Opening a new chapter in the simmering trade dispute over hot-rolled steel products, senior Japanese and American officials will face each other in front of international trade judges to discuss the matter for the first time next month.
Established earlier this year to adjudicate in the case, a three-member panel from the World Trade Organization -- the Geneva-based watchdog on international commerce -- will hold its first hearing in Geneva on Aug. 22-23.
The WTO panel is expected to compile an interim ruling on the Japan-U.S. trade row at the end of November and a final one in January after holding its second hearing, also in Geneva, on Sept. 27, Japanese government officials who wished to remain anonymous said Monday.