WTO Members Moving Forward With or Without U.S.

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND – A group of trade ministers convened an informal meeting last week on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The theme was clear: finding a solution to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) now idled dispute settlement system. The system has not been in operation since December when WTO members failed to fill the vacant positions on the Dispute Settlement Board. The United States has led the conversation on overhauling the system, how board members are appointed and general reform of the WTO. Since there has been little progress in bringing the two sides together though, ministers from 16 members issued a joint statement promising to work together to develop a multi-party interim appeal arrangement. Since its inception 25 years ago, the WTO Dispute Settlement System has seen 593 cases filed with 124 cases filed by the U.S. and 104 cases filed by the European Union. The U.S. is also the target of most cases, defending 155 to date.