INTRODUCTION

Background

On 14 August 1997, Korea requested consultations with the United States regarding “the failure of the United States to revoke the anti-dumping duty order on DRAMs from Korea” (WT/DS99/1). Korea made its request pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (the DSU), Article XXIII:1 of the General Agreement and Article 17.3 of the Agreement on the Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (the AD Agreement).

Pursuant to this request, Korea consulted with the United States in Geneva on 9 October 1997. No mutually satisfactory solution was reached.

On 6 November 1997, Korea requested the establishment of a panel with the standard terms of reference provided by Article 7 of the DSU (WT/DS99/2). Korea made this request pursuant to Article 6 of the DSU, Article XXIII:2 of the General Agreement and Article 17.5 of the AD Agreement.

Establishment and Composition of the Panel

At its meeting on 16 January 1998, the Dispute Settlement Body (the DSB) established a panel pursuant to Korea's request (WT/DS99/3). The Panel's terms of reference are:

Pursuant to a request by Korea, and as provided in paragraph 7 of Article 8 of the DSU, on 19 March 1998, the Director-General accordingly composed the Panel as follows:

Panel Proceedings

The Panel met with the Parties on 18/19 June 1998 and on 21/22 July 1998.

On 18 September 1998, the Chairman of the Panel informed the DSB that the Panel would not be able to issue its report within six months of the composition and establishment of the terms of reference of the Panel. The reasons for the delay are set out in WT/DS99/4.