./.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DSB/M/138
3 February 2003
(03-0684)
Dispute Settlement Body
5 December 2002
MINUTES OF MEETING
Held in the Centre William Rappard
on 5 December 2002
Chairman:  Mr. Carlos Pérez del Castillo (Uruguay)
1. United States – Anti-dumping measures on certain hot-rolled steel products from Japan
(a) Request for modification of the reasonable period of time (WT/DS184/16)
1. The Chairman drew attention to the communication from the United States contained in
document WT/DS184/16.
2. The representative of the United States recalled that at the 28 November DSB meeting, the
United States had reported that it had issued a new final determination in the hot-rolled steel
anti-dumping duty investigation.  That new fi nal determination had implemented the DSB's
recommendations and rulings with respect to the calculation of anti-dumping margins in that
investigation.  However, that final determinati on did not address all of the DSB's recommendations
and rulings.  Therefore, after consultations with Japan, the United States was requesting that the
reasonable period of time for implementation of the DSB's recommendations and rulings in this
dispute be modified so as to expire on 31 December 2003, or on the date on which the first session of
the next US Congress were to adjourn, whichever would be earlier.  The United States believed that
such an extension of time would promote a principa l aim of the dispute settlement system, which was
to provide mutually satisfactory solutions to disputes.  The United States intended to continue
discussions with Japan on implementation of the DSB's recommendations and rulings.  At the presentmeeting, the United States was asking the DSB to approve the request contained in document
WT/DS184/16.
3. The representative of Japan said that her country was greatly disappointed and regretted that
the United States had not implemented the DSB's recommendations and rulings within the reasonable
period of time.  Repeated non-compliance by the United States undermined the credibility not only ofthe United States, but also of the dispute settlement system and of the WTO as a whole.  As stated at
the previous DSB meeting, Japan and the United States had held some consultations.  Based on these
consultations, Japan did not object to the modification of the reasonable period of time for
implementation proposed by the United States.  Japan expected the United States to do its utmost for
earliest compliance and to closely consult with Japan on the status and contents of implementation.The DSU stipulated that the dispute settlement system of the WTO was a central element in providing
security and predictability to the multilateral trading system (Article 3.2 of the DSU), and that prompt
compliance with the DSB's recommendations or rulings was essential in order to ensure effective
resolution of the disputes to the benefit of all Members (Article 21.1 of the DSU).  It was, therefore,
extremely unfortunate that Japan had to remind the United States of such fundamental principles.Japan strongly urged the United States to implem ent the DSB's recommendations and rulings as soon
as possible.WT/DSB/M/138
Page 2
4. The DSB took note of the statements and agreed  to the request of the United States contained
in document WT/DS184/16.
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