At the 13th ministerial meeting (MC13) of the World Trade Organisation in Abu Dhabi, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai addressed concerns regarding the WTO’s dispute settlement system.
Washington has been accused of hindering the trade body by impeding the appointment of new judges to the WTO’s appeals court since 2019, effectively halting the system. Tai emphasized that while progress has been made during MC13, more effort is required to reform the dispute settlement process.
During the last WTO ministerial in 2022, member states pledged to establish a fully functional dispute settlement system by 2024. While MC13 aims to reaffirm this commitment, some nations, including India, seek more significant progress at the talks in Abu Dhabi.
Tai noted that consensus is emerging on certain aspects of dispute settlement reform. However, challenges remain, particularly concerning the appeals mechanism and ensuring a review process that avoids past issues.
The US has criticized the appellate body for its extensive interpretation of WTO rules, arguing that it wielded excessive power. Tai stressed the need for reform, highlighting that the previous appellate body’s authority overshadowed member states’ roles.
India expressed frustration over the US stance, accusing Washington of stalling WTO proceedings. India insisted on resolving issues related to the appellate body before engaging in new agreements.
In response, Tai emphasized the ongoing discussions at MC13, refuting claims of stagnation. She argued that if the appellate body functioned as before, progress at previous conferences, like MC12, would not have been achieved.
