Marco Molina – Trade β Blog

First formal talks on reforming WTO disputes look at appeals and access

Mauritius’ ambassador hears mixed opinions on whether an appeal stage is needed and how to improve poorer countries’ ability to use the dispute settlement system

By Peter Ungphakorn
POSTED MAY 31, 2024 | UPDATED JUNE 15, 2024

Mauritius’ ambassador has kicked off her new formal consultations on reforming World Trade Organization dispute settlement by asking delegations about their positions on appeals and poorer countries’ access to the litigation system.

In the May 30, 2024 meeting, many delegations said they want a two-tiered system in some form, with the right to appeal and binding decisions, but are willing to be flexible in how that is achieved. The US continued to question whether appeals are needed, but said it is willing to continue discussions.

Opinions also differed on how to help poorer countries use the dispute settlement system. (The minutes are here.)

Usha Dwarka-Canabady, who became the talks’ new “facilitator” a month earlier, was chairing her first formal meeting of heads of delegations — usually ambassadors.

Definitely. Maybe. Unlikely. Who knows? Issues on the WTO conference agenda

We’d better be prepared for little or nothing substantial when ministers meet in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month

By Peter Ungphakorn and Robert Wolfe
POSTED FEBRUARY 21, 2024 | UPDATED FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Two large but stubborn members may prevent ministers from agreeing on anything important at the World Trade Organization’s upcoming Ministerial Conference, and so the cynics are circling with doom-laden prophecies that “the WTO” is likely to fail again.

One is India, which is demanding the impossible in agriculture and threatening to block several other issues supported by a majority of WTO members. The other is the US, which is also — but more quietly — defying a majority of members on appeals in WTO dispute settlement.

Between them, they could ensure that the February 26–29 meeting in Abu Dhabi becomes yet another where WTO trade ministers kick dozens of cans down the road.

Anniversary: 15 years ago an attempt to conclude the Doha Round collapsed

After the collapse, the talks fell into decline. But several agreements have been reached from within the Doha Round’s agenda

By Peter Ungphakorn
POSTED JULY 30, 2023 | UPDATED JULY 30, 2023

Saturday July 29 was the 15th anniversary of the day World Trade Organization (WTO) talks broke down, and ministers and officials failed to reach agreement in the Doha Round of negotiations.

“Day 9: Talks collapse despite progress on a list of issues,” says a headline on the WTO website from July 29, 2008.

With Pascal Lamy as director-general, the WTO’s public information on negotiations was more open and less prone to positive spin than it is now. The same goes for Lamy himself.

“It is no use beating around the bush,” he told journalists after speaking to ministers and officials. “This meeting has collapsed. Members have not been able to bridge their differences.”