United States at the Center of WTO Conversations

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – For the first time in many months, members of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) were able to meet in person this week, and the United States seemed to be at the center of many conversations. For starters, the Dispute Settlement Body’s Appellate Body – which hears and rules on appeals to disputes – has not been able to meet in a year because the U.S. continues to block the addition of new members. WTO rules call for a minimum number of three members to hear an appeal, but the U.S. continues to block every nomination put forward in an effort to force major reform of dispute rules. Without an Appellate Body, appeals by countries – including the United States – cannot be heard or concluded, which leaves the current state of world trade in limbo. China is currently appealing a ruling on illegal domestic support to rice and wheat growers, and the U.S. is appealing a softwood lumber loss to Canada. The European Union (EU) said this illustrates the grave consequences of the blockage of Appellate Body appointments and frustrates the essential rights of members to the right of appeal. A few months back, a group of members developed a multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement to work towards resolving disputes.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)