. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/DS58/15/Add.4
17 January 2000
(00-0235)
Original:  English
UNITED STATES – IMPORT PROHIBITION OF
CERTAIN SHRIMP AND SHRIMP PRODUCTS
Status Report by the United States
Addendum
The following communication, dated 14 January 2000, from the Permanent Mission of the
United States to the Dispute Settlement Body, is  circulated pursuant to Article 21.6 of the DSU.
_______________
Status Report Regarding Implementati on of the Recommendations and Rulings
in the Dispute regarding
United States - Import Prohibition of Certain Shrimp and Shrimp Products
On 25 November 1998, the United States informed  the Dispute Settleme nt Body (DSB) of its
intention to implement the recommendations and rulings of the DSB in connection with this matter
and to do so in a manner which is consistent with our firm commitment to the protection of
endangered sea turtles.  At that time, the United States also advised the DSB that a "reasonable periodof time" would be required to complete this process.  On 21 January 1999, the United States and the
other parties to the dispute reached agreement on 13 months as a reasonable period for
implementation.  Therefore, as provided for in Article 21.6 of the Understanding on Rules and
Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, this fifth and final report on the status of our
implementation is being presented.
The United States has implemented the recommendations and rulings of the DSB during the
reasonable period of time.  Our implementation steps have both responded to the issues raised by the
Appellate Body report, and - with the cooperation of the countries in the Indian Ocean region - have
advanced efforts to conserve endangered sea turtles.
Our implementation of the recommendations and rulings of the DSB in this matter has several
distinct elements and has included opportunities for input from the other parties to the dispute.
As noted in our first report, on 8 July 1999, the United States Department of State issued
revised guidelines implementing our Shrimp/Turtle la w.  The revised guidelines, in accordance with
the recommendations and rulings of the DSB are intended to:  (1) introduce greater flexibility in
considering the comparability of foreign programs and the U.S. program and (2) elaborate a timetable
and procedures for certification decisions, including an expedited timetable to apply in 1999 only.
These latter changes are designed to increase the transparency and predictability of the certification
process and to afford foreign governments seeking certification a greater degree of due process.WT/DS58/15/Add.4
Page 2
As noted in our third report, on the basis of the revised guidelines, in response to a request
from the Government of Australia, the United States has approved imports from the Spencer Gulf
Region of Southern Australia.  Based on complete and well documented information presented by the
Government of Australia and the State of Southern Australia, the Department of State, in consultation
with the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, f ound that the shrimp trawl fishery in the Spencer
Gulf does not pose a threat of the incidental taking of sea turtles.
More recently, the State Department has scheduled a visit to Pakistan by a team of technical
experts the week of 17 January to evaluate Pakistan’s sea turtle protection program with a view
toward certification under the Shrimp/Turtle law, if warranted.  The team will also provide technical
assistance to the Government of Pakistan on shrimp fishing methods and technology which will
contribute to the effectiveness of the TEDs for Pakistan’s fishing environment.
It will be recalled that another key element of our implementation efforts has been an effort to
launch the negotiation of an agreement with the governments of the Indian Ocean region on the
protection of sea turtles in that region.  As noted in our fourth report, the United States Government
actively participated in a widely attended work shop on sea turtle conservation hosted by theGovernment of Australia in Perth, Australia from  19-22 October.  The Symposium concluded with a
resolution agreeing to hold further consultations ai med at concluding an instrument to be called the
Indian Ocean and South-East Asian Regional Agreement on Conservation and Management of
Marine Turtles and their Habitats.  The resolution calls  for efforts to initiate negotiations within the
first half of the year 2000.  We strongly welcome this cooperative effort and will lend it our fullsupport.
We would also recall our offer of technical training in the design, construction, installation
and operation of TEDs to any government that requests it.  Any government that wants to receive
such training need only make such a request to  the United States in writing, through diplomatic
channels.  The United States will make every effort to meet such requests.  Training programs will be
scheduled on a first come, first served basis, although special efforts will be made to accommodate
nations whose governments are making efforts to adopt and maintain nation-wide TEDs programs and
who have not previously received such training.  In this connection, we would recall that, based on
discussions with the Government of Thailand, we have invited a team of specialists from the
Government of Thailand, as well as the Southeast Asia Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), to
visit the National Marine Fisheries Laboratory in Pascagoula, Mississippi for additional training in theuse and maintenance of TEDs and related gear modifications.
We appreciate the constructive input we have received from the parties to the dispute
throughout this process, and we look  forward to  continuing to work cooperatively with these
Governments to advance our common goal of sea turtle conservation.
__________