WT/DS436/16  
 
11 May 2016  
(16-2616)  Page: 1/3  
  Original: English  
 
 UNITED STATES – COUNTERVAILING MEASURES ON CERTAIN 
HOT-ROLLED CARBON STEEL FLAT PRODUCTS FROM INDIA 
UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN INDIA AND THE UNITED STATES  
REGARDING PROCEDURES UNDER AR TICLES 21 AND 22 OF THE DSU 
The following communication, dated 6 May 2016, from the delegation of India and the delegation 
of the United States to the Chairperson of the Dispute Settlement Body, is circulated at the 
request of these delegations. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
The United States and India would like to info rm the Dispute Settlement Body of the attached 
"Agreed Procedures under Articles 21 and 22 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding" between 
the United States and India with respect to the dispute United States – Countervailing Duty 
Measures On Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India  (DS436). 
 
We request that you please circulate the atta ched agreement to the Members of the Dispute 
Settlement Body. WT/DS436/16 
 
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  Agreed Procedures under Articles 21 and 22 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding 
United States – Countervailing Duty Measures On Certain  
Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel Flat Products from India 
(WT/DS436) 
 
In this dispute, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) adopted its recommendations and rulings on 
December 14, 2014.  India and the United States (collectively, "the Parties") agreed, pursuant to Article 21.3(b) of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of 
Disputes (DSU), that the reasonable period of time  to implement the DSB recommendations would 
expire on March 19, 2016, and subsequently agreed to modify the reasonable period of time so as 
to expire on April 18, 2016. 
The Parties have agreed on the following procedures for the exclusive purposes of this dispute.  
They are designed to facilitate the resolution of  the dispute and reduce the scope for procedural 
disputes and are without prejudice to either party's views on the correct interpretation of the DSU:  
1. Should India consider that the situation describ ed in Article 21.5 of the DSU exists, India will 
request consultations.
1  The Parties agree to hold such consultations within 14 days from the 
date of circulation of such request.  The part ies to the dispute agree that after the end of 
such period for consultations, India may, at any time, request the establishment of a panel 
pursuant to Article 21.5 of the DSU.  
 
2. At the first DSB meeting at which India's request for the establishment of an Article 21.5 
panel appears on the agenda, the United Stat es shall accept the establishment of that 
panel.  
  3. The parties to the dispute shall cooperate to enable the Article 21.5 panel to circulate its 
report within 90 days of the panel's establishment, excluding such time during which the 
panel's work may be suspended pursuant to Article 12.12 of the DSU.  
  
4. Either party to the dispute may request the DSB to adopt the report of the Article 21.5 panel 
at a DSB meeting held at least 20 days after the circulation of the report to the Members 
unless either party appeals the report.   
  
5. In the event of an appeal of the Article 21.5 panel report, the parties to the dispute shall 
cooperate to enable the Appellate Body to circulate its report to the Members within 90 days 
from the date of notification of the appeal to the DSB.  
  
6. In the event of an appeal, either party to the dispute may request the DSB to adopt the 
reports of the Appellate Body and of the Article 21.5 panel (as modified by the Appellate Body report) at a DSB meeting held within 30 da ys of the circulation of the Appellate Body 
report to the Members.  
  
7. In the event the DSB finds, pursuant to Arti cle 21.5 of the DSU, that a measure taken to 
comply does not exist or that the United States has failed to bring the measure found to be inconsistent with a covered agreement into compliance therewith  India may request negotiations with the United States with a view to developing mutually acceptable compensation or request authorization to suspend concessions or other obligations pursuant to Article 22 of the DSU after the adoption by the DSB of the Article 21.5 panel report and, 
where relevant, the Appellate Body report.   
    
8. The United States shall not assert that India is precluded from requesting such negotiation 
for developing mutually acceptable compensation or obtaining such DSB authorization on 
the grounds that the request was made outside the 20-day time-period specified in 
Article 22.2 or the 30-day time period specified in Article 22.6 of the DSU.  This is without prejudice to the right of the United States to  have the matter referred to arbitration in 
accordance with Article 22.6 of the DSU. 
                                               
1 The Parties agree that under Article 21.5 of the DSU, consultations are not obligatory.  WT/DS436/16 
 
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  9. If India requests authorization to suspend concessions or other obligations pursuant to 
Article 22.2 of the DSU, and the United States objects under Article 22.6 of the DSU to the 
level of suspension of concessions or other obligations or claims that the principles and procedures set forth in DSU Article 22.3 have not been followed, the Parties agree that the matter will be referred to arbitration and proceedings  will commence pursuant to DSU 
Article 22.6 upon such objection by the United States.  
 
10. The parties to the dispute will cooperate to en able the arbitrator under Article 22.6 of the 
DSU to circulate its decision within 60 days of the referral to arbitration.   
  
11. If any of the original panelists is not availabl e for either the Article 21.5 compliance panel or 
the Article 22.6 arbitration (or both), the Parties will promptly consult on a replacement, and either party may request the Director-General of the WTO to appoint, within ten days of 
being so requested, a replacement for the proceeding or proceedings in which a replacement is required.  If an original panelist is unavailable to serve in either of the proceedings, the Parties will further request that, in making this appointment, the Director-General seek a 
person who will be available to act in both proceedings.  
  
12. The Parties will continue to cooperate in all matters related to these agreed procedures  and 
agree not to raise any procedural objection to an y of the steps set out herein.  If, during the 
application of these procedures, the Parties consider that a procedural aspect has not been 
properly addressed in these procedures, they will endeavor to find a solution within the 
shortest time possible that will not affect the other aspects and steps agreed herein.   
 
13. These agreed procedures in no way prejudice other rights of either Party to take any action 
or procedural step to protect its rights and interests, including recourse to the DSU. 
  
 
Signed in Geneva, on 4 May 2016 
 
For India For the United States of America 
 
  
 
 
HE Ms Anjali Prasad 
Ambassador 
Permanent Mission of India 
   
  
 
 
HE Mr Michael Punke 
Ambassador 
Permanent Mission of the United States 
 
 
 
 
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