WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS176/7
30 November 2001
(01-6180)
Original:  English
UNITED STATES – SECTION 211 OMNI BUS APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 1998
Communication from the Appellate Body
The following communication, dated 30 November 2001, from the Chairman of the Appellate
Body, Mr. Claus-Dieter Ehlermann, to the Chairman of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated in
accordance with Article 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 , which stipulates that, as a general rule, the Appellate Body will
circulate its report no later than 60 days after the appellant has formally 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 its report within 60 days, it shall inform the DSB inwriting of the reasons for the delay together with an  estimate of the period within which it will submit
its report.
The European Communities 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 4 October 2001, with the result that the 60-day period will expire on Monday,
3 December 2001.  Due to the time required for completion and translation of the Report, theAppellate Body will not be able to circulate its Report by Monday, 3 December 2001.  We estimate
that the Appellate Body Report in this appeal will be circulated to WTO Members no later than
Wednesday, 2 January 2002.
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