United States — Safeguard measure on imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic products

 

Short title:	United States — Safeguard Measures on PV Products
Complainant:	Korea, Republic of
Respondent:	United States
Third Parties (original proceedings):	Brazil; Canada; China; European Union; Egypt; India; Japan; Kazakhstan; Malaysia; Mexico; Norway; Philippines; Russian Federation; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; Viet Nam
Agreements cited: (as cited in request for consultations)	Art. X:3, XIII, XIX:1  GATT 1994 Art. 1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.1(c), 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.4, 8.1, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3  Safeguards
Agreements cited: (as cited in panel request)	Art. 1, 3.1  Safeguards Art. XIX:1  GATT 1994 Art. 2.1, 3.2, 4.1(c), 4.2, 4.1(a), 4.1(b), 4.2(a), 4.2(b), 4.2(c), 5.1, 7.4, 7.1, 8.1, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3  Safeguards Art. II:1  GATT 1994
Consultations requested:	14 May 2018
Panel requested:	14 August 2018
Panel established:	26 September 2018

Summary of the dispute to date

The summary below was up-to-date at 16 October 2018 

Consultations

Complaint by Korea

 

On 14 May 2018, Korea requested consultations with the United States concerning definitive safeguard measures imposed by the United States on imports of certain crystalline silicon photovoltaic products.

 

Korea claimed that the measures appear to be inconsistent with:

 

- Articles 1, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.4, 8.1, 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3 of the Agreement on Safeguards; and
 
- Article X:3, XIII and XIX:1(a) of the GATT 1994.

On 24 May 2018, China requested to join the consultations. On 25 May 2018, the European Union, Malaysia, Thailand and the Russian Federation requested to join the consultations. Subsequently, the United States informed the DSB that it had accepted the requests of China, the European Union, Malaysia and Thailand to join the consultations.

 

Panel and Appellate Body proceedings

On 14 August 2018, Korea requested the establishment of a panel. At its meeting on 27 August 2018, the DSB deferred the establishment of a panel.

 

At its meeting on 26 September 2018, the DSB established a panel. Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, Egypt, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Viet Nam reserved their third-party rights.