WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS177/8
WT/DS178/9
29 March 2001
(01-1638)
Original:  English
UNITED STATES – SAFEGUARD MEASURES ON IMPORTS OF FRESH, CHILLED
OR FROZEN LAMB MEAT FROM NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA
Communication from the Appellate Body
The following communication, dated 29 March 2001, 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 .
_______________
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 United States 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
31 January 2001, with the result that the 60-day period will expire on Monday, 2 April 2001.  The
Appellate Body will not be able to circulate its Report by 2 April 2001. We estimate that theAppellate Body Report in this appeal will be circulated to WTO Members no later than Tuesday,
1 May 2001.
__________