Dispute Settlement

Since the introduction of the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding during the Uruguay Round negotiations in 1995, there has been an increase in the use of the DSU system by WTO Members to defend their trade and sustainable development interests. This has been credited to a more transparent and predictable rules -based system, among others. Ongoing DSU review negotiations aim to further improve the existing rules. This web page presents news and analysis on WTO disputes between the crux of trade and sustainable development, resources and events, regional dispute settlement news and updates on ICTSD's DSU project.

New & Notable
Recent news and resources on dispute settlement at both the WTO and regional levels

New Developing Countries, Countermeasures and WTO Law: Reinterpreting the DSU against the Background of International Law. By Andrea Bianchi, Lorenzo Gradoni and Mélanie Samson, Draft. New ICTSD Systemic Issues Paper Compliance and Remedies Against Non-Compliance Under the WTO System: Toward a More Balanced Regime for All Members, by Virachai Plasai New ICTSD Systemic Issues Paper Appeal without Remand: A Design Flaw in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dispute Settlement and how to fix it, by Joost Pauwelyn New ICTSD Systemic Issues Paper Access to Justice in the WTO - the Case for Small Claims Procedures, by Hakan Nordstrom and Gregory Shaffer New ICTSD News EU Backs Off Challenge to Indian Wine, Spirits Tariffs (25 July 2007) New ICTSD News Brazil Launches WTO Case Against US Farm Subsidies (19 July 2007) New ICTSD News US Requests Dispute Panel on Chinese Subsidies (19 July 2007) ICTSD Dialogue Egypt National Dialogue on WTO Dispute Settlement: Exploring Strategies to Enhance Egypt's Participation in WTO Dispute Settlement, organised by the Trade-Related Assistance Center (TRAC) and ICTSD, Cairo, Egypt, 15-16 April 2007 ICTSD Dialogue Africa Dialogue on WTO Dispute Settlement and Sustainable Development, organized by ICTSD in collaboration with the Centre for International Trade and Investment Law (CITIL), Mombasa, Kenya, 2-3 November 2006 ICTSD News Antigua Gambling Dispute: Major Economies Demand Compensation From US (4 July 2007) ICTSD News India to Lower Wine and Spirits Taxes, Pre-empting Potential WTO Rulings (4 July 2007) ICTSD Analysis Panel Faults Brazil in Tyres Dispute and Assessing the Implications of the Gambling Dispute and US Rejects Dispute on Low Yuan ICTSD Analysis Bridges Monthly Review (June-July 2007) More Stories

• Barriers to Least-developed Country Participation in the WTO's Dispute Settlement System ICTSD Analysis Bridges Monthly Review (December 2005)

• EU's Future Banana Regime Under Renewed Scrutiny ICTSD Analysis Bridges Monthly Review (October 2005)

• Cross-Retaliation in Cotton and FSC Compliance ICTSD Analysis Bridges Monthly Review (October 2005)

• Disputes: The Burden of Proof in Compliance Challanges ICTSD Analysis Bridges Monthly Review (October 2005)

• EU's Sugar Export Increase Slammed ICTSD Analysis Bridges Monthly Review (October 2005)

• EU Must Revise Banana Tarriff ICTSD Analysis Bridges Monthly Review (August 2005)

• Cross-retaliation through TRIPS in the Cotton Dispute? By Maristela Basso and Edson Beas, Bridges Monthly Review (May 2005)
  

• Unraveling the Cotton Case, by Tim Josling, Bridges Monthly Review (April 2005)
  

• Public Morals Defence Upheld Over Trade Obligations, ICTSD Analysis Bridges Monthly Review (April 2005)
  

• What’s the Sugar Dispute to Got Do with Sustainable Energy?, ICTSD Analysis, Bridges Monthly Review (November 2004)
  

• Unravelling the Details and Potential Impacts of the Final Cotton Report, ICTSD Analysis, Bridges Monthly Review (September 2004)
  

• Recent WTO Dispute Settlement Cases: Some Considerations for the ACP, Trade Negotiations Insight (TNI) (September 2004)
  

• On Enforcing the Right to Information at the WTO, Bridges Monthly Review (July- August 2004)
  

• Science and Precaution in the GMO Dispute: A brief analysis of the first US submission, Bridges Monthly Review, (May 2004)
  

• Appellate Body Ruling Saves the GSP, at Least for Now, by Rob Howse, Bridges Monthly Review (April 2004)
  

  
  

DSU Review Negotiations Update
News on DSU review negotiations and other changes to the DSU rules

• DSU Review: Members Continue to Discuss Revised Contributions (26 April 2006)

• DSU Review Picks Up After Hiatus ICTSD Analysis Bridges Monthly Review (March-April 2006)

• DSU Review Effectively on Hold (26 October 2005)

• DSB Special Session: Chair to Submit Report to General Council (22 June 2005)
  

• DSU Review Negotiations: Discussions on Proposals Continue (11 May 2005)

• DSU Negotiations: Discussions On New Proposals Continue (6 April 2005)

• DSU Review: Members Discuss Two New Contributions (2 March 2005)

• Dispute Settlement Review Focuses on 'Package Deal' (1December 2004)

• DSU Update: DSU Review Deadline Extended; Appellate Body Development (2 June 2004)
  

• Deleberations on Package Deal for DSU Review Ongoing (13 May 2004)

• Package Deal to Salvage DSU Negotiations? (5 May 2004)

• DSU Review: May 2004 Deadline Slipping Out of Reach (3 March 2004)

• DSU Review Off To Slow Start (28 January 2004)

• DSB Review: Members React to Mexican Study (26 November 2003)

• WTO Members Miss DSU Negotiating Deadline (4 June 2003)

• DSU Reform: Members Fear Another Deadline will be Missed (16 April 2003)

• Lack of Movement in Dispute Settlement Review (20 March 2003)

• DSU Review Negotiations Proceed, Slowly (27 February 2003)

• New Canadian Proposal On Review Of WTO Dispute Settlement(29 January 2003)

• US DSU Proposal Receives Mixed Reactions (20 December 2002)

• Mexico Presents Proposal on WTO Dispute Settlement Review (20 November 2002)

• DSU Review: Developing Countries Reject US Proposal on Transparency, Suggest other Options (18 September 2002)

• Dispute Settlement Review Considers Ecuadorian, Australian Submissions (24 July 2002)
  

• DSU: Members Discuss 'Sequencing' And Selection Of Panellists (22 May 2002)

• EC Proposal Under Scrutiny In DSU Negotiations (23 April 2002)
  

• EC Paper On DSU Reform Advocates Transparency (16 April 2002)

• Dispute Settlement: Members Discuss 'Sequencing' and Timeframe Constraints (19 March 2002)

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