WTO names panel members in two US cases*

17/05/2010 12:00 - 527 Views

The head of the World Trade Organization was forced recently to name panel members who will rule on two cases brought against the United States, one involving Country of Origin Labeling or COOL, the other on orange juice imports.

Under WTO rules, litigating governments are supposed to agree on the three members of a dispute settlement panel deciding cases. Where that proves impossible, the WTO Director-General, Pascal Lamy can name panel members. That is what was needed in these cases, after Brazil, Mexico and Canada asked for Lamy's intervention.

The WTO said May 11 that Lamy had named Christian Häberli to chair the panel hearing the two cases brought by Canada and Mexico against U.S. Country of Origin Labeling rules.

Manzoor Ahmad and João Magalhães will complete the panel in these case -- DS384, DS386 - 'United States - Certain Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) Requirements.'

In the orange juice case brought against the United States by Brazil -- DS382 - 'United States – Anti-dumping administrative reviews and other measures related to imports of certain orange juice from Brazil' -- WTO head Lamy named Miguel Rodriguez Mendoza to chair the panel. Other panel members include Pierre S. Pettigrew and Reuben Pessah.

(5/13/2010)
Ian Elliott

Source: www.feedstuffs.com