PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On 20 August 1999, the Dispute Settlement Body (“DSB”) adopted the Appellate Body Report in WT/DS46/AB/R, and the Panel Report in WT/DS46/R as modified by the Appellate Body Report, in the dispute Brazil - Export Financing Programme for Aircraft (“Brazil - Aircraft”).

The DSB recommended that Brazil bring its export subsidies found in the Appellate Body Report, and in the Panel Report as modified by the Appellate Body report, to be inconsistent with Brazil's obligations under Articles 3.1(a) and 3.2 of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (“SCM Agreement”) into conformity with its obligations under that Agreement. The DSB further recommended that Brazil withdraw the export subsidies for regional aircraft within 90 days.

On 19 November 1999, Brazil submitted to the Chairman of the DSB, pursuant to Article 21.6 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (“DSU”), a status report (WT/DS46/12) on implementation of the Appellate Body's and the Panel's recommendations and rulings in the dispute. The status report described measures taken by Brazil which, in Brazil's view, implemented the DSB's recommendation to withdraw the measures within 90 days.

The status report indicated that the interest rate equalisation payments under PROEX would be granted only to the extent that the net interest rate applicable to a transaction under that programme was brought down to the appropriate international market “benchmark”. The implementing legislation included: (i) a Resolution by the National Monetary Council altering its own Resolution 2576 dated 17 December 1998, which establishes the criteria applicable to PROEX interest rate equalisation payments; and (ii) a Central Bank Circular Letter which establishes new maximum equalisation percentages and revokes Circular Letter 2843 dated 25 March 1999.

On 23 November 1999, Canada submitted a communication to the Chairman of the DSB (WT/DS46/13), seeking recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU. In that communication, Canada indicated that there was a disagreement between Canada and Brazil as to whether the measures taken by Brazil to comply with the 20 August 1999 rulings and recommendations of the DSB in fact bring Brazil into conformity with the provisions of the SCM Agreement and result in the withdrawal of the export subsidies to regional aircraft under PROEX and Canada, therefore, requested that the DSB refer the matter to the original panel, pursuant to Article 21.5 of the DSU.