september 27, 2002: Brazil seeks consultations with the US at the WTO on its subsidies for upland cotton.

February 6, 2003: Brazil requests for the setting up of a panel.

March 18, 2003: WTO's Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) decides to constitute a panel.

March 25, 2003: The EU joins consultations, as three of its members are identified as Brazil's affected markets.

May 16, 2003: African countries Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali submit a request to the WTO for immediate relief at the forthcoming Cancun ministerial.

May 19, 2003: Three-member panel constituted. Thirteen other countries, including Benin and Chad, join Brazil as third parties in the case.

June 10, 2003: Burkina Faso President Blaise Campaor