Wto Dispute Settlement
REPORT ON THE WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT SYSTEM
By Caroline Crouzet
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
I. Understanding WTO Dispute Settlement 3
A. What is WTO Dispute Settlement 3
1. Definition of a dispute 3
2. Institutions involved 3
a. The Dispute Settlement Body 3
b. Panels and the WTO Secretariat 4
c. Appellate Body 5
3. Jurisdiction and access to the system 5
a. Jurisdiction 5
b. Access to the system 6
B. Settlement of the disputes 6
1. Remedies to the breaking of a law 6
2. Four stages of the process 7
a. Consultations 7
b. The Panel Stage 8
c. Appellate Review Proceedings 8
d. Implementation and enforcement 9
II. Main Issues and Future Trends 11
A. Issues 11
1. Limitations and exclusions of the DSB 11
2. Sequencing issue 11
3. Implementation and enforcement 11
4. Developing countries 12
B. Trends 13
1. The Environment 13
2. Review of rulings: the Doha Development Round 14
Conclusion 15
Annexes 16
1.1 Time to settle a dispute 16
1.2 Dispute Settlement Process 17
Bibliography 18
Introduction
The World Trade Organization was created in 1995 during the Uruguay round, and is an international organization designed to liberalize and supervise international trade as well as to police member countries’ adherence to the WTO agreements. Ratified by most of the world’s trading nations, it has 153 members, representing 95% of total world trade, and its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland . It replaces the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade which was itself created in 1948 in the aftermath of the Second World War in Bretton Woods along with other multilateral institutions created to ease international economic cooperation.
Seven rounds occurred under the GATT, the eighth one being the Uruguay round launched in September 1986 in Punta Del Este, Uruguay. The final act which concluded the round and made official the WTO body was signed in Marrakesh...
View Full Essay