18 January 2012: At the request of the parties in the dispute between Canada and Japan on Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector (DS412), the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel has agreed to start its first substantive meeting with the parties and third parties with a session open to public viewing at WTO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The dispute relates to Ontario, Canada’s, Feed In Tariff Programme, a policy that promotes renewable energy production and renewable energy sources in Canada’s Ontario Province. This public session is expected to start at 10:00 am on 2 February 2012. The public viewing will take place through a real time closed-circuit television broadcast. The public session of the Panel meeting with the parties may continue at 3:00 pm on 3 February 2012 if the Panel so decides. The Panel will also meet in a session to hear the third parties on 3 February 2012, at 10:00 am. The Panel will start this session by opening a portion of it to public viewing, where third parties wishing to make their oral statements in a public session will be invited to do so.

The number of places in the viewing room reserved for the public will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis upon receipt of a registration form. WTO accredited journalists and non-governmental organizations wanting to attend should indicate their interest by email, and do not need to complete the registration form. Applications should be sent to OpenMeetingDS412@wto.org and will be accepted until 5:00 pm, Geneva time, on 25 January 2012. [Registration form] [WTO News Release]