WTO Members Stress Willingness to Engage on Appellate Body Appointments Question

World Trade Organization members affirmed their commitment to engage in discussions over its dispute settlement system at the April 27 meeting of the Dispute Settlement Body, the WTO said. The biggest point of contention concerns appointments to the WTO's Appellate Body. The U.S., which has long blocked appointments to the body, hindering its ability to function, said it doesn't support the current proposal to begin appointing members to the Appellate Body.

However, the U.S. said it "supports WTO dispute settlement reform and that it is prepared for continued and deepened engagement with members on the basis that such discussions should aim to ensure that WTO dispute settlement reflects the real interests of members and not prejudge what a reformed system would look like." Mexico replied, speaking on behalf of 123 members, said a member's having concerns over the Appellate Body can't serve as the grounds to disrupt the DSB's work and dispute settlement in general. Mexico was the member, on behalf of the 123 members, that introduced the proposal to start the selection processes for filling vacancies on the Appellate Body.