WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS163/6
31 January 2000
(00-0359)
Original: English
KOREA – MEASURES AFFECTING GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
Communication from the Chairman of the Panel
The following communication, dated 25 January 2000, addressed to the Dispute Settlement
Body, is circulated in accordance with Article 12.9 of the DSU.
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Article XXII:6 of the Agreement on Government Procurement stipulates that, notwithstanding
the provisions of paragraphs 8 and 9 of Article 12 of the DSU, the Panel shall attempt to provide itsfinal report to the parties to the dispute not later than four months, and in case of delay not later than
seven months, after the date on which the composition and terms of reference of the Panel are agreed.
The DSB established the Panel on Korea – Measures Affecting Government Procurement and
determined its terms of reference on 16 June 1999.  The Panel was composed on 30 August 1999.I wish to inform you that, in spite of the effort  made to accelerate the proceedings to the greatest
extent possible, the Panel has not been able to comp lete its work within the four months provided for
in the Agreement.  The complex nature of the matters as well as certain logistical and scheduling
difficulties are responsible for the delay.
The Panel intends to circulate its final report by the end of April 2000.
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