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)

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