Colombia - Measures Relating to the Importation of Textiles, Apparel and Footwear (WT/DS461): Report of the Panel

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Complaint by Panama

On 18 June 2013, Panama requested consultations with Colombia pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) and Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994) with respect to the imposition by Colombia of a compound tariff affecting the importation of textiles, apparel and footwear from Panama.

Consultations were held on 24 July 2013 but failed to resolve the dispute.

Panel Establishment and Composition

On 19 August 2013, Panama requested the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) to establish a panel pursuant to Articles 4.7 and 6 of the DSU and Article XXIII:2 of the GATT 1994, with the standard terms of reference provided for in Article 7.1 of the DSU. At its meeting on 25 September 2013, the DSB established a panel pursuant to the request of Panama in document WT/DS461/3, in accordance with Article 6 of the DSU.

The Panel's terms of reference are the following:

To examine, in the light of the relevant provisions of the covered agreements cited by the parties to the dispute, the matter referred to the DSB by Panama in document WT/DS461/3 and to make such findings as will assist the DSB in making the recommendations or in giving the rulings provided for in those agreements.

At Panama's request, on 15 January 2014 the Director-General composed the Panel as follows:

Chairman: Mr Elbio Rosselli

Members: Mr Carlos Véjar Borrego

Mr Fabián Villarroel Ríos

China, Ecuador, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Honduras, the Philippines and the United States reserved their right to participate in the Panel proceedings as third parties.

Panel Proceedings

After consultations with the parties, the Panel adopted its working procedures and a partial timetable on 7 February 2014. Under the partial timetable the first written submissions of the parties were to be submitted no later than 29 August 2014 (for the complaining party) and 24 October 2014 (for the responding party). Subsequent dates for the proceedings were to be decided at a later stage. The Panel adopted a timetable for the remaining stages of the proceedings on 23 October 2014 after consulting with the parties.