INTRODUCTION

On 8 May 1998, the United States requested consultations with Mexico pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) and Article 17.3 of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 (the AD Agreement) regarding the anti-dumping investigation of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) grades 42 and 55 from the United States conducted by the Secretariat of Commerce and Industrial Development (SECOFI) of the Government of Mexico, the 23 January 1998 notice of final determination of dumping and injury in that investigation and the consequent imposition of definitive anti-dumping measures on imports of HFCS grades 42 and 55 from the United States. The United States and Mexico held consultations on 12 June 1998, but failed to reach a mutually satisfactory solution.

On 8 October 1998, pursuant to Article 6 of the DSU, Article XXIII:2 of GATT 1994 and Article 17 of the AD Agreement, the United States requested the establishment of a panel to examine the consistency of Mexico's final anti-dumping measure, including actions preceding this measure, with Mexico's obligations under the AD Agreement and Article VI of GATT 1994.

At its meeting on 25 November 1998, the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) established a panel pursuant to the above request. At that meeting, the parties to the dispute agreed that the Panel should have standard terms of reference. The terms of reference were:

Jamaica and Mauritius reserved their rights as third parties to the dispute.

On 13 January 1999, the Panel was constituted as follows:

The Panel met with the parties on 14-15 April 1999 and 25-26 May 1999. It met with the third parties on 15 April 1999.

The Panel submitted its interim report to the parties on 6 October 1999. On 20 October 1999, the United States and Mexico submitted written requests for the Panel to review precise aspects of the interim report.