WTO Holds First Formal Dispute Settlement Reform Session

World Trade Organization members on May 30 held the first formal dispute settlement reform meeting centered on appellate review and accessibility, the WTO announced. Mauritius' Usha Dwarka-Canabady, facilitator of the talks, said that she heard a "strong appreciation for the dispute settlement system" from most of the 46 delegations that shared their views during the discussion.

She said there was a "strong interest" in keeping the two-tiered dispute settlement system to build the system's credibility. However, Dwarka-Canabady said the members recognized the peer review concept must be reviewed to address issues, "including overreach, length of disputes and accountability." She added that a standing appellate body may not be the only way to "address legitimacy."

The dispute settlement reform process was formalized following the unsuccessful conclusion of an informal process in February (see 2402160051). That process led to the publication of a draft text on reform efforts, though this text failed to include any language on the appellate review system.