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Introduction: WTO Dispute Settlement at Twenty: Insiders’ Reflections on India’s Participation

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WTO Dispute Settlement at Twenty

Abstract

The introductory chapter seeks to provide an overview of India’s participation in the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and places in perspective India’s overall participation and contribution to the mechanism. At the same time, this chapter examines the various political economy considerations, internal challenges, domestic contestations and the key motivations that drove India’s disputes. The introduction highlights the jurisprudential and doctrinal contributions of some of the key disputes and also examines the role of various interest groups and stakeholders in shaping India’s dispute settlement activity. Overall, this chapter provides a snapshot of India’s WTO dispute settlement activity by drawing upon the personal experiences and reflections of various authors who have participated in each of these disputes either as an official, a legal professional or an industry stakeholder.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    GATT, Ruling by the Chairman, Application of Article II:1 to Rebates on Internal Taxes, 24 August 1948, BISD II/12.

  2. 2.

    GATT, United States Countervailing Duty without Injury Finding, Complaint by India, BISD, 28th Supplement (1982), at 113.

  3. 3.

    The WTO panel in India—Quantitative Restrictions, however, issued a single report.

  4. 4.

    Chapter 4 in this book.

  5. 5.

    Appellate Body Report on India—Quantitative Restrictions on Imports of Agricultural, Textile and Industrial Products, WT/DS90/AB/R (Hereinafter India—Quantitative Restrictions).

  6. 6.

    Appellate Body Report on United States—Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act 2000, WT/DS217/AB/R [(Hereinafter US—Byrd Amendment)].

  7. 7.

    Appellate Body Report on European Communities—Conditions for the Granting of Tariff Preferences to Developing Countries, WT/DS246/AB/R (Hereinafter EC—Tariff Preferences).

  8. 8.

    Appellate Body Report on European Communities—Anti-Dumping Duties on Imports of Cotton—Type Bed Linen from India, WT/DS141/AB/R (Hereinafter EC—Bed Linen).

  9. 9.

    Appellate Body on EC—Tariff Preferences.

  10. 10.

    Council Regulation (EC) 74/ 2004, Official Journal of the European Communities, L 12/1 (17 January 2004).

  11. 11.

    Panel Report on United States—Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures on Steel Plate from India, WT/DS206/AB/R (Hereinafter US—Steel Plate).

  12. 12.

    WTO (2003a) Minutes of the meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body held on 19 February 2003, WT/DSB/M/143.

  13. 13.

    Appellate Body Report on Turkey—Restrictions on Imports of Textile and Clothing Products, WT/DS34/AB/R (Hereinafter Turkey—Textiles).

  14. 14.

    WTO India’s Request for Consultation, Argentina—Patent Protection for Pharmaceuticals and Test Data Protection for Agricultural Chemicals, WT/DS171 (Hereinafter Argentina—Pharmaceuticals).

  15. 15.

    On 25 May 2001, India requested consultations with Argentina concerning Argentina’s Law No. 24.766 and Decree No. 150/92.

  16. 16.

    Panel Report on United States—Rules of Origin for Textiles and Apparel Products, WT/DS243/R (Hereinafter US—Textiles Rules of Origin).

  17. 17.

    Appellate Body Report on India—Additional and Extra—Additional Duties on Imports from the United States, WT/DS360/AB/R (Hereinafter India—Additional Duties).

  18. 18.

    Both the Appellate Body and the Panel body made no recommendations because of the complainant’s failure to make a prima facie case under Article II:2(a) of the GATT 1994.

  19. 19.

    Appellate Body Report on Turkey—Textiles.

  20. 20.

    Ibid.

  21. 21.

    Understanding on the Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, 1869 U.N.T.S. 401, 33 I.L.M. 1226 (1994) (Hereinafter DSU).

  22. 22.

    WTO (1995) Poland—Import Regime for Automobiles: Request for Consultations, WT/DS19/1.

  23. 23.

    WTO (1998) South Africa—Antidumping Duties on Certain Pharmaceuticals: Request for Consultations, WT/DS168.

  24. 24.

    WTO (2001) Brazil—Anti-Dumping Duties on Jute Bags from India: Request for Consultations, WT/DS229/1.

  25. 25.

    WTO (2005) European Communities—Export Subsidies on Sugar: Request for Consultations, WT/DS265/1.

  26. 26.

    Constitution of India 1950, Art. 245.

  27. 27.

    Ibid, Art. 246.

  28. 28.

    WTO (2008) India—Certain Taxes and Other Measures on Imported Wines and Spirits: Request for Consultations, WT/DS380/1.

  29. 29.

    Appellate Body Report on India—Measures Affecting the Automotive Sector, WT/DS146/AB/R (Hereinafter India—Autos).

  30. 30.

    See Public Notice Nos. 30 and 31 of 19 August 2001 and 4 September 2001 respectively.

  31. 31.

    Chapter 3 in this book.

  32. 32.

    WTO (2003b) India—Anti-Dumping Measures on Imports of Certain Products from the European Communities, WT/DS 304/1.

  33. 33.

    WTO (2004) India—Antidumping Measures on Batteries from Bangladesh: Request for Consultations, WT/DS306/1.

  34. 34.

    WTO (2004) India—Anti—Dumping Measures on Certain Products from the Separate Customs Union of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu: Request for Consultation, WT/DS318/1.

  35. 35.

    Appellate Body Report on United States—Measures Affecting Imports of Woven Shirts and Blouses from India, WT/DS33/AB/R (Hereinafter US–Wool Shirts and Blouses).

  36. 36.

    Selling, general and administrative expenses.

  37. 37.

    Appellate Body Report on United States—Countervailing Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Carbon Steel flat Products from India, WT/DS436/AB/R (Hereinafter US—Carbon Steel).

  38. 38.

    Panel and Appellate Body Reports on India—Patent Protection for Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Chemical Products, WT/DS50/R and WT/DS50/AB/R (Hereinafter India—Patents).

  39. 39.

    Panel Report on United States—Sections 301–310 of the Trade Act of 1974, WT/DS152/R (Hereinafter US—Section 301).

  40. 40.

    Ibid.

  41. 41.

    Article 73(1) (a) of the Indian Constitution providing for the “Extent of executive power” as the basis for the legal authority of its administrative instructions.

  42. 42.

    Panel Report on India—Patents (US), at paragraph 4.12.

  43. 43.

    Ibid, at 7.41.

  44. 44.

    Appellate Body Report on India—Patents, at paragraph 71.

  45. 45.

    Ibid, at 69.

  46. 46.

    Supra note 39.

  47. 47.

    Galanter posits the concept of “repeat players” and “one-shotters” within the legal system. Galanter notes that repeat players are in a “position of advantage” and are thus more likely to win lawsuits than one-shotters.

  48. 48.

    Santos points out that the emerging countries like Brazil and Mexico relied upon legal counsel from the United States and Canada for preparation for their cases and for lawyering strategies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, India

    Abhijit Das &  Shailja Singh

  2. Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), Sonepat, India

    James J. Nedumpara

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  1. Abhijit Das
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  3. Shailja Singh
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Correspondence to James J. Nedumpara .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi, India

    Abhijit Das

  2. Jindal Global Law School, O.P Jindal Global University, Sonepat, Haryana, India

    James J. Nedumpara

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© 2016 Centre for WTO Studies (CWS), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi

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Das, A., Nedumpara, J.J., Shailja Singh (2016). Introduction: WTO Dispute Settlement at Twenty: Insiders’ Reflections on India’s Participation. In: Das, A., Nedumpara, J. (eds) WTO Dispute Settlement at Twenty. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0599-2_1

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