The panel includes three members appointed by WTO General Director Pascal Lamy in late July and responsible for assisting the WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) in making rulings or recommendations.  

The panel has been considering the lawsuit since the two sides submitted their briefs in late August.

On the first day of the hearing, the Vietnamese delegation presented testimony asking for protection of the legitimate rights of Vietnam’s shrimp exporters. The US sides gave testimony defending the interests of the US shrimp industry.