India to request for dispute panel on sea food export

New Delhi, Nov 15 (UNI) India today reiterated its request to the United States for setting up of a dispute panel on export of frozen and canned warm water shrimps.

A news item had appeared in a section of the press on March, 11 2006 titled ''US scuttles an Indian plea for WTO panel on exports of frozen and canned warm water shrimps.'' The item dwelt on the issue of a US customs bond directive on the export of marine products by India and stated that the US had blocked the first time plea of India for the establishment of a panel in the World Trade Organization (WTO).

It was stated that this put paid to the hopes of the domestic marine product export industry for getting their grievances re-addressed against the customs bond directive of the US.

The Indian government has made a request for the WTO Panel and as per WTO Rules, the respondent party has a right to delay the establishment of a Panel only for one time.

Since the Indian government would be reiterating its request for the WTO Panel at the next meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body on November 21, the US would not be able to delay the establishment of the Panel.

Since the article appears to give an impression that the request of the India on government for setting up the panel has been scuttled, this classification is being issued for setting the record straight.

UNI RT CS RK1505