WTO / Dispute Settlement Body Meeting Discusses Blocked Indonesian Request and US-South Korea Agreement

Friday, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) met under the chairmanship of Petter Ølberg (Norway) to discuss several ongoing disputes.

The European Union blocked Indonesia's request to establish a dispute panel on EU countervailing and anti-dumping duties on stainless steel cold-rolled flat products.

South Korea and the United States informed the DSB of a mutually agreed solution to terminate subsequent procedures in their dispute over safeguard measures on imports of large residential washers.

The United States made a statement on the findings of a panel report on Hong Kong, China, and US origin marking requirements.

Additionally, the United States blocked the proposal to start the selection process for filling vacancies on the Appellate Body for the 65th time.

Indonesia's request for a dispute panel was blocked by the European Union, which stated the measures were fully justified. South Korea and the United States reached a mutually agreed solution to terminate subsequent procedures in their dispute over safeguard measures on imports of large residential washers. The US also made a statement regarding the panel report's findings on the US origin marking requirement applicable to goods produced in Hong Kong, China. The US blocked the proposal to start the selection process for filling vacancies on the Appellate Body for the 65th time, with the initiative now supported by 128 WTO members.

The next regular DSB meeting will take place on May 30, 2023.