EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES � CUSTOMS CLASSIFICATION
OF FROZEN BONELESS CHICKEN CUTS
Notification of an Other Appeal by Brazil
under Article 16.4 and Article 17 of the Understanding on
Rules
and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU),
and under Rule 23(1) of the Working Procedures for
Appellate Review
The following notification, dated 27 June 2005, from the
Delegation of Brazil, is being circulated to Members.
_______________
Pursuant to Articles 16 and 17 of the Understanding on
Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) and Rule 23
of the Working Procedures for Appellate Review, Brazil hereby notifies its
decision to appeal certain issues of law and legal interpretation contained in
the Panel report in European Communities � Customs Classification of Frozen
Boneless Chicken Cuts (WT/DS269/R).
Brazil seeks appellate review of:
1) The Panel�s Term of Reference
a) The Panel's conclusion that EC Regulation No.
1871/2003 and EC Regulation No. 2344/2003 are measures outside
the Panel�s terms of reference1 based, inter alia, on its interpretation
that Brazil�s Panel request was not broad enough to include EC
Regulation No. 1871/2003 and EC Regulation No. 2344/2003.2 This
conclusion was based on an erroneous interpretation of Articles 6.2 and
7 of the DSU.
b) The Panel�s conclusion that the product within its
terms of reference is �frozen boneless chicken cuts impregnated with a
salt content of 1.2%-3%�.3 In particular, the Panel�s interpretation that
the product at issue is determined by the measures considered by the
Panel to be within its terms of reference and not by the product
described in Brazil�s Panel request4 is not consistent with Articles 6.2
and 7 of the DSU.
2) Contextual Interpretation of the EC Schedule:
Harmonized System (HS)
a) The Panel�s conclusion that the evolution of the
terms and structure of Chapter 2 of the Harmonized System (HS) do not
clarify the meaning of the concession contained in heading 0210 of the
EC Schedule,5 specifically in
view of its finding that the evolution of the terms and structure does
not indicate that the predecessor to HS heading 0210 was characterized
by the notion of �preparation� and not �preservation�.6
b) The Panel�s conclusion that the HS Notes and
Explanatory Notes do not clarify the meaning of the concession
contained in heading 0210 of the EC Schedule.7
In particular, the finding that the HS Explanatory Notes to heading 0210
and Chapter 2 and the HS Notes to Chapter 16 do not help in the
interpretation of heading 0210 because the terms �preparation� and
�preservation� may not be mutually exclusive in the context of heading
0210.8
c) The Panel�s decision not to apply General
Rule 3 in the interpretation of heading 0210 based on its improper
reliance on and acceptance of the parties� alleged position that -
within their analysis � the products at issue are not prima facie
classifiable under two or more headings.9
d) The Panel�s overall conclusion that the HS does
not further clarify the interpretation of the concession contained in
heading 0210 of the EC Schedule, in so far as this conclusion was based
on the Panel�s flawed interpretations of the evolution of the terms and
structure of HS Chapter 2; the HS [Explanatory] Notes to Chapter 2,
heading 0210 and Chapter 16; and the application of General Rule 3.10
Brazil requests that the Appellate Body reverse the
conclusions and findings listed above. In the event the Appellate Body reverses
the Panel�s decision not to apply General Rule 3, Brazil requests that the
Appellate Body complete the legal analysis by examining Brazil�s claim that the
application of General Rule 3 leads to the classification of the product under
heading 0210 on the basis of the Panel�s factual findings and the facts on the
record.
The provisions of the WTO Agreement that Brazil considers the
Panel to have erroneously interpreted or applied are Articles 6.2 and 7 of the
DSU and heading 0210 of the EC Schedule read in conjunction with Articles
II:1(a) and II:1(b) of the GATT 1994.
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1 Panel Report, paras. 6.15 and 7.32.
2 Panel Report, paras. 6.9, 6.13, 7.28 and 7.29.
3 Panel Report, paras. 6.16-6.18 and 7.36.
4 Panel Report, paras. 6.18 and 7.36.
5 Panel Report, para. 7.205.
6 Panel Report, paras. 7.204 and 7.205.
7 Panel Report, paras. 7.223.
8 Panel Report, paras. 7.222 and 7.223.
9 Panel Report, paras. 7.238 and 7.241.
10 Panel Report, Para. 7.241.