I had earlier blogged about the challenge to Canada's FIT program related to renewable energy here. EU and Japan had separately approached the DSM regarding the Canadian program in WT/DS 426 and WT/DS 412 respectively.
The WTO website announced that the first hearing of the Panel would be on the 27th of March, 2012 and it would be open to public hearing.
"At the request of the parties in the disputes “Canada – Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector” (DS412) and “Canada – Measures Relating to the Feed-in Tariff Program” (DS426), the Panel has agreed to start its first substantive meeting with the parties and third parties with a session on 27 March 2012 open to public viewing at the WTO Headquarters in Geneva."
A lot of attention would be on these proceedings since the decision would not only have a bearing on the parties to the dispute, but on a large number of countries implementing renewable energy programs that have the potential of being challenged at the WTO for being inconsistent with the provisions of the WTO Agreements especially the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.
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