey has requested WTO dispute consultations with the European
Union regarding the EU's safeguard measures on imported steel
products.
(WTO Press Release, March 19, 2020)
The Philippines launches safeguard investigation on
motor vehicles
On February 18, 2020, the Philippines notified the WTO's
Committee on Safeguards that it initiated on February 6, 2020, a
"preliminary safeguard investigation" on motor
vehicles.
(WTO Press Release, February 18, 2020)
Ukraine launches safeguard investigation on caustic
soda
On February 18, 2020, Ukraine notified the WTO's Committee on
Safeguards that it initiated on February 11, 2020, a safeguard
investigation on caustic soda.
(WTO Press Release, February 18, 2020)
Ukraine launches safeguard investigation on polymeric
materials
On February 28, 2020, Ukraine notified the WTO's Committee on
Safeguards that it initiated on February 25, 2020, a safeguard
investigation on polymeric materials.
(WTO Press Release, February 28, 2020)
PANELS ESTABLISHED
WTO members consider EU request for panels on Indian
tech tariffs, Colombian duties on fries
At a meeting of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on
March 5, 2020, WTO members considered two requests from the
European Union for dispute panels to examine India's tariffs on
certain high-tech goods and Colombia's anti-dumping duties on
frozen fries from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
(WTO Press Release, March 5, 2020)
ADOPTED PANEL REPORTS
Panel report adopted regarding Moroccan measures on
hot-rolled steel from Turkey
At a meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on January 8,
2020, WTO members formally adopted the panel and Appellate Body
reports in a case brought by Turkey regarding anti-dumping measures
imposed by Morocco on imports of certain hot-rolled steel products
from Turkey
(WTO Press Release, January 8, 2020)
Members adopt panel ruling in Australia-Indonesia paper duty dispute >br /> At a meeting of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) on January 27, 2020, members adopted a panel ruling in a dispute initiated by Indonesia regarding anti-dumping duties imposed by Australia on imports of A4 copy paper from Indonesia.
(WTO Press Release, January 27, 2020)
APPELLATE BODY
Appellate Body issues report regarding Russian measures
on imported railway equipment
On February 4, 2020, the Appellate Body issued its report in the
case brought by Ukraine in " Russia - Measures affecting the
importation of railway equipment and parts thereof"
(DS499).
(WTO Press Release, February 4, 2020)
Appellate Body issues report regarding US duties on
Canadian paper
On February 6, 2020, the Appellate Body issued its report in the
case brought by Canada in "United States - Countervailing
Measures on Supercalendered Paper from Canada" (DS505).
(WTO Press Release, February 6, 2020)
2. Other Developments
World Trade Organization (WTO)
The EU and fifteen other members of the WTO decided on a
contingency appeal arrangement that will allow them to bring
appeals and solve trade disputes among them despite the current
paralysis of the WTO Appellate Body.
(Commission Press Release IP/20/538, March 27, 2020)
UK notifies WTO on implications of withdrawal from the
EU for itself and other members
The United Kingdom has notified the other 163 WTO members of its
status in the organization given its withdrawal from the European
Union.
(WTO Press Release, February 3, 2020)
TRADE POLICY REVIEWS
European Union
(WTO Press Release, February 18 & 20, 2020;
Secretariat Report and Government Report, December 10, 2019)
Australia
(WTO Press Release, March 11 & 13, 2020; Secretariat Report and Government Report, January 15, 2020)
WTO ACCESSIONS
Ethiopia resumes WTO accession negotiations after
eight-year pause
Members expressed unanimous support for the resumption of
Ethiopia's WTO membership negotiations at the 4th meeting of
the Working Party on the country's accession, held on January
30, 2020. It was the first meeting of the working party in almost
eight years.
(WTO Press Release, January 31, 2020)
Members endorse Curaçao's bid for WTO
membership
WTO members agreed at a meeting of the General Council on March 3,
2020, to establish a working party for the accession of
Curaçao to the organization.
(WTO Press Release, March 3, 2020)
II. EU Commercial Policy
1. Anti-dumping and Anti-subsidy
EU COURTS
Certain iron or steel fasteners from
China
Opinion by the Advocate General Pitruzzella advising the Court of
Justice to hold that, (i) an EU importer of products subject to
anti-dumping duties under a regulation such as Council Regulation
91/2009, which did not participate in the procedure which led to
the adoption of this regulation, cannot thereafter contest its
validity before a national court by claiming that the rights of
defense of the entities which participated in the procedure in
question have been infringed, and (ii) that the second part of the
second question is therefore inadmissible.
(Case C-104/19 Donex Shipping and Forwarding, Advocate General opinion of March 4, 2020, available in French)
Aspartame originating in China
Order by the President of the Court of Justice partially granting a
request for confidential treatment in the appeal against the
General Court's judgment of June 28, 2019, dismissing the
appeal against Commission Implementing Regulation 2016/1247
imposing a definitive anti-dumping duty and collecting definitively
the provisional duty.
(Case C-666/19 P Changmao Biochemical Engineering v. Commission, order of March 17, 2020)
To view the full article, please click here.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.