Statement by the Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the WTO Appellate Body Report on the U.S. Steel Safeguard Measures

November 11, 2003

In the afternoon of November 10 (Japan time: 11) the World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body circulated to the WTO Members a report which finds that the U.S. steel safeguards were inconsistent with WTO rules and recommends that the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) request the U.S. to bring its safeguard measures into conformity with WTO rules. Japan welcomes the Report confirming that the U.S. steel safeguard measures are in violation of WTO rules, and urges the U.S. to terminate its WTO incompatible safeguard measures without delay in accordance with the Report.
Japan appreciates the Report, as it upholds the Panel's findings that the U.S. steel safeguard measures did not satisfy major requirements for imposing safeguard measures by upholding the claim by the Co-complainants comprising eight countries including Japan, and confirmed the inconsistency of the U.S. steel safeguard measures with WTO rules.
On November 10, the Co-complainants including Japan issued a joint press statement welcoming the Appellate Body Report and urging the U.S. to promptly terminate its measures.

(END)