WTO Member Wants Functioning Dispute Settlement System Next Year

Informal negotiations on revising the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement rules "are nearing their conclusion," Marco Molina, the Guatemala deputy permanent representative, told members of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body at its Dec. 18 meeting. Molina said the goal is to have a "fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system accessible to all members by 2024," according to the WTO.

Participating members hope to have the text ready in time for the 13th Ministerial Conference in February, Molina said, noting that a consolidated draft text currently in its third revision is "nearing finalization." He said the draft text lays out a "clear statement of members'" expectations regarding the dispute settlement system, "with the focus on providing incentives and disincentives to influence the behavior of all participants in the system and ensure it operates more efficiently to" resolve disputes.

Other members speaking at the DSB meeting said critical items remain unresolved, including the future of the defunct Appellate Body, WTO said.