  
  
WT/DS556/17  
 
10 September 2019  
(19-5796) Page: 1/1 
  Original: English  
 
UNITED STATES – CERT AIN MEASURES ON STEE L AND ALUMINIUM PROD UCTS  
COMMUNICATION FROM T HE PANEL  
The following communication, dated 4 September 2019 , addressed to the Chairperson of the Dispute 
Settlement Body (DSB), is circulated in accordance with Article  12.9 of the Dispute Settlement 
Understanding (DSU).  
 
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Article 12.8 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes 
(DSU) provides that the period in which a panel shall conduct its examination, fro m the date that 
the composition and terms of reference of the panel have been agreed upon until the date the final 
report is issued to the parties to the dispute, shall, as  a general rule, not exceed six  months.  
 
Article 12.9 of the DSU provides that, when  a panel considers that it cannot issue its report within 
six months, it shall inform the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in writing accordingly and indicate 
the reasons, together with an estimate of the period within which it will issue its report.  
 
The Pan el on US – Steel and Aluminium Products ( Switzerland ) (DS556) was established by the DSB 
on 4 December 2018 and composed on 25 January 2019 .    
 
Due to the complexity of the issues before the Panel and the fact that the same three persons have 
been appointed to serve as panelists in multiple proceedings , the Panel expects t o issue its final 
report to the parties no earlier than autumn 2020.  
 
The re port will be available to the public once it is circulated to the Members in all three working  
languages of the WTO. The date of circulation depends on completion of translation and the Panel is 
not in a position to provide an estimated circulation date at  this time.  
 
I would be grateful if you would circulate this letter to the DSB.  
 
 
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