Table of Contents

Foreword; Abbreviations; 1. Introduction to the WTO dispute settlement system; 2. Actors in the WTO dispute settlement process; 3. The scope of WTO disputes; 4. The stages in a typical WTO dispute; 5. Compliance with DSB recommendations and rulings; 6. Other procedural issues arising in the WTO dispute settlement proceedings; 7. Alternative to adjudication by panels and the Appellate Body; 8. Developing countries in the WTO dispute settlement system; 9. Ongoing efforts to improve the WTO dispute settlement system; 10. Further information and resources; 11. Annex I: Flow Chart of the WTO Dispute Settlement Process; 12. Annex II: Dispute Settlement Rules; 13. Annex III: Examples of Panel Working Procedures; 14. Annex IV: Examples of Timetable for Panel Proceedings; 15. Annex V: Working Procedures for Appellate Review (WT/AB/WP/6); 16. Annex VI: DSB Practices; 17. Annex VII: Communication from the Director-General on Article 5 of the DSU; 18. Annex VIII: Decision of 5 April 1966 on Procedures under Article XXIII (BISD 14S/18); 19. Annex IX: Decisions of 12 April 1989 on Improvement to the GATT Dispute Settlement Rules and Procedures (BISD 36S/61); 20. Annex X: Historic Development of the WTO Dispute Settlement System; 21. Annex XI: Index of Official Titles and Short Titles of WTO Disputes as of 1 December 2016; 22. Annex XII: WTO Disputes – reports circulates and/or adopted; Index.

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This handbook offers a detailed explanation of the rules and procedures of the WTO dispute settlement system.

About the Author

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was created in 1947 and operated almost five decades on a provisional basis until 1995 when the WTO was established. Its goal is to improve the welfare of peoples of its member countries, specifically by lowering trade barriers and providing a platform for the negotiation of trade. The organization deals with the rules of trade between nations at a global or near global level; it is responsible for negotiating and implementing new trade agreements and charged with policing Member Countries' adherence to all WTO agreements. In 2007 there were 150 Member States.