Canada – Measures Relating to Exports of Wheat and Treatment of Imported Grain
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WORLD TRADE WT/DS276/R 6 April 2004 ORGANIZATION (04-1443) Original: English CANADA – MEASURES RELATING TO EXPORTS OF WHEAT AND TREATMENT OF IMPORTED GRAIN Reports of the Panel WT/DS276/R Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................1 A. COMPLAINT OF THE UNITED STATES ..........................................................................................1 B. ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION OF THE PANEL..................................................................1 C. PANEL PROCEEDINGS..................................................................................................................2 II. FACTUAL ASPECTS ..............................................................................................................2 III. PARTIES' REQUESTS FOR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.........................3 A. UNITED STATES...........................................................................................................................3 B. CANADA ......................................................................................................................................3 IV. ARGUMENTS OF THE PARTIES ........................................................................................4 A. PRELIMINARY WRITTEN SUBMISSION OF CANADA ON THE PANEL'S JURISDICTION UNDER ARTICLE 6.2 OF THE DSU...............................................................................................4 1. The Panel has the right and the obligation to refuse to assume jurisdiction in respect of claims that do not comply with the requirements of the DSU.............................4 2. The requirements of Article 6.2 of the DSU ...........................................................................5 (a) The text and context of Article 6.2 .............................................................................................5 (b) Object and purpose of Article 6.2...............................................................................................6 (c) Deficiency in a panel request may not be "cured" ......................................................................7 3. Certain claims in the United States' request for the establishment of a Panel fail to meet the requirements of Article 6.2...................................................................................8 (a) Claim under Article XVII of GATT 1994 ..................................................................................8 (b) Claim under Article III:4 of GATT 1994....................................................................................9 (c) Claim under Article 2 of the TRIMs Agreement .......................................................................10 (d) Efforts at clarification ...............................................................................................................10 4. Request for preliminary rulings ............................................................................................11 B. PRELIMINARY WRITTEN SUBMISSION OF CANADA ON PROCEDURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.......................................................11 1. Analysis....................................................................................................................................12 2. Request for a preliminary ruling...........................................................................................13 C. PRELIMINARY WRITTEN SUBMISSION OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE PANEL'S JURISDICTION UNDER ARTICLE 6.2 OF THE DSU .....................................................................13 1. Statement of facts....................................................................................................................14 2. The Requirements of Article 6.2 of the DSU ........................................................................15 WT/DS276/R Page ii 3. The Canadian arguments.......................................................................................................17 (a) GATT Article XVII claim ........................................................................................................17 (b) Claim regarding rail car allocation ...........................................................................................19 (c) Claims under Article 2 of the TRIMs Agreement......................................................................20 4. Conclusion ...............................................................................................................................20 D. UNITED STATES' RESPONSE ON THE ISSUE OF PROCEDURES FOR THE PROTECTION OF STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION .................................................................................20 E. ORAL STATEMENT OF CANADA AT THE PRELIMINARY HEARING ............................................21 1. Why are we here? ...................................................................................................................21 2. What are the legal issues involved?.......................................................................................22 3. What is the appropriate remedy in these circumstances?...................................................25 4. Procedures for dealing with SCI ...........................................................................................26 F. ORAL STATEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES AT THE PRELIMINARY HEARING..........................26 1. Canada's request for a ruling under Article 6.2 of the DSU...............................................27 2. Canada's request for a preliminary ruling on Business Confidential Information. .........29 G. FIRST WRITTEN SUBMISSION OF THE UNITED STATES .............................................................29 1. Statement of Facts...................................................................................................................30 (a) The CWB export regime...........................................................................................................30 (b) Canadian treatment of imported grain ......................................................................................30 2. Legal arguments......................................................................................................................31 (a) Canada is not in compliance with its obligations under GATT Article XVII...........................31 (i) GATT Article XVII imposes an obligation on Canada to ensure that the CWB makes purchases or sales in accordance with the Article XVII standards ..........................................31 (ii) The standards in Article XVII apply to the wheat exports of the CWB.....................................32 (iii) Canada has not met its obligation to ensure that the CWB makes purchases or sales in accordance with the Article XVII standards.........................................................................33 (iv) Canada's policy of non-supervision cannot meet Canada's obligation to ensure that the CWB complies with the Article XVII standards ..................................................................33 (b) Canada's treatment of imported grain is inconsistent with its obligations under Article III:4 of the GATT 1994 and Article 2 of the TRIMs Agreement ..................................35 (i) Canadian grain segregation requirements ...............................................................................35 (ii) Differential treatment in Canadian transportation system .......................................................36 (iii) The Canadian grain segregation requirements and discriminatory rail transportation measures are also inconsistent with Article 2 of the TRIMs Agreement...................................36 H. FIRST WRITTEN SUBMISSION OF CANADA................................................................................37 1. Article XVII claims of the United States...............................................................................37 2. Article III:4 claims of the United States................................................................................40 3. Maximum Grain Revenue Entitlement is Consistent with Article III:4............................43 WT/DS276/R Page iii 4. Producer Car Allocation is consistent with Article III:4.....................................................44 5. Claims under Article 2 of the TRIMS Agreement.................................................................45 I. FIRST ORAL STATEMENT OF THE UNITED STATES ...................................................................45 1. GATT Article XVII Claims....................................................................................................46 2. GATT Article III:4 and TRIMs Article 2 Claims................................................................48 J. FIRST ORAL STATEMENT OF CANADA ......................................................................................50 1. Article XVII.............................................................................................................................50 (a) "Commercial considerations" ...................................................................................................50 (b) "Processes or procedures" are not required...............................................................................51 (c) Burden of proof.........................................................................................................................51