WT/DS384/R 
 WT/DS386/R 
 Page F-1 
 
 
  ANNEX F 
 
PROCEDURES FOR OPEN HEARINGS 
 
CONTENTS PAGE 
F-1 Procedures for open hearings, first a nd second substantive meetings of the 
Panel  F-2 
 
 WT/DS384/R 
WT/DS386/R Page F-2 
 
 
 UNITED STATES – CERTAIN COUNTRY OF ORIGIN  
LABELLING (COOL) REQUIREMENTS 
(DS384 and DS386) 
 
Procedures for open hearings, first and sec ond substantive meetings of the Panel
1 
 
1. Subject to the availability of suitable WTO mee ting rooms, the Panel will start its first and 
second substantive meetings, on 14- 16 September 2010 and 1-3 December 2010, respectively, with a 
session with the parties open to the public.  At that sessi on, be that within the context of the first or the 
second substantive meeting with the parties, each pa rty will be asked to make an opening and closing 
statement.  After the parties have made their stat ements, they will be given the opportunity to pose 
questions to the other party or make comments on the other party's statement.  The Panel may pose 
any questions or make any comments during such session. 
2. To the extent that the Panel or any of the pa rties considers it necessary, the Panel will also 
hold a session with the parties not open to public obs ervation during which the parties will be allowed 
to make additional statements or comments a nd pose questions that involve business confidential 
information.  The Panel may also pose questions during such a session. 
3. In addition to its sessions with the parties, at each substantive meeting the Panel will also hold 
a separate session with the third parties.  Th e Panel will start the third party session at each 
substantive meeting by opening a portion of this session to the public.  At this portion of the third 
party session, any third party wishing to make its or al statement (first substantive meeting) or brief 
statement (second substantive meeting) in a public session shall do so.  Following the third party open 
session, the Panel will proceed to a third party clo sed session during which any other third party shall 
make its oral or brief statement, depending on the substantive meeting.  At each of these third party 
open or closed sessions, after the third parties' stat ements, the Panel or any party may pose questions 
to any third party or make comments concerning these statements.  Third parties may also ask 
questions to the parties or to the other third parti es;  however, the parties and the other third parties 
have no obligation to respond to these questions by third parties. 
4. The following persons will be admitted into the meeting room during all sessions of the 
Panel's substantive meetings, whethe r open or closed to the public: 
- the members of the Panel; 
- all members of the delegations of the parties; 
- all members of the delegations of the third parties;  and 
- WTO Secretariat staff assisting the Panel. 
 5. No person shall disclose any business confiden tial information at any session open to the 
public. 
6. WTO Members and Observers and the public may observe the Panel's sessions that are open 
to the public by means of a real time closed-circu it television broadcast to a separate viewing room.  
The broadcasts will be open to officials of WT O Members and Observers upon presentation of their 
official badges.  Accredited journalists and repr esentatives of relevant NGOs may indicate to the 
Secretariat their interest in attending the broadcasts (Information and External Relations Division).  
Members of the general public will be invited to regi ster their interest in attending each broadcast via 
                                                      
1 These procedures are adopted according to, and are an integral part of, the Panel's Working 
Procedures of 18 June 2010.  WT/DS384/R 
 WT/DS386/R 
 Page F-3 
 
 
 the WTO website, by close of business on 1 Septem ber 2010 for the first substantive meeting, and 
24 November 2010 for the second substantive meeting. 
 
__________