Russia - Tariff Treatment of Certain Agricultural and Manufacturing Products (WT/DS485): Report of the Panel

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Complaint by the European Union

On 31 October 2014, the European Union requested consultations with the Russian Federation (Russia) pursuant to Articles 1 and 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), Article XXII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (GATT 1994), and Article 19 of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of the GATT 1994 (Customs Valuation Agreement) with respect to the measures and claims set out below.

The following Members asked to join the consultations: Ukraine (on 6 November 2014); Japan (on 14 November 2014); the United States (on 14 November 2014); and Indonesia (on 14 November 2014). The DSB did not receive a notification from Russia accepting these requests.

Consultations were held on 28 November 2014.

Panel Establishment and Composition

On 26 February 2015, the European Union requested the establishment of a panel pursuant to Article 6 of the DSU with standard terms of reference. At its meeting on 25 March 2015, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) established a panel pursuant to the request of the European Union in document WT/DS485/6, 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 the European Union in document WT/DS485/6 and to make such findings as will assist the DSB in making the recommendations or in giving the rulings provided for in those agreements.

On 8 June 2015, the European Union requested the Director-General to determine the composition of the panel, pursuant to Article 8.7 of the DSU. On 18 June 2015, the Director-General accordingly composed the Panel as follows:

Chairperson: Mr Ronald Saborío Soto

Members: Mr Esteban Conejos, Jr.

Mr Gustavo Lunazzi

Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Moldova, Norway, Singapore, Ukraine, and the United States notified their interest in participating in the Panel proceedings as third parties.

Panel Proceedings

General

The Panel held its organizational meeting with the parties on 30 June 2015. After consultation with the parties, the Panel adopted its Working Procedures and timetable on 3 July 2015.