WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS108/20
15 March 2001
(01-1288)
Original:  English
UNITED STATES – TAX TREATMENT FOR
"FOREIGN SALES CORPORATIONS"
Recourse by the European Communities to Article 21.5 of the DSU
Communication from the Chairman of the Panel
The following communication, dated 15 March 2001, addressed to the Dispute
Settlement Body, is circulated pursuant to Article 21.5 of the DSU.
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Article 21.5 of the DSU stipulates that a panel shall circulate its report within 90 days after
the date of referral of the matter to it.  It furt her provides that when a panel considers that it cannot
issue its report within that time, it shall inform  the DSB in writing of the reasons for the delay,
together with an estimate of the period within which it will issue its report.
The matter regarding United States – Tax Treatment For "Foreign Sales Corporations"  --
Recourse by the European Communities to Article 21.5 of the DSU  (DS108) was referred to the
original panel on 20 December 2000.
It will not, however, be possible for the Panel to complete its work within 90 days, due
largely to the complex nature of the case, the series of procedural steps preferred by both parties and
the time needed for translation.
The Panel expects to complete its work by July 2001.
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