19/5/2017, Geneva: The Russia – Pigs (EU) Dispute

Talking Disputes - The Russia – Pigs (EU) Dispute

AN ICTSD / WTI ADVISORS EVENT – 19 May 2017

Dear colleague,   The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and WTI Advisors jointly invite you to a panel discussion in Geneva on 19 May 2017.   The event This event will cover the recent WTO Appellate Body ruling in the Russia – Pigs (EU) dispute (DS475). The trade row was triggered by Russia’s rejection of certain pig and pork imports from the European Union (EU) following the detection of African swine fever (ASF) in four of its member States – Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland. ASF is a highly contagious, lethal haemorrhagic disease affecting pigs.   The Appellate Body found that Russia had indeed imposed an EU bloc-wide ban on live pigs, pork, and other pig products. The Appellate Body also clarified the “regionalization” obligations of an importing Member and that of an exporting Member under the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement). The Appellate Body found that Russia failed to adapt its measures to regional conditions as required by the SPS Agreement. The Appellate Body’s findings uphold the bulk of an earlier panel’s conclusions circulated last August.   Following a presentation on the key findings of the Appellate Body, the experts will engage in an exchange of views on the legal and policy implications of the findings, covering international trade relations and regulatory cooperation perspectives.   Practical info Venue: Room S3, World Trade Organization (WTO), Rue de Lausanne 154, 1202 Geneva. Registration: Registration is mandatory. Please register online by COB on Wednesday 10 May 2017. Webcast: The event will also be streamed live online on the event page. Online viewers may send questions through Twitter using the hash tag #TalkingDisputes, @ICTSDTradeLaw, @WTIAdvisors or through the comment function on the ICTSD event page. Selected questions will be read and addressed by the speakers during Q&A session.   We look forward to seeing you at the event.   Agenda 12:15 – 12:45 Lunch Reception   12:45 – 13:45 Panel Discussion Presentation of the Appellate Body’s findings in Russia – Pigs (EU): Maria ALCOVER, Advisory Centre on WTO Law (ACWL) Commentators: Anait SMBATYAN, WTO Expertise Center (Moscow) Craig VANGRASSTEK, Harvard University Lorenza JACHIA, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)   13:45 – 15:00 Open Discussion   Background Talking Disputes (TD) is designed to allow for the discussion of specific WTO disputes by experts and interested professionals from relevant fields. One or two experts present key aspects of the case, setting the stage for a targeted discussion, and designated discussants provide substantive comments.   TD events are also usually streamed live online on the ICTSD web page (www.ictsd.org). Online viewers may send questions through Twitter using the hash tag #TalkingDisputes, or @ICTSDTradeLaw, @WTIAdvisors, or through the comment function on ICTSD event page. Selected questions are read and addressed by the speakers during the Q & A session.