WORLD TRADE WT/DS8/14
WT/DS10/14
ORGANIZATION WT/DS11/12
27January 1997
(97-0265)
Original: English
JAPAN -TAXES ONALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Surveillance ofImplementation ofRecommendations andRulings
Communication from Canada
Thefollowing communication, dated 17January 1997, fromthePermanent Mission ofCanada
totheChairman oftheDispute Settlement Body, iscirculated toMembers.
_______________
Myauthorities haverequested thatIcontact youwithregard tothe24December 1996 letter
fromtheUSaddressed toyourequesting binding arbitration forthedetermination ofthe“reasonable
period oftime”fortheimplementation oftheDispute Settlement Body’s(DSB) recommendations
concerning thedispute entitled “Japan -Taxes onAlcoholic Beverages ”.
Asyouareaware, Canada wasacomplaining party inthisdispute. Ourconcerns regarding
theinconsistency oftheJapanese measures were elaborated inoursubmissions tothePanel aswell
astotheAppellate Body. Therefore, Canada hasaparticular interest inensuring thatJapan implements
theDSB’srecommendations inaneffective andmeaningful manner.
Inthelightofthetimeframes outlined intheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing
theSettlement ofDisputes, wepresume thatthearbitrator hasbeenchosen andthatthearbitrator ’s
decision willberendered shortly. Although thetimeframe isshort, Canada wants tomake certain
thatitwillhaveanopportunity tobeheard bythearbitrator, ifCanada deems itnecessary. Atthis
time, Canada doesnotintend tomake awritten submission tothearbitrator, however, afterreviewing
thesubmissions tobemade byJapan, theUS,ortheEC,should thelatter participate inthearbitration,
wemayconsider itnecessary tointervene (e.g.thiscould bedoneduring thehearing, presuming there
isoneprovided forintheprocess adopted). Without knowing thespecific arbitration procedures to
beadopted, youcanunderstand itisdifficult forustobemore precise withregard tothismatter.
Notwithstanding thefactthattherequest forthearbitration wasmade bytheUS,theresult
ofthisarbitration proceeding willaffect theimplementation oftheDSBrecommendations concerning
adispute inwhich Canada wasacomplaining party. Canada ’sapproach withregard tothismatter
istoensure thatthearbitration process provides Canada withanopportunity tobeheard, ifnecessary,
allowing ittoprotect itsinterests aswellasitsWTO rights.