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WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION

WT/DS141/R
30 October 2000

(00-4407)
  Original: English

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES � ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES
 ON IMPORTS OF COTTON-TYPE BED LINEN FROM INDIA

 

Report of the Panel


The report of the Panel on European Communities � Anti-Dumping Duties on Imports of Cotton-Type Bed Linen from India is being circulated to all Members, pursuant to the DSU. The report is being circulated as an unrestricted document from 30 October 2000 pursuant to the Procedures for the Circulation and Derestriction of WTO Documents (WT/L/160/Rev.1). Members are reminded that, in accordance with the DSU, only parties to the dispute may appeal a panel report. An appeal shall be limited to issues of law covered in the Panel Report and legal interpretations developed by the Panel. There shall be no ex parte communications with the Panel or Appellate Body concerning matters under consideration by the Panel or Appellate Body.

Note by the Secretariat: This Panel Report shall be adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) within 60 days after the date of its circulation unless a party to the dispute decides to appeal or the DSB decides by consensus not to adopt the report. If the Panel Report is appealed to the Appellate Body, it shall not be considered for adoption by the DSB until after the completion of the appeal. Information on the current status of the Panel Report is available from the WTO Secretariat.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES � ANTI-DUMPING DUTIES ON IMPORTS
OF COTTON-TYPE BED LINEN FROM INDIA (DS141)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 

I INTRODUCTION

II FACTUAL ASPECTS

III PARTIES"REQUESTS FOR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

  1. INDIA
  2. EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

IV ARGUMENTS OF THE PARTIES

V INTERIM REVIEW

VI FINDINGS

  1. REQUESTS FOR PRELIMINARY RULINGS
  1. EC request 
(a) Scope of the claims before the Panel

(i) Parties' arguments 
(ii) Findings

(b) Evidence regarding the substance of the consultations 

(i) Parties' arguments 
(ii) Findings

(c) Evidence containing confidential information from a different investigation

(i) Parties' arguments 
(ii) Findings 

  1. India request 

(a) Parties' arguments
(b) Findings

  1. BURDEN OF PROOF AND STANDARD OF REVIEW
  2. CLAIMS UNDER ARTICLE 2 
  1. Claim under Article 2.2.2 � determination of amount for profit (claim number 1) 

(a) Article 2.2.2 - order of options 

(i) Parties' arguments
(ii) Findings

(b) Article 2.2.2(ii) � data from �other exporters or producers� 

(i) Parties' arguments
(ii) Findings

(c) Article 2.2.2(ii) � production and sales amounts �incurred and realised�

(i) Parties' arguments 
(ii) Findings

  1. Claim under Article 2.2 � reasonability (claim number 4)

(a) Parties' arguments
(b) Findings

  1. Claim under Article 2.4.2 - "zeroing" (claim number 7) 

(a) Parties' arguments 
(b) Findings 

  1. CLAIMS UNDER ARTICLE 3 
  1. Claims under Articles 3.1, 3.4, and 3.5 - consideration of all imports from India (and Egypt and Pakistan) as dumped in the analysis of injury caused by dumped imports(claims numbers 8, 19, and 20)

(a) Parties' arguments
(b) Findings

  1. Claim under Article 3.4 - failure to evaluate "all relevant economic factors and indices having a bearing on the state of the industry" (claim number 11)

(a) Parties' arguments
(b) Findings

  1. Claim under Article 3.4 - consideration of information for various groupings of
    EC producers in analysis of the state of the domestic industry (claim number 15)

(a) Parties' arguments
(b) Findings

  1. CLAIMS UNDER ARTICLE 5
  1. Claim under Article 5.3 - failure to examine accuracy and adequacy of evidence (claim number 23)

(a) Parties' arguments
(b) Findings

  1. Claim under Article 5.4 - failure to properly establish industry support  (claim number 26) 

(a) Parties' arguments
(b) Findings

  1. CLAIM UNDER ARTICLE 15 - FAILURE TO EXPLORE POSSIBILITIES OF CONSTRUCTIVE REMEDIES (CLAIM NUMBER 29)
  1. Parties' arguments
  2. Findings 
  1. CLAIMS UNDER ARTICLE 12.2.2 (CLAIMS NUMBERS 3, 6, 10, 13, 18, 22, 25, 28, AND 31) 
  1. Parties' arguments 
  2. Findings

VII CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMENDATION
 

ANNEX 1 SUBMISSIONS OF INDIA
 

Annex 1-1  First Submission of India  [Word Format]
Annex 1-2 Request for a Preliminary Ruling by India 
Annex 1-3 Response of India to Preliminary Rulings Requested by the European Communities

Annex 1-4 Oral Statement & Concluding Remarks of India at the First Meeting of the Panel

Annex 1-5 Questions from India to the European Communities and the United States [Word Format]
Annex 1-6 Responses of India to Questions Following the First Meeting of the Panel

Annex 1-7 Second Written Submission of India 
Annex 1-8 Oral Statement and Concluding Remarks of India at the Second Meeting of the Panel 

Annex 1-9 India's Questions to the European Communities
Annex 1-10 Responses of India to Questions from the Panel Following the Second Meeting of the Panel 

Annex 1-11 Communication from India in Response to the European Communities' Communication of 22 June 2000
Annex 1-12 Comments of India on the Descriptive Part of the Panel Report
Annex 1-13 Comments of India on the Interim Review of the Panel Report 

ANNEX 2 SUBMISSIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Annex 2-1 First Submission and Request for Preliminary Rulings of the European Communities 

Annex 2-2 Response of the European Communities to Preliminary Rulings Requested by India 

Annex 2-3 Oral Statement of the European Communities at the First Meeting of the Panel 

Annex 2-4 Questions from the European Communities to India, Egypt and the United States

Annex 2-5 Responses of the European Communities to Questions

Following the First Meeting of the Panel

Annex 2-6 Second Written Submission of the European Communities
Annex 2-7 Oral Statement and Concluding Remarks of the European Communities at the Second Meeting of the Panel 

Annex 2-8 Responses of the European Communities to Questions from the Panel Following the Second Meeting of the Panel 

Annex 2-9 Responses of the European Communities to Questions from India Following the Second Meeting of the Panel

Annex 2-10 Communication from the European Communities
Annex 2-11 Comments of the European Communities on the Descriptive Part of the Panel Report

Annex 2-12 Comments of the European Communities on the Interim Review of the Panel Report 

ANNEX 3 SUBMISSIONS OF THE THIRD PARTIES

Annex 3-1 Third-Party Submission of Egypt
Annex 3-2 Third-Party Submission of Japan 
Annex 3-3 Third-Party Submission of the United States 
Annex 3-4 Oral Statement of Egypt at the First Meeting of the Panel 
Annex 3-5 Oral Statement of Japan at the First Meeting of the Panel
Annex 3-6 Oral Statement of the United States at the First Meeting of the Panel
Annex 3-7 Responses of Egypt to Questions from the Panel and the European Communities

Annex 3-8 Responses of Japan to Questions from the Panel
Annex 3-9 Responses of the United States to Questions from the Panel, India and the European Communities


I INTRODUCTION

1.1 On 3 August 1998, India requested consultations with the European Communities pursuant to Article 4 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes ("DSU"), Article XXIII of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994 ("GATT 1994") and Article 17 of the Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of GATT 1994 ("AD Agreement") regarding Commission Regulation No. 2398/97 of 28 November 1997, imposing final anti-dumping duties on imports of cotton-type bed linen from India.1 On 17 August 1998, Pakistan requested to be joined in the consultations requested by India.2 India and the European Communities held consultations in Geneva on 18 September 1998 and 15 April 1999, but failed to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution of the matter.

1.2 On 7 September 1999, pursuant to Article XXIII:2 of GATT 1994, Article 6 of the DSU and Article 17 of the AD Agreement, India requested the establishment of a panel to examine the matter.3

1.3 At its meeting on 27 October 1999, the Dispute Settlement Body ("DSB") established a Panel in accordance with India's request.4 At that meeting, the parties to the dispute also agreed that the Panel should have standard terms of reference. The terms of reference are, therefore, the following:

"To examine, in the light of the relevant provisions of the covered agreements cited by India in document WT/DS141/3, the matter referred to the DSB by India in document WT/DS141/3, and to make such findings as will assist the DSB in making the recommendations or in giving the rulings provided for in those agreements".

1.4 On 12 January 2000, India requested the Director-General to determine the composition of the Panel, pursuant to paragraph 7 of Article 8 of the DSU. This paragraph provides:

"If there is no agreement on the panelists within 20 days after the date of the establishment of a panel, at the request of either party, the Director-General, in consultation with the Chairman of the DSB and the Chairman of the relevant Council or Committee, shall determine the composition of the panel by appointing the panelists whom the Director-General considers most appropriate in accordance with any relevant special or additional rules or procedures of the covered agreement or covered agreements which are at issue in the dispute, after consulting with the parties to the dispute. The Chairman of the DSB shall inform the Members of the composition of the panel thus formed no later than 10 days after the date the Chairman receives such a request."

1.5 The Director-General composed the Panel as follows:
 

    Chairman:
     
    Dr. Dariusz Rosati
     
    Members: Ms Marta Lemme
    Mr. Paul O'Connor

1.6 Egypt, Japan and the United States reserved their rights to participate in the panel proceedings as third parties.

1.7 The Panel met with the parties on 10-11 May 2000 and on 6 June 2000. It met with the third parties on 11 May 2000.

II  FACTUAL ASPECTS

2.1 This dispute concerns the imposition of definitive anti-dumping duties by the European Communities on cotton-type bed linen from India.

2.2 On 30 July 1996, the Committee of the Cotton and Allied Textile Industries of the European Communities ("Eurocoton") � the EC federation of national producers' associations of cotton textile products � filed an application with the European Communities for the imposition of anti-dumping duties on cotton-type bed linen from, inter alia, India.5

2.3 On 13 September 1996, the European Communities published notice of the initiation of an anti-dumping investigation regarding imports of cotton-type bed linen originating in, inter alia, India.6

2.4 The European Communities established 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1996 as the investigation period, and the investigation of dumping covered this period. The examination of injury covered the period from 1992 up to the end of the investigation period.

2.5 In view of the large number of Indian producers and exporters, the European Communities conducted its analysis of dumping based on a sample of Indian exporters. The European Communities also established a reserve sample, to be used in the event companies in the main sample subsequently refused to cooperate.

2.6 The European Communities established normal value based on constructed value for all investigated Indian producers. One company, Bombay Dyeing, was found to have representative domestic sales of cotton-type bed linen taken as a whole. Five types comparable to those exported to the European Communities were sold in representative quantities on the domestic market. Those five types were found not to be sold in the ordinary course of trade. Therefore, constructed values were calculated for all the types sold by Bombay Dyeing. For the other investigated Indian producers, the information for SG&A and profit used in the constructed normal value was that of Bombay Dyeing. Export price was established by reference to the prices actually paid or payable in the EC market. The weighted average constructed normal value by type was compared with weighted average export price by type for the investigated Indian producers, and a dumping margin was calculated for each such producer.

2.7 The complaint listed companies that produced bed linen in the European Communities. The European Communities excluded certain complainant companies. The 35 remaining companies were found to represent a major proportion of total Community production of bed linen in the investigation period and were, therefore, deemed to make up the Community industry.

2.8 Due to the number of companies in the Community industry, the European Communities established a sample. This sample comprised 17 of the 35 companies in the Community industry, representing 20.7% of total Community production and 61.6% of the production of the Community industry. The European Communities found that the Community industry suffered declining and inadequate profitability and price depression and, accordingly, reached the conclusion that the Community industry had suffered material injury. The European Communities found a direct causal link between the increased volume and the price effects of the dumped imports and the material injury suffered by the Community industry, demonstrated, according to the European Communities, by the existence of heavy undercutting resulting in a significant increase in the market share of the dumped imports and corresponding negative consequences on volumes and prices of sales of Community producers.

2.9 The European Communities published notice of its preliminary affirmative determination of dumping, injury and causal link on 12 June 1997. Provisional anti-dumping duties were imposed with effect from 14 June 1997.7

2.10 The European Communities continued its investigation, received comments from interested parties, and provided an opportunity to be heard. Parties were informed of the essential facts and considerations on the basis of which it was intended to recommend the imposition of definitive anti-dumping duties, and the definitive collection, at the level of these duties, of amounts secured by provisional duties, on 3 October 1997.8 An opportunity for further representations was subsequently provided.

2.11 Notice of the final affirmative determination was published on 28 November 1997. Injury margins were determined to be above the level of dumping margins in all cases, and therefore definitive anti-dumping duties in the amount of the dumping margins determined, ranging from 2.6% to 24.7%, depending on the exporter in question, were imposed on imports of cotton-type bed linen originating in India.9 Certain handloom products were exempted from the application of the definitive duties, provided a certificate of handloom origin in the required form was provided. Provisional duties were not definitively collected.

III PARTIES' REQUESTS FOR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

A. INDIA

3.1 India requests that the Panel find that, by imposing final anti-dumping duties on imports of cotton-type bed-linen from India, the European Communities violated Articles 2.2, 2.2.2, 2.4.2, 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 6, 6.10, 6.11, 5.3, 5.4, 15, and 12.2.1 and 12.2.2. India makes 31 separate claims with respect to these asserted violations, as follows:

  • Claim 1: Inconsistency with Article 2.2.2, by resorting to the option laid down in Article 2.2.2(ii) and by misapplying that option;

  • Claim 4: Inconsistency with Article 2.2, by applying the profit amount determined for Bombay Dyeing in calculating constructed value for other producers, even though that amount was clearly not "reasonable";

  • Claim 7: Inconsistency with Article 2.4.2, by zeroing negative dumping amounts in calculating dumping margins;

  • Claim 8: Inconsistency with Article 3.1, by assuming that all imports of the product concerned during the investigation period were dumped;

  • Claim 11: Inconsistency with Article 3.4, by failing to consider all injury factors mentioned in that provision for the determination of the state of the domestic industry;

  • Claim 14: Inconsistency with Article 6, insofar as the European Communities would argue that it did in fact consider all factors in Article 3.4, by failing to disclose or make public findings thereon, which violates the rights of defence contained in Article 6.
     

  • Claim 15: Inconsistency with Article 3.4, by relying in the injury determination on companies outside the domestic industry, by not consistently basing the injury determination on the chosen sample and by relying on different "levels" of industry for different injury indices;

  • Claim 16: Inconsistency with Articles 6.10 and 6.11, by selecting a sample of the domestic industry that was not representative;

  • Claim 19: Inconsistency with Article 3.4, by taking account of injury allegedly caused by imports before the investigation period, which imports were not determined to be dumped;

  • Claim 20: Inconsistency with Article 3.5, by taking account of injury allegedly caused by imports before the investigation period, which imports were not determined to be dumped;

  • Claim 23: Inconsistency with Article 5.3, by failing to examine the allegations in the complaint and by failing to take into account information available at the time of initiation pointing to lack of material injury caused by dumped imports;

  • Claim 26: Inconsistency with Article 5.4, by failing to properly examine the representativeness of the complainant and/or by failing to make a proper determination on representativeness as required by that provision;

  • Claim 29: Inconsistency with Article 15, by failing to explore possibilities of constructive remedies before imposing anti-dumping duties;

3.2 India's claims 2, 5, 9, 12, 17, 21, 24, 27, and 30 assert inconsistency with Article 12.2.1 by failing properly to explain, in the Provisional Regulation, the European Communities' reasoning regarding matters raised in claims 1, 4, 8, 11, 16, 20, 23, 26, and 29, respectively.

3.3 India's claims 3, 6, 10, 13, 18, 22, 25, 28, and 31 assert inconsistency with Article 12.2.2 by failing properly to explain, in the Definitive Regulation, the European Communities' reasoning regarding matters raised in claims 1, 4, 8, 11, 16, 20, 23, 26, and 29, respectively.

3.4 India argues that, in so doing, the European Communities has nullified and impaired benefits accruing to India under the WTO Agreement.

3.5 India further requests that the Panel recommend that the European Communities bring its measures into conformity with its WTO obligations and that the European Communities immediately repeal the Regulation imposing definitive anti-dumping duties and refund anti-dumping duties paid thus far.

3.6 India also requests that the Panel issue the following preliminary ruling:

  1. With respect to certain documentary evidence provided by the European Communities in Exhibit EC-4, India notes that this document was never made available to it, or otherwise referred to, at any stage prior to this point in time. India indicates that standing has been a central issue throughout the anti-dumping investigation leading to the imposition of anti-dumping duties on cotton-type bed linen from India, despite which the European Communities has never before produced Exhibit EC-4. India, therefore, requests that the exact status of Exhibit EC-4 be established.

B. EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

3.7 The European Communities requests the Panel to reject the requests for recommendations made by India.

3.8 In its first submission, the European Communities requests that the Panel issue the following preliminary rulings:

  1. The European Communities objects to the inclusion in India's first written submission of claims that were not mentioned in its Panel request. These include claims that the European Communities has acted inconsistently with the following provisions of the AD Agreement: Article 1; Article 3.4, as regards the allegation that the European Communities assumed that imports before the period of investigation were dumped (claim 19); Article 3.6 (claim 8); Articles 6.2, 6.4 and 6.9 (claim 14); and Articles 6.10 and 6.11 (claim 16).
     

  2. The European Communities submits that India's claims concerning alleged defects in the Provisional Regulation are beyond the Panel's jurisdiction because (i) Article 17.4 defines the circumstances in which a provisional measure may be referred to the DSB and India has not contended that the Provisional Regulation fulfils the requirements of that provision and (ii) India's claims regarding the Provisional Regulation are moot as the Regulation expired in November 1997 and no anti-dumping duties were collected under it. The European Communities requests that the Panel exclude these claims from the scope of these proceedings (claims 2, 5, 8 (in part), 9, 11 (in part), 12, 15 (in part), 17, 19 (in part), 21, 24, 27, 29 (in part) and 30).
     

  3. The European Communities requests the Panel to rule that the verbatim reports of the consultations submitted as evidence by India are inadmissible and will be disregarded.
     

  4. The European Communities requests the Panel to rule that the document submitted by India as Exhibit India-49 is not part of these proceedings, because it is apparently a dumping calculation made by the EC authorities in the course of another investigation. The European Communities condemns the breach of confidentiality and indicates that it is not prepared to comment on the substance of the document.

3.9 In addition to its request for a preliminary ruling regarding the Panel's terms of reference, the European Communities also argued that claim 29 is largely outside the Panel's terms of reference because the Panel request referred to EC behaviour before the Provisional Regulation.

IV ARGUMENTS OF THE PARTIES

4.1 With the agreement of the parties, the Panel has decided that, in lieu of the traditional descriptive part of the Panel report setting forth the arguments of the parties, the parties' submissions will be annexed in full to the Panel report. Accordingly, the parties' first and second written submissions and oral statements, along with their written responses to questions, are attached at Annex 1 (India) and Annex 2 (the European Communities). The written submissions, oral statements and responses to questions of the third parties are attached at Annex 3.

V INTERIM REVIEW

5.1 On 31 July 2000, the Panel provided its interim report to the parties. The parties submitted their comments on the interim report on 7 August 2000. Neither party requested that the Panel hold an interim review meeting, and as a consequence no meeting was held.

5.2 Having reviewed the parties' comments, the Panel corrected a typographical error in the heading of section VI.C.1, and made a stylistic change to use the designation "European Communities". In addition, we made the following clarifying changes: (i) to the heading of section VI.C.1, to more accurately reflect the legal basis of the claim in question; (ii) to the third sentence of paragraph 6.215, to reflect the nature of inconsistencies in certain photocopied documents submitted to the Panel; and (iii) to footnote 90, to reflect the basis of the European Communities' decision not to apply a lesser duty. We did not make a requested change to the last sentence of paragraph 6.215, as the timing of the EC's offer to inspect documents is already set out in paragraph 6.207, and need not be repeated.

VI FINDINGS

A. REQUESTS FOR PRELIMINARY RULINGS

6.1 In its first written submission, the European Communities requested preliminary rulings with respect to (i) the scope of the claims before us, (ii) certain evidence concerning the consultations presented by India in its first submission, and (iii) certain evidence from a different anti-dumping investigation presented by India in its first submission. India subsequently made a preliminary request with respect to certain evidence presented by the European Communities in its first submission. The parties provided written responses to each others' requests for preliminary rulings prior to our first meeting, and further arguments were made at that meeting. At the close of the first meeting, we ruled orally on the European Communities' request to dismiss India's claims under Article 6 of the AD Agreement, and transmitted a written version of our oral ruling to the parties. We also ruled on the status of an unsolicited amicus curiae submission10, and set forth our position regarding certain of the requests for preliminary rulings on which we did not rule. The discussion below sets forth our rulings, with additional clarification, on requests for preliminary rulings disposed of at the first meeting, and disposes of the remaining requests for preliminary rulings in this dispute.

1. EC request

(a) Scope of the claims before the Panel

(i) Parties' arguments

6.2 With regard to the scope of the claims before the Panel, the EC requests, on two bases, a ruling that certain of India's claims are not properly before the Panel.

6.3 First, the European Communities argues that certain of the claims pursued by India in its first written submission were not mentioned in the request for establishment, either because there is no reference to the provision of the AD Agreement allegedly violated or the measure to which the claim is addressed is not before the Panel, or because the basis for the claim is different in the request from that presented in the first submission, and thus is not clearly identified in the request. The European Communities asserts that the following were not mentioned in the Panel request and are therefore not within the scope of the Panel's terms of reference:

claims that the European Communities acted inconsistently with the following provisions of the Anti-dumping Agreement:

Article 1 (Para. 7.3 of India's first submission);

Article 3.4, as regards the allegation that the European Communities assumed that imports before the Investigation Period were dumped (Claim 19);

Article 3.6 (Claim 8);

Article 6.2, 6.4 and 6.9 (Claim 14); and

Article 6.10 and 6.11 (Claim 16).

India�s contention (paras. 3.106 to 3.107 of India's first submission) that the EC Basic Regulation (Exhibit India-1) is inconsistent with Article 2.2.2 of the Anti-dumping Agreement.

6.4 With regard to these claims, the European Communities argues that it is well established in the WTO that a complainant Member may not introduce a claim during the course of panel proceedings that is not mentioned or referred to in the terms of reference. In this case, the terms of reference are standard terms of reference, referring to the Panel the "matter" set forth in India's request for establishment. The European Communities asserts that the request for establishment in this case does not contain, explicitly or by reference, any mention of the claims set forth above. Regarding Article 1, Article 3.6, and Article 6, the relevant provisions of the AD Agreement are not even mentioned in the request. Regarding Article 3.4, a different claim is set out in the request for establishment than is pursued in India's first submission. Regarding the alleged inconsistency of the EC legislation with Article 2.2.2 of the AD Agreement, the European Communities asserts that the measure at issue in this dispute is the European Communities' final anti-dumping duties, and not the EC Regulation. In addition, the European Communities contends that it has been prejudiced by India's failure to clearly state which of the multiple obligations set forth in the asserted provisions of the AD Agreement have allegedly been violated.

6.5 With regard to Article 1 of the AD Agreement, India acknowledges in its written response that it made no separate claims under that provision. In India's view, Article 1 is a general provision, and a finding of violation of Article 1 of the AD Agreement "automatically follows" from the inconsistencies with the other Articles. India considers that Article 1 of the AD Agreement need not be mentioned separately since the European Communities' rights of defense were not prejudiced.

6.6 With regard to Article 3.6 of the AD Agreement, India asserts that, since it included all of Article 3 of the AD Agreement in its request for establishment, Article 3.6 of that Agreement is within the terms of reference. However, India states that, in a spirit of co-operation, it does not seek a ruling on Article 3.6.

6.7 With regard to the claims under Article 6 of the AD Agreement, India objects to the request that they be dismissed. India maintains that it was clear throughout the dispute settlement process, including the request for consultations, the discussions, and the written questions during the consultations, that India was concerned with the European Communities' actions as regards Article 6 of the AD Agreement. Thus, India maintains, the European Communities could not have been surprised by the claims in this regard (claims 14 and 16), and had not been prejudiced in its ability to defend itself. India also clarifies that claim 14 forms part of an argument in support of claim 13 (alleging inconsistency with Article 12.2.2 of the AD Agreement), which claim was explicitly mentioned in the request for establishment.

6.8 With regard to claim 19, insofar as it concerns Article 3.4 of the AD Agreement, India asserts that this claim was clearly identified in paragraph 13 of the request for establishment, which mentions Articles 3 and 3.4. India asserts that the reference to Article 3 of the AD Agreement includes Article 3.5. Moreover, India maintains that the European Communities had not been prejudiced in its rights of defence, citing in this regard the European Communities first submission, paragraphs 343-350.

6.9 Second, the European Communities argues that India's claims asserting violations in connection with the Provisional Regulation are beyond the Panel's jurisdiction.11 In this regard, the European Communities argues that India failed to comply with the requirements of Article 17.4 of the AD Agreement to bring a provisional measure before the Panel, because it did not contend or present evidence that the provisional measure had a significant impact. In addition, the European Communities argues that the Provisional Regulation is moot, that no duties were ever collected under that regulation, and the measure is no longer in force. Consequently, the European Communities argues, there is no meaningful remedy that India can obtain with respect to that regulation - there is no measure to bring into conformity with the AD Agreement, and no measure to withdraw. The European Communities argues that in these circumstances, the Panel should decline to make a ruling on claims relating to the Provisional Regulation.

6.10 India argues that it was clear that the final anti-dumping measure was the measure at issue, but that this did not limit the nature of the arguments and claims that could be made. India refers to EC law and practice which provide that aspects of the Provisional Regulation are adopted by reference in the Definitive Regulation, and asserts that this automatically entails that aspects of the Provisional Regulation can be challenged in the context of the final anti-dumping measures. However, India clarified that, it being understood that this view was correct, it did not seek a ruling on its claims 2, 5, 9, 12, 17, 21, 24, 27, and 30.

6.11 Egypt, as third party, submits that the European Communities' argument that the Panel cannot entertain claims relating to the Provisional Regulation is unfounded and should be rejected by the Panel. Egypt posits that it is clear that, had India and the other countries affected by the measure not thought that the measure was imposed in breach of the provisions of Article 7.1 of the AD Agreement, they would not have found it necessary to participate in these panel proceedings. It also follows, for Egypt, that if the measure had not had any significant impact, India and other affected countries would not have made a complaint. The very fact that they cooperated in the investigation and provided evidence to refute the allegations means, according to Egypt, that they were concerned about the significant impact the imposition of anti-dumping duties would have on their bed linen industries.

(ii) Findings

6.12 At the end of the first meeting, we granted the European Communities' request to dismiss claims under Article 6 of the AD Agreement, that is, India's claims 14 and 16, having concluded that those claims were not within our terms of reference. Our reasons for this decision are set forth below.

6.13 Article 6.2 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (hereinafter "DSU") provides that the request for the establishment of a panel "shall provide a brief summary of the legal basis of the complaint sufficient to present the problem clearly". In considering what must be in a request for establishment in order to comply with this provision, the Appellate Body has observed that:

"Identification of the treaty provisions claimed to have been violated by the respondent is always necessary both for purposes of defining the terms of reference of a panel and for informing the respondent and the third parties of the claims made by the complainant; such identification is a minimum prerequisite if the legal basis of the complaint is to be presented at all."12

The Appellate Body went on to note that there might be situations where a "mere listing" of treaty Articles would not satisfy the standard of Article 6.2 of the DSU.13 In this case, we are not faced with the question of whether a "mere listing" of the treaty Articles allegedly violated is sufficient to "present the problem clearly" as required by Article 6.2 of the DSU � rather, it is a case in which the treaty Articles alleged to be violated are not even listed in the request for establishment - "Article 6" of the AD Agreement does on appear on the face of the document at all. In this circumstance, we consider that the legal basis of a complaint with respect to that Article has not been presented at all.

6.14 India acknowledged, at our first meeting, that Article 6 of the AD Agreement did not appear on the face of its request for establishment, characterizing this as an inadvertent omission. India argued, however, that its claims under that Article should nonetheless be allowed, asserting that the European Communities sustained no prejudice to its ability to defend its interests as a result of the omission of Article 6 of the AD Agreement from the request for establishment. In support of this contention, India points out that its claims with respect to Article 6 were clearly set out in its first submission, and that Article 6 of the AD Agreement was mentioned in the request for consultations and was actually discussed during the consultations.

6.15 In our view, a failure to state a claim in even the most minimal sense, by listing the treaty Articles alleged to be violated, cannot be cured by reference to subsequent submissions. In this regard, we note the statement of the Appellate Body in EC-Bananas:

"Article 6.2 of the DSU requires that the claims, but not the arguments, must all be specified sufficiently in the request for the establishment of a panel in order to allow the defending party and any third parties to know the legal basis of the complaint. If a claim is not specified in the request for the establishment of a panel, then a faulty request cannot be subsequently "cured" by a complaining party's argumentation in its first written submission to the panel or in any other submission or statement made later in the panel proceeding".14

Thus, the fact that India may have fully elucidated its position with respect to alleged violations of Article 6 of the AD Agreement in its first written submission to the Panel avails it nothing as a legal matter. Failure to even mention in the request for establishment the treaty Article alleged to have been violated in our view constitutes failure to state a claim at all.

6.16 In the absence of any reference in the request for establishment to the treaty Article alleged to have been violated, the question of possible prejudice as a result of failure to state a claim with sufficient clarity simply does not arise. Moreover, we are of the view that the argument that there was no prejudice to the European Communities because Article 6 of the AD Agreement was mentioned in the request for consultations, and may even have been discussed during the consultations is, in this case, irrelevant. Consultations are part of the process of clarifying the matter in dispute between the parties. It is perfectly understandable, and indeed desirable, that issues discussed during consultations do not subsequently become claims in dispute. Thus, the absence of a subject that was discussed in the consultations from the request from establishment indicates that the complaining Member does not intend to pursue that matter further. Whether inadvertent or not, as a result of the omission of Article 6 from the request for establishment the defending Member, the European Communities, and third countries had no notice that India intended to pursue claims under Article 6 of the AD Agreement in this case, and were entitled to rely on the conclusion that it would not do so. Consequently, India would be estopped in any event from raising such claims.

6.17 We conclude that India failed to set forth claims under Article 6 of the AD Agreement in its request for establishment of a panel in this dispute. Therefore, those putative claims, that is, India's claims 14 and 16 as set forth in its first written submission, are beyond the scope of our terms of reference. As we noted in issuing our ruling at the end of the first meeting, this does not, of course preclude India from presenting arguments referring to the provisions of Article 6 of the AD Agreement. However, we make no findings on India's claims 14 and 16.

6.18 With respect to the European Communities' request concerning India's claims regarding Article 1 of the Anti-Dumping Agreement, India's claims regarding Article 3.6 of the Anti-Dumping Agreement, and India's claims challenging the Provisional Regulation under Article 12.2.1, that is, claims 2, 5, 9, 12, 17, 21, 24, 27, and 30, we took note at our first meeting of the statements of India in its written response, and the statements of the parties at the first meeting. In light of those statements, we did not consider it necessary to rule on these aspects of the European Communities' request. We noted at that time, and we reiterate here, our view that India has withdrawn these claims. Again, of course, this does not preclude India from presenting arguments referring to the provisions of these articles. However, as with India's claims 14 and 16, we make no findings on these claims.

6.19 We did not, at out first meeting, resolve the European Communities' assertion that India's claim 19 under Article 3.4 as set out in its first submission is not the same as the claim under Article 3.4 set out in the request for establishment. We turn to that question now.

6.20 India's request for establishment sets forth, as a provision allegedly violated, "Article 3, especially, but not exclusively Articles 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, and 3.5". With respect to India's claim number 19 under Article 3.4, the European Communities acknowledges that Article 3.4 appears on the face of the request for establishment, but argues that the facts and circumstances described as constituting a violation of Article 3.4 in the request for establishment are entirely different from those presented in support of the claim in India's first written submission. Therefore, the European Communities asserts that India failed to clearly identify this aspect of its claim under Article 3.4, thus preventing the European Communities from properly preparing its defense and denying third parties their right to be alerted to the issues that are the subject of this dispute.

6.21 The request for establishment contains the following statements in connection with Article 3.4 of the AD Agreement:

"14. The European Communities has chosen a sample from the domestic industry, but did not consistently base its injury determination on this sample, In addition, the European Communities has explicitly determined that the domestic industry consists of 35 companies, but relied in its injury determination on companies outside this group in order to determine injury. In both cases, separately, the European Communities acted inconsistently with Article 3.4. The European Communities' failure to explain its determination properly is inconsistent with Article 12.2.

15. The European Communities failed to consider all injury factors mentioned in Article 3.4 of the ADA for its determination on the state of the domestic industry, including productivity, return on investments, utilisation of capacity, the magnitude of the margin of dumping, cash flow, inventories, wages, growth, ability to raise capital or investments. The European Communities thus acted inconsistently with Article 3.4. As far as the European Communities would argue that it did in fact consider all factors in Article 3.4, it failed to disclose or make public its findings thereon and thus acted inconsistently with Article 12.2.

16. The European Communities failed to make an unbiased and objective analysis of the development of market share of the domestic industry and insufficiently explained its position, as required by Article 3.4 of the ADA. As far as the European Communities would argue that it did in fact make such analysis, it has insufficiently explained it, and thus acted inconsistently with Article 12.2."15

6.22 The European Communities argues that India's Claim 19, as set forth and argued in India's first submission, relates to a different question than that specified in the request for establishment - the question of whether the European Communities included in its examination of injury the impact of imports that were not dumped. In the European Communities' view, this claim cannot reasonably be identified from the request for establishment as a claim under Article 3.4. Therefore, the European Communities argues, India's request for establishment does not present the problem addressed in claim 19 as set out in the first written submission clearly and is thus not within the Panel's terms of reference. The European Communities raises no objections with respect to the other Indian claims under Article 3.4 (Claims 11 and 15).

6.23 We note that in paragraph 13 of the request for establishment, India does seem to have made a claim about the consideration of all imports as dumped under Article 3.5 of the AD Agreement:

"13. Contrary to the wording of Article 3 and especially Article 3.5 of the ADA, the European Communities automatically and without any further explanation assumed that all imports of the product concerned during the years immediately preceding the investigation period were dumped. Consequently, the causality finding between imports from India and the alleged injury caused to the domestic industry is tainted and inconsistent with Article 3.5. The European Communities' failure to explain this determination properly is inconsistent with Article 12.2."16

India has identified and argued this claim as claim 20 in the first written submission, and the European Communities has no objection to this claim.

6.24 However, it is not clear from the face of the request for establishment that India made any claim with respect to the consideration of all imports as dumped under Article 3.4 of the AD Agreement, as opposed to Article 3.5 of that Agreement. Therefore, we must look more closely into the matter to determine whether India's request for establishment provides "a brief summary of the legal basis of the complaint sufficient to present the problem clearly" in this regard, and therefore satisfies the standard set out in Article 6.2 of the DSU.17 We note that it is important that a panel request be sufficiently precise for two reasons: first, it often forms the basis for the terms of reference of the panel pursuant to Article 7 of the DSU; and, second, it informs the defending party and potential third parties of the legal basis of the complaint.18

6.25 As noted above, Article 6.2 of the DSU provides, in relevant part:

"The request for the establishment of a panel shall be made in writing. It shall indicate whether consultations were held, identify the specific measures at issue and provide a brief summary of the legal basis of the complaint sufficient to present the problem clearly . . . "

We recall that the Appellate Body addressed this requirement recently, in Korea � Dairy Safeguard.19 The Appellate Body's analysis in that case offers guidance as to how a panel should address the issue of whether a request for establishment provides "a brief summary of the legal basis of the complaint sufficient to present the problem clearly" in accordance with Article 6.2 of the DSU. First, the issue is to be resolved on a case-by-case basis. Second, the panel must examine the request for the establishment of the panel very carefully to ensure its compliance with both the letter and the spirit of Article 6.2 of the DSU. Third, the panel should take into account the nature of the particular provision at issue � i.e., where the Articles listed establish not one single, distinct obligation, but rather multiple obligations, the mere listing of treaty Articles may not satisfy the standard of Article 6.2. Fourth, the panel should take into account whether the ability of the respondent to defend itself was prejudiced, given the actual course of the panel proceedings, by the fact that the panel request simply listed the provisions claimed to have been violated. It seems that even if the panel request is insufficient on its face, an allegation that the requirements of Article 6.2 of the DSU are not met will not prevail where no prejudice is established.

6.26 In essence, the Appellate Body seems to set a two-stage test to determine the sufficiency of a panel request under Article 6.2 of the DSU: first, examination of the text of the request for establishment itself, in light of the nature of the legal provisions in question; second, an assessment of whether the respondent has been prejudiced by the formulation of claims in the request for establishment, given the actual course of the panel proceedings.

6.27 Applying this "two step" approach to the facts of this case, we first consider the text of the request for establishment itself, to determine the extent to which Article 3.4 is addressed. In this case, Article 3.4 is explicitly listed in the request for establishment. However, we recall that a "mere listing" may not necessarily be sufficient for the purposes of Article 6.2 DSU. In this case, the explanation regarding Article 3.4 in the request for establishment does not refer to or relate in any way to the argument in the first submission concerning the consideration of all imports as dumped in the injury analysis under Article 3.4. This raises an implication that the request for establishment was not, in fact, sufficiently clear on this aspect of India's claims under Article 3.4.

6.28 We therefore turn next to the question whether the European Communities, or any of the third parties, has been prejudiced by this lack of sufficient clarity, "given the actual course of the panel proceedings". It is clear that the European Communities was able to respond to the Indian arguments in this regard. Moreover, while it is possible that potential third parties were not alerted to the fact that India intended to pursue the issue of consideration of all imports as dumped under Article 3.4 of the AD Agreement, it was clear from the face of the request for establishment that India was pursuing this issue under Article 3.5 of that Agreement. Moreover, all three third parties did address the issue of whether the European Communities acted inconsistently with the AD Agreement in considering all imports as dumped. In our view, this suggests a lack of prejudice to third parties' interests in this dispute. While it is not clear whether potential third parties understood the claim to be asserted under Article 3.4 or Article 3.5, the substance of the issue was clearly apparent to them, and was addressed by those Members that participated as third parties. The specific provision of the AD Agreement alleged to have been violated is, in our view, of less importance than the question whether the particular practice, consideration of all imports as dumped, is permitted by the AD Agreement or not, and that question has clearly been addressed by all parties and third parties in this dispute, and was clearly put before us by the request for establishment.

6.29 Thus, we conclude that, in the particular circumstances of this case, the lack of sufficient clarity in the request for establishment concerning India's claim 19 that challenges the consideration of all imports as dumped in the injury analysis under Article 3.4 was not prejudicial to either the European Communities or third parties. We therefore deny the European Communities' request to dismiss this aspect of claim 19. Of course, this is without prejudice to our substantive decision on this claim, which is addressed further below.

(b) Evidence regarding the substance of the consultations

(i) Parties' arguments

6.30 The European Communities also objects to the inclusion by India in its submission of reports of the consultations between the parties prior to the establishment of the Panel. The European Communities argues that these were drafted by India, without the European Communities' endorsement, are inaccurate and intrinsically unreliable, and are not evidence that can properly be submitted to the Panel.

6.31 In its response on this point, India stressed the "absolute accuracy of the verbatim reports" it had prepared and on which it relied in its first submission. India acknowledged that it was unusual to present such reports, but maintained that it was obliged to do so as these reports bore witness to the European Communities' lack of respect for the basic objective of the consultation process, to seek an amicable solution

(ii) Findings

6.32 At the outset, we note that India appears to acknowledge that there is nothing new or substantive in the reports of the substance of the consultations that is not otherwise before the Panel. India states that it is relying on the reports of the consultations as bearing "witness to the lack of respect on the part of the European Communities for the basic objective of the consultation process, which is to seek an amicable solution." This latter assertion is without relevance to either the issues in dispute (which do not relate to the adequacy of the consultations) or the question whether the evidence regarding the consultations should be considered by the Panel. Thus, it seems that the evidence concerning the consultations is at best unnecessary, and may be irrelevant. That said, however, merely because the evidence is unnecessary or irrelevant does not require us to exclude it.

6.33 A panel is obligated by Article 11 of the DSU to conduct "an objective assessment of the matter before it". The Panel in Australia-Automotive Leather observed that:

"Any evidentiary rulings we make must, therefore, be consistent with this obligation. In our view, a decision to limit the facts and arguments that the United States may present during the course of this proceeding to those set forth in the request for consultations would make it difficult, if not impossible, for us to fulfill our obligation to conduct an "objective assessment" of the matter before us."20

Similarly in this case, we consider that it is not necessary to limit the facts and arguments India may present, even if we might consider those facts or arguments to be irrelevant or not probative on the issues before us. In our view, there is a significant and substantive difference between questions concerning the admissibility of evidence, and the weight to be accorded evidence in making our decisions. That is, we may choose to allow parties to present evidence, but subsequently not consider that evidence, because it is not relevant or necessary to our determinations or is not probative on the issues before it. In our view, there is little to be gained by expending our time and effort in ruling on points of "admissibility" of evidence vel non.

6.34 In addition, we note that, under Article 13.2 of the DSU, Panels have a general right to seek information "from any relevant source". In this context, we consider that, as a general rule, panels have wide latitude in admitting evidence in WTO dispute settlement. The DSU contains no rule that might restrict the forms of evidence that panels may consider. Moreover, international tribunals are generally free to admit and evaluate evidence of every kind, and to ascribe to it the weight that they see fit. As one legal scholar has noted:

"The inherent flexibility of the international procedure, and its tendency to be free from technical rules of evidence applied in municipal law, provide the "evidence" with a wider scope in international proceedings . . . . Generally speaking, international tribunals have not committed themselves to the restrictive rules of evidence in municipal law. They have found it justified to receive every kind and form of evidence, and have attached to them the probative value they deserve under the circumstances of a given case".21

It has clearly been held in the WTO that information obtained in consultations may be presented in subsequent panel proceedings.22

6.35 There is nothing to be accomplished by limiting the evidence in this dispute by granting the European Communities' request, and we therefore deny it. Moreover, we note that we have not relied on the evidence concerning the consultations in making our decisions in this dispute. We therefore consider that the accuracy of India's representations as to what happened in the consultations is not relevant to our decision and we reach no conclusions in that regard.

(c) Evidence containing confidential information from a different investigation

(i) Parties' arguments

6.36 Finally, the European Communities notes that India's Exhibit 49 to its first submission appears to contain a dumping calculation from a different anti-dumping investigation than the one at issue in this dispute. The European Communities asserts that if this is true, the submission of this evidence constitutes a breach of confidentiality obligations in that other case, and the European Communities is not prepared to comment on the substance of the document. The European Communities does not argue that the information in the Exhibit is untrue or irrelevant. Rather, the European Communities argues that India has, or may have, violated an obligation of confidentiality regarding the contents of Exhibit 49. The European Communities requests the Panel to rule that the document is not part of these proceedings.

6.37 India stated that it was entitled to present the information in question in support of its arguments, that the Panel's working procedures required that all information submitted be kept confidential, and that there was no breach of confidentiality, citing in this regard India's Exhibit 81, setting forth the explicit written consent of the producer whose information is at issue to its submission in this dispute settlement proceeding.

6.38 The United States, as third party, agrees with the European Communities that if India's Exhibit 49 is in fact a confidential document from another anti-dumping investigation, unless it is demonstrated that the parties whose confidential information is contained in that document consented to the release of that information, the submission of the document to this panel represents a deplorable breach of confidentiality which should not be encouraged by the Panel. However, the United States does not suggest any specific ruling in this regard.

(ii) Findings

6.39 The issue we must decide is whether certain confidential information which was before the European Communities in an anti-dumping investigation unrelated to the anti-dumping measure in dispute before us can be considered by this Panel. We note the view of the European Communities that the submission of this information constitutes a breach of confidentiality. Although the European Communities does not specifically so state, presumably the concern is with the alleged unauthorised disclosure of confidential information in violation of the last sentence of Article 6.5 of the AD Agreement. We recall, however, that there is no claim before us that India has violated Article 6.5 of the Agreement. Our task is limited to addressing those issues which are necessary to resolve the European Communities' assertion that this information is inadmissible.

6.40 We consider that an issue of the admissibility of evidence might be presented if we had reason to believe that the party to whom the confidential information belonged objected to its disclosure and consideration in this dispute. However, in this case the party to whom the information belongs and whose interests are protected by confidential treatment has waived its rights and stated its consent to our consideration of the information in question.23 Under these circumstances, we can perceive no useful purpose to be served by excluding the information. That the document consenting to the submission of the information in this proceeding is dated after the date that the information was first submitted to us does not, in our view, change that conclusion. We note that, in any event, the evidence in question purports to demonstrate that the European Communities' practice concerning zeroing is not consistently applied by the European Communities in all cases. Since the issue before us is whether the European Communities' practice as applied in this case is consistent with its obligations under the AD Agreement, we do not consider it necessary to decide whether the European Communities applies that practice consistently. If zeroing is prohibited, the European Communities has violated its obligations under the AD Agreement in this case.24 If zeroing is allowed, then it has not. Whether it has zeroed in some other anti-dumping investigation will not affect our conclusions on this point. We therefore deny the European Communities' request to rule that Exhibit 49 is not admissible in this proceeding.

2. India request

(a) Parties' arguments

6.41 India submitted a letter objecting to Exhibit 4 to the European Communities' first submission, and requesting a preliminary ruling concerning the exact status of the document in question. While not stated explicitly, it appears that India considers that this document was created post hoc for the purposes of this dispute, and that it should not be considered by the Panel.

6.42 The European Communities asserted that the document was a recapitulative table of the declarations of support for the application received prior to initiation, and did not constitute new evidence. On the contrary, the European Communities maintained that the exhibit simply systematised evidence that had always been available to India, and cited in this regard to India's Exhibit 59, which the European Communities asserted contained some of the same evidence.

(b) Findings

6.43 Article 17.5(ii) of the AD Agreement provides that a panel shall consider a dispute under the AD Agreement "based upon: . . . the facts made available in conformity with appropriate domestic procedures to the authorities of the importing Member". It does not require, however, that a panel consider those facts exclusively in the format in which they were originally available to the investigating authority. Indeed, the very purpose of the submissions of the parties to the Panel is to marshal the relevant facts in an organized and comprehensible fashion in support of their arguments and to elucidate the parties' positions. Based on our review of the information that was before the European Communities at the time it made its decision, in particular that presented by India in its Exhibits, the parties' extensive argument regarding this evidence, and our findings with respect to India's claim under Article 5.4, we conclude that the Exhibit in question does not contain new evidence. Thus, we conclude that the form of the document, (i.e., a new document) does not preclude us from considering its substance, which comprises facts made available to the investigating authority during the investigation. There is in our view no basis for excluding the document from consideration in this proceeding, and we therefore deny India's request.

B. BURDEN OF PROOF AND STANDARD OF REVIEW

6.44 In reviewing the European Communities' final measure imposing anti-dumping duties, which is the measure at issue in this dispute, we keep in mind the applicable principles concerning the burden of proof, and the standard of review in disputes involving anti-dumping proceedings. In WTO dispute settlement proceedings, the burden of proof with respect to a particular claim or defense rests with the party that asserts such claim or defence.25 The burden of proof is "a procedural concept which speaks to the fair and orderly management and disposition of a dispute".26 In the context of the present dispute, which is concerned with the assessment of the WTO consistency of a definitive anti-dumping measure imposed by the European Communities, India is obliged to present a prima facie case of violation of the relevant Articles of the AD Agreement. In this regard, the Appellate Body has stated that ". . . a prima facie case is one which, in the absence of effective refutation by the defending party, requires a panel, as a matter of law, to rule in favour of the complaining party presenting the prima facie case".27 Thus, where India presents a prima facie case in respect of a claim, it is for the European Communities to provide an "effective refutation" of India's evidence and arguments, by submitting its own evidence and arguments in support of the assertion that the European Communities complied with its obligations under the AD Agreement. Assuming evidence and arguments are presented on both sides, it is then our task to weigh and assess that evidence and those arguments in order to determine whether India has established that the European Communities acted inconsistently with its obligations under the AD Agreement.

6.45 Article 17.6 of the AD Agreement sets out a special standard of review for disputes arising under that Agreement. With regard to factual issues, Article 17.6(i) provides:

"(i) in its assessment of the facts of the matter, the panel shall determine whether the authorities' establishment of the facts was proper and whether their evaluation of those facts was unbiased and objective. If the establishment of the facts was proper and the evaluation was unbiased and objective, even though the panel might have reached a different conclusion, the evaluation shall not be overturned;"

Assuming that we conclude that the establishment of the facts with regard to a particular claim in this case was proper, we then may consider whether, based on the evidence before the EC investigating authorities at the time of the determination, an unbiased and objective investigating authority evaluating that evidence could have reached the conclusions that the EC investigating authorities reached on the matter in question.28

6.46 With respect to questions of the interpretation of the AD Agreement, Article 17.6(ii) provides:

"(ii) the panel shall interpret the relevant provisions of the Agreement in accordance with customary rules of interpretation of public international law. Where the panel finds that a relevant provision of the Agreement admits of more than one permissible interpretation, the panel shall find the authorities' measure to be in conformity with the Agreement if it rests upon one of those permissible interpretations."

Thus, in considering those aspects of the European Communities' determination which stand or fall depending on the interpretation of the AD Agreement itself rather than or in addition to the analysis of facts, we first interpret the provisions the AD Agreement. As the Appellate Body has repeatedly stated, Panels are to consider the interpretation of the WTO Agreements, including the AD Agreement, in accordance with the principles set out in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (Vienna Convention). Thus, we look to the ordinary meaning of the provision in question, in its context, and in light of its object and purpose. Finally, we may consider the preparatory work (the negotiating history) of the provision, should this be necessary or appropriate in light of the conclusions we reach based on the text of the provision. We then evaluate whether the European Communities' interpretation is one that is "permissible" in light of the customary rules of interpretation of international law. If so, we allow that interpretation to stand, and unless there is error in the subsequent analysis of the facts under that legal interpretation under the standard of review under Article 17.6(i), the challenged action is upheld.

6.47 Finally, we note that, as a general matter, the object of a panel's review of a final anti-dumping measure focuses on the final determination of the investigating authority, in this case, the European Communities' Definitive Regulation (Exhibit India-9). However, it is clear to us, and the European Communities has confirmed, that in EC practice the Definitive Regulation does not stand alone as the final determination. Rather, the European Communities reaches many of its conclusions in the preliminary phase of the investigative process, and announces those decisions in the Provisional Regulation (Exhibit India-8). Unless there is a change in the substance of such decisions during the final phase of the investigative process, these decisions are often simply confirmed in the Definitive Regulation, without repeating the underlying analysis and facts in detail, although there may be additional facts or explanation given. Thus, to the extent we seek to understand the European Communities' analysis and explanation concerning any given element of its final determination in order to evaluate India's claims, we consider it appropriate to look to both the Provisional Regulation and the Definitive Regulation to inform ourselves as to the substance of the challenged decision.

C. CLAIMS UNDER ARTICLE 2

6.48 The European Communities, in its investigation, relied on constructed normal value, i.e., it established the normal value on the basis of the cost of production plus a reasonable amount for administrative, selling and general costs (hereinafter "SG&A") and for profits. India does not challenge this decision on the part of the EC authorities. India does, however, challenge aspects of the European Communities' methodology for calculating the constructed normal value. In addition, India argues that the �zeroing� methodology the European Communities applied in comparing normal value and export price to calculate the dumping margins is inconsistent with the requirements of the AD Agreement.

1. Claim under Article 2.2.2 � determination of amount for profit (claim number 1)

(a) Article 2.2.2 - order of options

(i) Parties' arguments

6.49 Articles 2.2.2(i)-(iii) set forth three separate bases for deriving the amount of SG&A expenses and profit to be used in a constructed value calculation. India argues that the European Communities applied Article 2.2.2(ii), which was not available to the European Communities, instead of Article 2.2.2(i), which was available, and that this action violates the spirit and structure of Articles 2.2.2 and 2.2. India contends that the text of the AD Agreement reveals a gradually declining scale in the order of options as far as the relation with the producer is concerned. The first alternative, set out in the chapeau of Article 2.2.2, is the �actual dumping situation� and the fourth option (Article 2.2.2(iii)) is the �most alternative� method. Recourse to the options provided for in Articles 2.2.2(ii) and (iii) would normally deprive an exporter not only of the possibility of verifying the calculation of his own dumping margin, at least in the EC system, but also of the possibility of preventing dumping, because he would never know whether he is dumping in the first place. Therefore, India argues, those provisions are ranked such that their use is less available than Articles 2.2.2 and 2.2.2(i). It is India�s position that, on the basis of the wording of Article 2.2.2, as well as the concept of dumping, Article 2.2.2 establishes a preference for the use of producer-specific data.

6.50 India points out that the EC legislation � Article 2(6) of Regulation 384/96 � in fact lists the options for determining the amounts for SG&A and for profit identified in Article 2.2 of the AD Agreement in a different order than they appear in the Agreement. This would appear to suggest, according to India, that the European Communities implicitly does not consider the order of options to be relevant. The European Communities did not even consider which option would be most reasonable, but simply applied Article 2(6)(a). India believes that, in fact, Article 2(6)(c) could have been applied, pointing to the situation of at least one company which had domestic sales of other products in the same general category in the domestic market. In India�s view, the European Communities apparently considers the order in which options are set out in Article 2(6) of its Regulation as mandatory. Further, India notes that case law from the European Court of Justice confirms that the order of the Regulation is of a mandatory nature and recent EC literature on the subject confirms that the order set out in the Regulation is followed in practice. India considers that the de facto order of preference established by the European Communities is inconsistent with the order of preference established by the AD Agreement as applied in the bed linen proceeding.29

6.51 The European Communities disagrees with India�s interpretation finding a priority of Article 2.2.2(i) over Article 2.2.2(ii). The European Communities maintains that the ordinary meaning of the text of Article 2.2.2 does not indicate any priority between the three options. The three sub-paragraphs contain no wording indicating that one is to be applied in preference to another, nor is any preference inherent in the nature of the three options, or at least of the first two. Consequently, following from the correct interpretation of Article 2.2.2, Members have complete discretion to choose between the options. Moreover, the European Communities contends that, while the particular exporter or producer is no doubt an important element in the calculation of normal value, so is the particular product. In fact, from an economic point of view, the commonality of products is more important than that of producer, because market forces operate most strongly between products of the same kind. Thus option (ii) is at least as economically realistic as option (i).

6.52 The European Communities notes that India draws attention to certain disadvantages for the exporter/producer of using option (ii) or (iii). The implication of this argument, to the European Communities, is that the drafters would have sought to avoid such disadvantages. Protecting the interests of the exporter/producer is arguably one of the purposes implicit in the AD Agreement, but others are equally plausible. For instance, compared to option (ii), the use of option (i) would involve much greater investigative effort, with consequent inconvenience and delays for all concerned. In contrast, the data relevant to option (ii) would already be in the hands of the investigating authorities. The European Communities believes that it would be more in accordance with the object and purpose of the AD Agreement to conclude that the text leaves Members free to decide whether to give priority to option (i) or option (ii).30

6.53 The United States, as third party to the dispute, submits that the text of Article 2.2.2 is not hierarchical with respect to alternative methods for computing SG&A and profit. Dumping is both a producer-specific and product-specific determination; therefore, the chapeau of Article 2.2.2 expresses a clear preference for the use of actual data of the producer or exporter under investigation, for sales of the like product in the ordinary course of trade. When the method of the chapeau of Article 2.2.2 cannot be applied, any of the three alternatives that follow may be applied instead. Notably, it is permissible to infer both from the presence of an explicit hierarchy between the chapeau and the three alternatives that follow, and from the absence of such a hierarchy among the three alternatives, that the drafters of the Agreement intended no such hierarchy to exist among Articles 2.2.2(i), (ii) and (iii).

(ii) Findings

6.54 We first consider India�s argument that the order of methodological options for calculating a reasonable amount for profit set out in Article 2.2.2 reflects a preference for one option over another, notably the option set out in paragraph (i) over that in paragraph (ii).

6.55 Article 2.1 of the AD Agreement articulates the general requirement for price comparison to determine the existence of dumping. It stipulates:

�For the purpose of this Agreement, a product is to be considered as being dumped, i.e., introduced into the commerce of another country at less than its normal value, if the export price of the product exported from one country to another is less than the comparable price, in the ordinary course of trade, for the like product when destined for consumption in the exporting country.�

6.56 Article 2.2 provides:

�When there are no sales of the like product in the ordinary course of trade in the domestic market of the exporting country or when, because of the particular market situation or the low volume of the sales in the domestic market of the exporting country2, such sales do not permit a proper comparison, the margin of dumping shall be determined by comparison with a comparable price of the like product when exported to an appropriate third country, provided that this price is representative, or with the cost of production in the country of origin plus a reasonable amount for administrative, selling and general costs and for profits.

_______________________________

2Sales of the like product destined for consumption in the domestic market of the exporting country shall normally be considered a sufficient quantity for the determination of the normal value if such sales constitute 5 per cent or more of the sales of the product under consideration to the importing Member, provided that a lower ratio should be acceptable where the evidence demonstrates that domestic sales at such lower ratio are nonetheless of sufficient magnitude to provide for a proper comparison.�

6.57 Thus, Article 2.2 of the AD Agreement provides that, in certain circumstances, the margin of dumping can be determined using a constructed normal value, comprising �the cost of production in the country of origin plus a reasonable amount for administrative, selling and general costs and for profits�. Article 2.2.2 then sets forth how investigating authorities shall arrive at the amounts for SG&A and for profits to be used in the calculation of this constructed normal value. It states:

�For the purpose of paragraph 2, the amounts for administrative, selling and general costs and for profits shall be based on actual data pertaining to production and sales in the ordinary course of trade of the like product by the exporter or producer under investigation. When such amounts cannot be determined on this basis, the amounts may be determined on the basis of:

(i) the actual amounts incurred and realised by the exporter or producer in question in respect of production and sales in the domestic market of the country of origin of the same general category of products;

(ii) the weighted average of the actual amounts incurred and realised by other exporters or producers subject to investigation in respect of production and sales of the like product in the domestic market of the country of origin;

(iii) any other reasonable method, provided that the amount for profit so established shall not exceed the profit normally realised by other exporters or producers on sales of products of the same general category in the domestic market of the country of origin.�

6.58 The chapeau and paragraphs (i) and (ii) of Article 2.2.2 thus outline specific methods available to the investigating authorities to arrive at the amounts for SG&A and for profits to be used in the calculation of constructed normal value, and paragraph  (iii) allows for the use of any other reasonable method. The chapeau of Article 2.2.2 requires the use of the profit margin from like product sales in the ordinary course of trade in the home market in calculating constructed normal value. When the amount cannot be determined on this basis, a Member may resort to an approach set out in paragraphs (i)-(iii).

6.59 Looking first at the text of Article 2.2.2, we see nothing that would indicate that there is a hierarchy among the methodological options listed in subparagraphs (i) to (iii). Of course, they are listed in a sequence, but this is an inherent characteristic of any list, and does not in and of itself entail any preference of one option over others. Moreover, we note that where the drafters intended an order of preference, the text clearly specifies it. Thus, Article 2.2.2 provides "When such amounts cannot be determined on this basis . . . ", an investigating authority may turn to subparagraphs (i) to (iii). There is no similar language regarding the subparts themselves. Had the drafters wished to indicate a hierarchy among the three options, surely they would have done so in a manner that made that hierarchy explicit. Certainly, we would have expected something more than simply a numbered listing. Thus, in context, it seems clear to us that the mere order in which the options appear in Article 2.2.2 has no preferential significance.

6.60 India�s argument, that subparagraph (i) must be considered first, and that option (ii) can only be applied if option (i) cannot be applied, rests on implicit conclusions about the relative desirability of the three options in Article 2.2.2, and asks us to conclude that option (i) is, in all circumstances, preferable to option (ii). Paragraphs (i)-(iii) provide three alternative methods for calculating the profit amount, which, in our view, are intended to constitute close approximations of the general rule set out in the chapeau of Article 2.2.2. These approximations differ from the chapeau rule in that they relax, respectively, the reference to the like product, the reference to the exporter concerned, or both references, spelled out in that rule.31 Thus, Article 2.2.2(i) allows the calculation of the profit amount on the basis of data for the exporter concerned, corresponding to a general category of products, including the like product. In turn, Article 2.2.2(ii) permits the calculation of the profit rate on the basis of the weighted average profit rate for other investigated exporters, corresponding to the like product itself. Finally, Article 2.2.2(iii) allows the use of any other method, as long as the resulting rate is not higher than the weighted average profit rate realised by other investigated exporters in respect of sales in the same general category of products.32

6.61 In our view, there is no basis on which to judge which of these three options is �better�. Certainly, there were differing views during the negotiations as to how this issue was to be resolved,33 and there is no specific language in the Agreement to suggest that the drafters considered one option preferable to the others. Given, as explained above, that each of the three options is in some sense "imperfect" in comparison with the chapeau methodology, there is, in our opinion, no meaningful way to judge which option is less imperfect � or of greater authority � than another and, thus, no obvious basis for a hierarchy. And it is, in our view, for the drafters of an Agreement to set out a hierarchy or order of preference among admittedly imperfect approximations of a preferred result, and not for a panel to impose such a choice where it is not apparent from the text.

6.62 We therefore conclude that the order in which the three options are set out in Articles 2.2.2(i)-(iii) is without any hierarchical significance and that Members have complete discretion as to which of the three methodologies they use in their investigations. We thus find that the European Communities was not required by the AD Agreement to resort to option (i) before it could resort to option (ii) and it did not act inconsistently with Article 2.2.2 by using the latter option.

(b) Article 2.2.2(ii) � data from �other exporters or producers�

(i) Parties' arguments

6.63 India next claims that the European Communities misapplied Article 2.2.2(ii) of the AD Agreement by relying on data of one other producer as the amount for profits. India argues that the calculation method provided for in Article 2.2.2(ii) was not available to the European Communities, because the conditions for its application had not been met, pointing to the words �other exporters or producers� in that provision. India argues that the production and sales amounts of other exporters or producers are to be averaged, and that the production and sales amount of a single "other" exporter or producer cannot be used under Article 2.2.2(ii). In this regard, India adds that all definitions of the word �average� entail that the group set of which the average is to be calculated should consist of more than one unit. An average, by its very nature, cannot be inferred from a single variable. The fact that Article 2.2.2(ii) uses the words �weighted average�, i.e., an average that attributes statistical weight to each of the parameters being summarised into a single value, only stresses the fact that more than one factor needs to be taken into account. India asserts that "amounts" in Article 2.2.2(ii) refers to �the amounts for administrative, selling and general costs and for profits�. It is, therefore, clearly the amounts for �administrative, selling and general costs and for profits� from �other producers or exporters� for which a �weighted average� needs to be established. However, the European Communities applied just one amount from one producer as the data to be used pursuant to Article 2.2.2(ii).

6.64 India considers that the logic underlying the European Communities' action perverts the text of Article 2.2.2(ii). The calculation of the constructed normal values for companies without domestic sales is coloured by factors unique to the single producer whose SG&A and profit amounts were used, thereby artificially finding dumping for all producers, where, in reality, none exists for most. It is precisely to avoid such extreme results, in India's view, that the Agreement requires that the weighted average of data for at least two exporters or producers be used. This rationale can be inferred from the principal rule of the chapeau of Article 2.2, namely that the amount for SG&A and profit be �reasonable�. India submits that Bombay Dyeing is a wholly atypical company in India, and the SG&A and profit from one peculiar and extraordinary company cannot be considered "reasonable". India submits that another company did have sufficient representative domestic sales, was included in the sample selection, and its data should have been taken into account by the European Communities.

6.65 The European Communities disputes India's interpretation of Article 2.2.2(ii). The European Communities emphasises that the approach required by Article 31 of the Vienna Convention relies on the ordinary meaning of the words of the treaty in their context and in light of the treaty�s object and purpose. The European Communities notes that India alleges that the word �average� requires consideration of more than one parameter. The European Communities does not agree that provisions containing the word �average� (or the words �weighted average�) become inapplicable if the circumstances are such that the class of data that is to be "averaged" contains only one item. Article 2.4.2, for instance, uses the notion of �a weighted average normal value with a weighted average of prices of all comparable export transactions�. There is no reason, for the European Communities, to think that the formula could not be applied if either side of the comparison contained only one sale. The European Communities further asserts that this interpretation of Article 2.2.2 entails focusing on the use of the word �amounts� rather than amount. The European Communities submits that the use of this word is more complex. Since the first sentence of the chapeau of Article 2.2.2 refers to an individual �exporter or producer�, it would be surprising, in the opinion of the European Communities, if there were more than one amount for �administrative, selling and general costs� and one amount for �profits�. Therefore, the word �amounts� most plausibly reflects the fact that there would be two amounts (one of each type) for each exporter or producer.

6.66 Regarding the use of the word �amounts� in Article 2.2.2(ii), the European Communities comments that the word is in the plural in two senses, first, as explained above with respect to Article 2.2.2, and, second, because in many cases there would be more than one other exporter or producer, as is also envisaged by the reference to �other exporters or producers�. The European Communities submits, however, that, both in ordinary speech and in carefully drafted legal texts, a plural phrase is often used with the intention of including the case where there is only one such person or thing. Articles 4.1 and 17.4 of the AD Agreement use similar language. In the European Communities' view, it would be absurd to prevent the operation of such provisions merely because there was only one other producer or exporter. Nor does India explain why the normal usage of the phrase should not apply in this case. The European Communities adds that it is the phrase �other exporters or producers� in Article 2.2.2(ii) that is the central element, and the mention of �average� adds nothing to the use of the plural in the phrase �exporters or producers�.

6.67 Finally, the European Communities submits that, when the words �other exporters or producers� are considered in light of the object and purpose of the AD Agreement, it becomes clear that the evident purpose of this part of the agreement is to secure data that are independent of the company in question, but are nevertheless limited to the sales of like products. There is no intrinsic reason why the use of data from a single firm could not achieve this goal.

6.68 The United States, as third party, argues that Article 2.2.2(ii) does not require a minimum number of companies to be used in calculating SG&A and profit amounts, and it neither forbids an investigating authority from using a single company for purposes of this calculation, nor requires it to use more than one company. The use of plural forms in this provision, without more, is not determinative of the issue.

(ii) Findings

6.69 Having concluded that the three options in Articles 2.2.2(i)-(iii) are not set out in preferential order, and that the European Communities therefore was entitled to resort to the methodology in Article 2.2.2(ii) the next issue before us is whether, as India argues, the European Communities was precluded from applying the option set out in Article 2.2.2(ii) because that provision may not be applied in the situation where the data concerning amounts for profit and SG&A are available for only one other exporter or producer, as was the situation in this case. Otherwise put, is the existence of data for more than one other exporter or producer a necessary prerequisite for application of the approach set out in paragraph (ii)?

6.70 We first consider the language of Article 2.2.2(ii). India's argument has two principal elements � the use of the plural in the text of Article 2.2.2(ii), and the phrase "weighted average". With respect to the first element, the European Communities argues that a phrase in the plural form is often used, in general and in the AD Agreement, with the intention of including the case where there is only one such person or thing. We agree. The phrase "other exporters or producers" as a general matter, admits of an understanding where the plural form includes the singular case � the case where there is only one other producer or exporter. In both common speech and legal texts, it is accepted that the ordinary meaning of the plural form may include the singular case. Moreover, the focus of the options set out in Article 2.2.2 on the use of actual data suggests to us that such an understanding is permissible. The question we must consider is whether that is the meaning to be given to the phrase as used in Article 2.2.2(ii). As discussed above, Article 2.2.2(i) maintains the focus on the producer being investigated, but allows consideration of data concerning a broader range of products, while Article 2.2.2(ii) maintains the focus on the like product, but allows consideration of other producers or exporters. The third option, Article 2.2.2(iii) allows any other reasonable method, subject to a cap on the results. In this context, we do not consider that the reference to other producers or exporters in the plural necessarily must be understood to preclude resort to option (ii) in the case where there is only one other producer or exporter of the like product.

6.71 With respect to the second element, India argues that because a weighted average must be based on more than one data point, there must be more than one �other� producers' or exporters' data under consideration. However, we do not consider that the phrases �weighted average� and �other producers and exporters� constitute two separate requirements. Rather, we are of the opinion that the concept of weighted averaging is relevant only when there is information from more than one other producer or exporter available to be considered. In our view, the obligation to consider a weighted average of the information of other producers or exporters eliminates the possibility of a result-oriented or otherwise biased or discriminatory choice among available data. However, when the data available is from only one source, such a possibility does not arise. The interpretation argued by India would limit the analytical options available to investigating authorities for determination of the profit rate and SG&A in a constructed normal value in a manner we cannot see as mandated by the text.

6.72 In this regard, we consider informative other provisions which use the plural form, but are applicable in the singular case. For instance, Article 4.1 of the AD Agreement defines the domestic industry in terms of "domestic producers" in the plural. Yet we consider it indisputable that a single domestic producer may constitute the domestic industry under the AD Agreement, and that the provisions concerning domestic industry under Article 4 continue to apply in such a factual situation. Similarly, we note that Article 9.4(i) provides that the dumping duty applied to imports from producers/exporters not examined as part of a sample shall not exceed "the weighted average margin of dumping established with respect to the selected exporters or producers". We consider that this provision does not become inoperative if there is only one selected exporter or producer � rather, the dumping margin for that exporter or producer may be applied. In our view, these considerations lend support to an understanding of Article 2.2.2(ii) pursuant to which Members may apply the methodology in that provision even in a case where data is available for only one "other" exporter or producer. Thus, we conclude, based on our understanding of the text of the provision, that a Member is not precluded from employing the methodology set out in Article 2.2.2(ii) in a case where there is only one other producer or exporter.

6.73 We also consider that the negotiating history of Article 2.2.2 confirms our view that Article 2.2.2(ii) is not limited to the case where there is more than one "other" producer or exporter. There was no provision in the Tokyo Round Anti-Dumping Code corresponding to Article 2.2.2(ii). In the absence of guidance in this regard, it was the practice of some Members, notably the United States, to calculate profit and SG&A amounts in a constructed value on the basis of benchmarks established without reference to specific relevant information developed in the course of the investigation. This practice was strongly objected to by other Parties to the Tokyo Round Anti-Dumping Code, and was the subject of negotiations in the Uruguay Round leading to the adoption of Article 2.2.2, and its subparts, to provide guidance for the derivation of profit and SG&A amounts in constructed value calculations.34 In our view, this background indicates that the provision is intended to ensure that actual data is used for determining the profit rate and SG&A in a constructed normal value, rather than arbitrarily determined amounts. That there is only one producer whose information is available for this use does not undermine this purpose. The requirement of a weighted average resolves the question of how to determine the appropriate amounts in a case where there is more than one investigated exporter whose actual data can be used. Thus, investigating authorities may not select a single producer as the source of the necessary information when information is available from more than one such producer, but must take a weighted average of the available information.

6.74 However, in this case, the European Communities did not arbitrarily pick one producer's data to use in its calculation. Rather, it was faced with the factual situation that there was only one producer whose data was available for the calculation under Article 2.2.2(ii). It is true that there was at least one other exporter which had domestic sales of the like product during the period of investigation. However, that producer was not in the sample on which the European Communities based its calculations in the dumping investigation. It might, in theory at least, have been possible for the EC investigating authorities to calculate a weighted average profit rate including that producer�s information.35 However, India has made no persuasive argument as to why, absent a conclusion that the sample was not properly selected36, the European Communities should have been obligated to consider, in this aspect of its analysis, information for a company not part of the sample, and whose information was not considered otherwise. India argues that this producer was in the sample, but this is not factually correct. It was considered by the European Communities as being in the reserve sample, which is established in case the companies selected for the sample do not cooperate or provide usable information.37 Information was gathered from companies in the reserve sample to be used if it became necessary, which did not happen. We therefore consider that, as a matter of fact, there was only one producer whose data was available for use under Article 2.2.2(ii).

6.75 As we have concluded that Article 2.2.2(ii) may be applied in a case where there is data concerning profit and SG&A for only one other producer or exporter, we conclude that the European Communities was not precluded from applying the methodology set out in that provision in this case, and therefore did not act inconsistently with Article 2.2.2(ii) in this regard.

(c) Article 2.2.2(ii) � production and sales amounts �incurred and realised�

(i) Parties' arguments

6.76 India also asserts that the European Communities acted inconsistently with Article 2.2.2(ii) in its application of the provision by using the production and sales amounts "incurred and realised" on transactions in the ordinary course of trade, instead of the production and sales amounts �incurred and realised� on all transactions. For India, the European Communities' approach is demonstrably inconsistent with the express wording of Article 2.2.2(ii), which indicates that the entire purpose of the provision is to provide for a different and alternative basis from the basis contained in the chapeau of Article 2.2.2 upon which to establish SG&A and profits. Indeed, the second sentence of the chapeau of Article 2.2.2 expressly states that one is only entitled to resort to the methodology under Article 2.2.2(ii) when the basis under the chapeau of Article 2.2.2 �cannot� be used; it is clearly an �either-or� situation. It would, therefore, be in India's view absurd to conclude that the limitation to sales in the ordinary course of trade under Article 2.2.2 may be applied to calculations under Article 2.2.2(ii).

6.77 India notes that the definition of amounts for SG&A and profits in the first sentence of the chapeau includes the words �ordinary course of trade�. In India's view, since those words appear after the words �based on�, that requirement was clearly intended to form part of the basis or foundation for the specific method provided under the chapeau, but only for that method. Consequently, the words �such amounts� in the second sentence of the chapeau cannot logically be taken to refer back to SG&A and profits �in the ordinary course of trade�, but instead only to SG&A and profits as a whole. India concludes that the word �amounts� used for the purposes of Article 2.2.2(ii) does not, therefore, include any requirement that the amounts be incurred or realised in the ordinary course of trade.

6.78 In the European Communities' view, the issue under Article 2.2.2(ii) is whether the EC authorities were entitled to limit the data they would consider for purposes of constructing the normal value. The excluded classes of data in this case were, in the case of SG&A, data from sales that were unrepresentative, and in the case of profits, data derived from sales that were unrepresentative and/or unprofitable. These classes, the European Communities points out, correspond to the concepts mentioned in the opening clauses of Article 2.2, which makes it clear that one object and purpose of this part of the AD Agreement is to avoid reliance on sales that fall into either of these categories. The European Communities argues that India is evidently suggesting that the drafters did not object to normal value being based on unprofitable or unrepresentative sales as long as that data came from other producers or exporters, which interpretation is not, in the European Communities' view, based on a proper application of the rules of treaty interpretation of Article 31 of the Vienna Convention and, even if it were, would lead to a result that was �manifestly absurd or unreasonable� and require resort to the interpretive principles in Article 32 of the Vienna Convention.

6.79 Finally, the European Communities asserts that the basic principle of the �ordinary course of trade� is expressed in Article 2.2. In fact, it is a two-part principle: data associated with sales that are unprofitable, or are unrepresentative, are not reliable. For reasons of consistency, the European Communities maintains that this principle applies to all provisions falling within Article 2.2, including Article 2.2.2(ii).

6.80 Egypt, as third party, alleges that costs calculated by the European Communities were not based on the records kept by the exporters or producers under investigation in the case of Egypt, as required by Article 2.2.1.1, nor were amounts for SG&A costs based on actual data submitted by the relevant exporters or producers, as required by Article 2.2.2.

6.81 Japan, as third party, argues that Article 2.2.2(ii) does not allow the exclusion of below-cost sales before determining the profit amount. Article 2.2.2(ii) refers to �the actual amounts incurred and realised� and does not include any qualifications. According to Japan, if authorities choose this option, they must determine the weighted average of the actual profit margins reported by the exporters or producers in their accounting records or reflected in the price and cost of the transactions at issue. Article 2.2.2(ii) does not allow the authorities to modify these actual profit margins. Japan considers it improper to graft the concept of �ordinary course of trade� onto Article 2.2.2(ii). It sees the language of the first sentence of Article 2.2.2 as explicitly including the notion of �ordinary course of trade� but grammatically distinct from the second sentence that serves as the chapeau for the remainder of this provision. Japan notes the fact that the drafters were quite careful to insert the concept �ordinary course of trade� where they intended it to apply, and the decision not to include the concept in Article 2.2.2(ii) must, therefore, be given meaning when interpreting this language. Finally, Japan considers that an interpretation which allows the exclusion of below-cost sales would give no significance to the important distinction between the language of the option set out in Article 2.2.2 based on �actual data� and the language of the option set out in Article 2.2.2(ii) based on �actual amounts incurred and realised�.

6.82 The United States, as third party, asserts that it is a permissible interpretation of Article 2.2.2(ii) to restrict consideration of �actual amounts incurred and realised� to those attributable to sales made in the ordinary course of trade. Such an application is not prohibited by the Agreement and would, in fact, be a more reasonable interpretation of the Agreement. There is no explicit requirement within Article 2.2.2(ii) determining whether sales not in the ordinary course of trade should be included or excluded from the calculation of SG&A and profit to be used to calculate the constructed value for other producers or exporters. Further, although Article 2.2.2(ii) does not explicitly provide for the exclusion of below-cost sales, Article 2.2.1 makes it clear that, when below-cost sales have been made, the authorities are under no obligation to consider them in the determination of normal value, provided that certain conditions have been met. Moreover, excluding sales not in the ordinary course of trade is consistent with the overall operation of Article 2 of the AD Agreement.

(ii) Findings

6.83 The last issue that we must address under Article 2.2.2 is whether the European Communities erred in its application of Article 2.2.2(ii). In particular, the question before us is whether the European Communities acted inconsistently with that provision in using production and sales amounts incurred and realised only on transactions that were not made below cost � that is, transactions it considered to be in the ordinary course of trade � instead of using all production and sales amounts incurred and realised. More specifically, may the principle, set out in Article 2.2 � that data associated with sales that are unprofitable are not reliable38 � be applied to all provisions falling within Article 2.2?

6.84 Looking first at the text of Article 2.2.2(ii), we note that there is no reference to sales in the ordinary course of trade. Thus, we would agree with the view that exclusion of sales not in the ordinary course of trade is not mandated by that provision.39 However, we do not understand the European Communities to be arguing that it was required to exclude those sales in its determination of the profit rate, merely that it was permitted to do so, based on the general principle allowing the exclusion of sales not in the ordinary course of trade from the calculation of normal value.

6.85 We consider that this principle may be properly understood to apply to all provisions falling within Article 2.2, including Article 2.2.2(ii). We do not consider that a Member is obligated to exclude sales not in the ordinary course of trade for purposes of determining the profit rate under the subparagraphs of Article 2.2.2, merely that such exclusion is not prohibited by the text. In our view, to read Article 2.2.2 as prohibiting the exclusion of sales not in the ordinary course of trade might, in some cases, yield results under the alternatives set out in paragraphs (i) and (ii) that would be contradictory of a basic principle contained in the chapeau methodology. Article 2 establishes as a general principle that Members may base their calculations of normal value only on sales made in the ordinary course of trade. We consider that in this context, absent a specific prohibition, it is permissible to interpret the subparagraphs of Article 2.2.2 to allow application of this general principle in the specific case of a profit rate determination under Article 2.2.2(ii). If the alternative advocated by India were accepted, a prohibition on the exclusion of sales not in the ordinary course of trade might result in a constructed value being based on data concerning the very sales that could not be considered in determining normal value. Indeed, that would be the result in this case. Application of the methods in paragraphs (i)-(iii) might, thus, yield results inconsistent with the basic principles of Article 2.2.

6.86 We recall that the �ordinary course of trade� limitation forecloses the possibility of calculating profits on the basis of sales at prices below cost.40 The profit amount on sales at prices below cost would be negative. In our view, to require the calculation of constructed normal value including such sales would not be in keeping with the overall object and purpose of the provision � to establish methodologies for the determination of a reasonable amount for profit to be used in the calculation of a constructed normal value. If sales that are considered not in the ordinary course of trade because they are below cost were used for the calculation of the profit rate, the constructed value could be equal to cost and thus would not include a reasonable amount for profit. This would render the calculation of a constructed value meaningless, and not consistent with Article 2.2.41 In this context, we recall that one reason an investigating authority would construct a normal value is because the actual sales of the investigated exporter or producer are deemed inappropriate to serve as the basis of normal value because they are made below cost. To conclude that such sales below cost must then be taken into account in the construction of normal value in these circumstances makes no sense.

6.87 Thus, we consider that an interpretation of Article 2.2.2(ii) under which sales not in the ordinary course of trade are excluded from the determination of the profit amount to be used in the calculation of a constructed normal value is permissible. We therefore conclude that the European Communities did not err in its application of paragraph (ii) by using data only on transactions in the ordinary course of trade.



1 WT/DS141/1.

2 WT/DS141/2.

3 WT/DS141/3.

4 WT/DS141/4.

5 Exhibit India-6. The other countries whose exporters of cotton-type bed linen were subject to the application for investigation and imposition of anti-dumping duties were Egypt and Pakistan.

6 Exhibit India-7.

7 Commission Regulation No. 1069/97, Exhibit India-8 ("Provisional Regulation").

8 Exhibit India-33.

9 Council Regulation No. 2398/97, Exhibit India-9 ("Definitive Regulation").

10 On Tuesday, 9 May 2000, the day before our first meeting with the parties, the Panel received an unsolicited amicus curiae brief in support of the complaint by India in this dispute, submitted on behalf of the Foreign Trade Association by Dr. Konrad Neund�rfer. We made copies available to the parties for comment. No party made any substantive comments regarding that submission. We did not find it necessary to take the submission into account in reaching our decision in this dispute.

11 India's claims 2, 5, 9, 12, 17, 21, 24, 27, and 30 generally assert inconsistency on the part of the European Communities with Article 12.2.1 by failing properly to explain, in the Provisional Regulation, the legal and evidentiary basis for and analysis underlying elements of the European Communities' decision which are challenged by India.

12 Korea - Definitive Safeguard Measure on Imports of Certain Dairy Products ("Korea - Dairy Safeguard"), Appellate Body Report, WT/DS98/AB/R, adopted 12 January 2000, para. 124 (emphasis added).

13 Id.

14 European Communities - Regime for the Importation, Sale and Distribution of Bananas ("EC - Bananas"), Appellate Body Report, WT/DS27/AB/R, adopted 25 September 1997, para. 143.

15 WT/DS141/3.

16 Id.

17 The special or additional rules applicable to anti-dumping disputes have not been raised by the European Communities in this context. The Panel in Mexico - HFCS concluded that Article 17.4 of the AD Agreement, which describes the matters that may be referred for dispute settlement, "does not�set out any further or additional requirements with respect to the degree of specificity with which claims must be set forth in a request for establishment challenging a final anti-dumping measure.", and noted in this regard that Article 17.4 does not refer to "claims". Mexico - Anti-Dumping Investigation of High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) from the United States ("Mexico - HFCS"), Panel Report, WT/DS132/R, adopted 24 February 2000, para. 7.14 and note 531.

18 EC - Bananas, para. 142; Brazil - Measures Affecting Dessicated Coconut, Appellate Body Report, WT/DS22/AB/R, adopted 20 March 1997, p. 22.

19 Korea - Dairy Safeguard, Appellate Body Report, para. 6.

20 Australia - Subsidies Provided to Producers and Exporters of Automotive Leather, Panel Report, WT/DS126/R, adopted 16 June 1999, para. 9.25.

21 Kazazi, Mojtaba, Burden of Proof and Related Issues � A Study of Evidence Before International Tribunals, Malanczuk, Peter, ed., Kluwer Law International, The Hague, pp. 180, 184.

22 Korea - Taxes on Alcoholic Beverages, Panel Report, WT/DS75/R�WT/DS84/R, adopted 17 February 1999, para. 10.23 (issue not raised on appeal). This is unlike the situation before many international tribunals, which often refuse to admit evidence obtained during settlement negotiations between the parties to a dispute. The circumstances of such settlement negotiations are clearly different from WTO dispute settlement consultations, which are, as the Appellate Body has noted, part of the means by which facts are clarified before a panel proceeding.

23 Exhibit India-81.

24 India has made no claims concerning alleged inconsistent application of EC law.

25 United States � Measure Affecting Imports of Woven Wool Shirts and Blouses from India, Appellate Body Report, WT/DS33/AB/R, adopted 23 May 1997, p. 14.

26 Canada - Measures Affecting the Export of Civilian Aircraft, Appellate Body Report, WT/DS70/AB/R, adopted 20 August 1999, para. 198.

27 European Communities � Measures Concerning Meat and Meat Products ("EC � Hormones"), Appellate Body Report, WT/DS26/AB/R�WT/DS48/AB/R, adopted 13 February 1998, para. 104.

28 We note that this is the same standard as that applied by the Panel in Mexico - HFCS, which, in considering whether the Mexican investigating authorities had acted consistently with Article 5.3 in determining that there was sufficient evidence to justify inititaion, stated: "Our approach in this dispute will � be to examine whether the evidence before SECOFI at the time it initiated the investigation was such that an unbiased and objective investigating authority evaluating that evidence could properly have determined that sufficient evidence of dumping, injury and causal link existed to justify initiation." Mexico - HFCS, Panel Report, para. 7.95.

29 India has not made a claim regarding the Regulation itself, only its application in this case.

30 In this regard, the European Communities notes that India addresses the drafting of Article 2(6) of the European Communities� Basic Regulation, in particular, the fact that options (i) and (ii) are set out in the opposite order as that in the AD Agreement. As noted above, India has not made a claim regarding the Regulation itself, and we make no ruling on its consistency with the AD Agreement.

31 There is a question as to whether the methods outlined in Articles 2.2.2(i)-(iii) also relax the �ordinary course of trade� requirement present in Article 2.2.2. In fact, this is one of the questions at issue in this dispute (See section VI.C.1.(c)).

32 In fact, in order to come up with a benchmark, this method requires calculation of the weighted average profit rate for other investigated exporters, corresponding to the same general category of products.

33 See Stewart, Terence P., ed., The GATT Uruguay Round: A Negotiating History (1986-1992), Kluwer Law International, The Hague, pp. 171‑190.

34 See Stewart, Terence P., ed., The GATT Uruguay Round: A Negotiating History (1986-1992), Kluwer Law International, The Hague, pp. 171-190.

35 We note in this regard that the European Communities argues that the information for the producer in question would not have been considered in any event, as it had insufficient sales in the ordinary course of trade to allow its information to be used. Moreover, the European Communities suggests that the inclusion of data for that producer would have had little effect on the outcome.

36 We note that India has made no claim concerning the sample relied upon by the European Communities.

37 Provisional Regulation, Exhibit India-8, para. 21; Exhibit India-22.

38 Article 2.2 sets out the rule that data associated with unrepresentative sales are not reliable. A question similar to the one raised by India would be whether this principle carries to Article 2.2.2, given that only the "ordinary course of trade" rule is mentioned in Article 2.2.2. India does not, however, raise this issue, and we, therefore, need not and do not consider the question.

39 Indeed, we note that although the chapeau of Article 2.2.2 indicates that such sales must not be considered in calculating profit under that provision, Article 2.2 merely provides that sales below the cost of production may be treated as not being in the ordinary course of trade. That is to say, even if the relevant criteria for consideration of sales below cost as sales not in the ordinary course of trade are satisfied, an investigating authority is not obligated to exclude those sales from its calculation of normal value except, apparently, in determining the amounts for profit and SG&A under the chapeau of Article 2.2.2.

40 It may also foreclose the possibility of calculating profits on the basis of sales between related parties (albeit possibly made at cost). However, this is not an issue in this dispute.

41 With regard to the comments made by Egypt, we note that India has not brought a claim of violation of Article 2.2.1.1 or the chapeau of Article 2.2.2. "Claims" brought by third parties are clearly not within the terms of reference of, and, therefore, not properly before, the Panel.