WTO | Dispute settlement gateway

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=Edge"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="description" content="WTO | Dispute settlement gateway"> <meta name="keywords" content="www.wto.org, World Trade Organization, world trade, trade disputes, ministerial, WTO publications, intellectual property, government procurement, goods, services, economic research, Statistics, OMC, about the WTO, trade, agriculture, textiles, services, intellectual property, anti-dumping, subsidies, environment, investment, research and analysis, international trade, trade topics, principles of the trading system, Dispute settlement gateway"> <title>WTO | Dispute settlement gateway</title> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> var wto_language = "e"; </script> <script language="Javascript1.2" type="text/javascript" src="/library/dispute_details_e.js"></script> <script language="Javascript1.2" type="text/javascript" src="/library/countrylib.js"></script> <script language="Javascript1.2" src="/library/imrdlib.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script language="Javascript1.2" src="/library/rollovertips.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script language="Javascript1.2" type="text/javascript" src="/library/wtomenus/jquery.min.js"></script> <script language="Javascript1.2" src="/library/wtomenus/jkmegamenu.js" type="text/javascript"> /** jQuery Mega Menu- Visit JavaScript Kit at http://www.javascriptkit.com/ for full source code **/ </script> <script language="javascript1.2" type="text/javascript" src="/library/wtomenus/common_data_e.js"></script> <script language="Javascript1.2" type="text/javascript" src="/library/photo_gallery/photo_gallery_code.js"></script> <script language="Javascript1.2" type="text/javascript" src="/library/news/news_vars_e.js"></script> <script language="Javascript1.2" type="text/javascript" src="/library/events/events_code.js"></script> <script language="javascript1.2" type="text/javascript" src="/library/bodies/bodies_public.js"></script> <script language="Javascript1.2" type="text/javascript" src="/library/events/meetinglightbox_code.js"></script> <script language="Javascript1.2" type="text/javascript"> // load photo gallery & news items for this year & last year var now = new Date(); 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A dispute arises when a member government believes another member government is violating an agreement or a commitment that it has made in the WTO. The WTO has one of the most active international dispute settlement mechanisms in the world. Since 1995, <script>insertNumDisputes();</script> disputes have been brought to the WTO and over 350 rulings have been issued.</p> </div> </div> <div class="mainDiv"> <div class="leftCol"> <span class="TreeviewSpanArea"> <script language="JavaScript1.2" type="text/javascript"> getsectionnav('../../../library/disputes/section_menu_e.json') </script> </span> </div> <div class="centerCol"> <form action="http://docsonline.wto.org/imrd/gen_redirectSearch.asp" method="post" name="hiddenform" target="new"> <input type="hidden" name="query" value> <input type="hidden" name="language" value> </form> <a href="#top" class="backToTop">back to top</a> <h2 id="news">News </h2> <script language="Javascript1.2">  </script> <p class="paranormaltext">  </p> <p class="paranormaltext">  </p> <a href="#top" class="backToTop">back to top</a> <h2 id="intro">Introduction to dispute settlement in the WTO </h2> <ul> <li><a href="../../thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/disp1_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">How does the WTO settle disputes?</a> Basic introduction</li> <li><a href="disp_settlement_cbt_e/signin_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">Interactive course</a> on the WTO dispute settlement system</li> <li><a href="/english/thewto_e/minist_e/mc10_e/briefing_notes_e/brief_disputes_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">Background briefing note</a> on disputes, prepared for the Tenth Ministerial Conference</li> </ul> <p class="paranormaltext">  </p> <a href="#top" class="backToTop">back to top</a> <h2 id="legalbasis">Dispute settlement process</h2> <ul type="disc"> <li>The <a href="/english/docs_e/legal_e/28-dsu_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU)</a> is the main WTO agreement on settling disputes. </li> <li><a href="/english/docs_e/legal_e/ursum_e.htm#Understanding" class="paracolourtext">Technical explanation</a> of the DSU</li> <li><a href="/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/rc_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">Rules of Conduct</a> on rules and procedures for settling disputes</li> <li><a href="/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/ab_procedures_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">Working Procedures for Appellate Review</a></li> </ul> <p class="paranormaltext"> </p> <a href="#top" class="backToTop">back to top</a> <h2>Dispute Settlement Body </h2> <p>The General Council convenes as the <a href="/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_body_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">Dispute Settlement Body (DSB)</a> to deal with disputes between WTO members.</p> <p class="paranormaltext"> </p> <a href="#top" class="backToTop">back to top</a> <h2 id="appellate">The Appellate Body </h2> <p>Appeals are handled by the permanent seven-member <a href="/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/appellate_body_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">Appellate Body</a> which is set up by the Dispute Settlement Body and broadly represents the range of WTO membership. </p> <p class="paranormaltext"> </p> <a href="#top" class="backToTop">back to top</a> <h2 id="statistics">Dispute settlement activity — some figures</h2> <p> As of end-2023, WTO members had submitted 621 requests for consultations, the first stage in the dispute settlement process.</p> <h4 class="blue">Requests for consultations (1995 —2023)</h4> <p><a href="javascript:openImgPopup('/images/img_dsb/dispustatschart2_e.png','links',1050,350,1)" data-content="Click to see a larger image;" data-toggle="tooltip"><img alt="" border="0" src="/images/img_dsb/dispustatschart2_e.png" class="img-responsive" ></a></p> <ul> <li><a href="/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispustats_e.htm">More dispute settlement statistics</a></li> </ul> <p class="paranormaltext"> </p> <a href="#top" class="backToTop">back to top</a> <h2 id="newdocs">Documents </h2> <ul> <li><a href="javascript:openAPopup('https://www.wto.org/library/events/dol_search_e.htm?Query=@Symbol=WT/DS*%20or%20TN/DS*%20or%20JOB/DS*&heading=Recent%20dispute%20documents','links',720,750,1)" class="paracolourtext">Recent dispute documents</a></li> <li><a href="/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/find_dispu_documents_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">Find disputes documents</a></li> </ul> <p class="paranormaltext"> </p> <a href="#top" class="backToTop">back to top</a> <h2 id="wto_agree">Interpretation of WTO agreements</h2> <p>The <a href="/english/res_e/booksp_e/analytic_index_e/analytic_index_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">WTO Analytical Index</a> is a comprehensive guide to the interpretation and application of the WTO agreements by the Appellate Body, dispute settlement panels and other WTO bodies. It contains extracts of key pronouncements and findings from tens of thousands of pages of WTO jurisprudence, including panel reports, Appellate Body reports, arbitral decisions and awards, and decisions of WTO committees, councils and other WTO bodies.</p> <p>The <a href="/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/repertory_e/repertory_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">WTO Appellate Body Repertory of Reports and Awards</a> covers the Appellate Body's rulings in WTO disputes since its establishment in 1995.</p> <p class="paranormaltext"> </p> <a href="#top" class="backToTop">back to top</a> <h2>Negotiations to improve dispute settlement procedures </h2> <p>At the Doha Ministerial Conference, in 2001, WTO members agreed to <a href="/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_negs_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">negotiate to improve and clarify the DSU</a> — the rules and procedures governing the settlement of WTO disputes.</p> <p class="paranormaltext"> </p> <a href="#top" class="backToTop">back to top</a> <h2>Secretariat's informal consultations concerning the panel process </h2> <p>At the request of the Director-General, the Secretariat initiated in 2010 a <a href="/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/informal_consultations_e.htm" class="paracolourtext">process of informal consultations</a> with a view to exploring whether it is possible to find efficiency gains in the panel process.</p> <p class="paranormaltext"> </p> </div> <div class="rightCol"> <h2 class="h3 mt0">Share</h2> <script type="text/javascript">showShareButton();</script> <hr> <div id="membersbox"></div> <script language="javascript1.2" type="text/javascript"> if (verifyUserRoles('DOL-R-WTO#Secretariat')){ var membersbox = document.getElementById("membersbox"); 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WTO | Dispute settlement gateway