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	home > trade topics > dispute settlement Dispute settlement This page is a gateway to material on: Disputes in general, and how they are handled in the WTO and its Dispute Settlement Body New negotiations on the Dispute Settlement Understanding Individual dispute cases: The disputes The WTO’s procedure for resolving trade quarrels under the Dispute Settlement Understanding is vital for enforcing the rules and therefore for ensuring that trade flows smoothly. 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 authors of these agreements are the member governments themselves — the agreements are the outcome of negotiations among members. Ultimate responsibility for settling disputes also lies with member governments, through the Dispute Settlement Body. A web page exists for each of the disputes brought to the WTO. The search facilities below provide links to these pages.   DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY MEETINGS > Latest proposed agenda (Document code WT/DSB/W/*) MEETINGS 2013: > 28 January > 27 February > 26 March > 24 April > 24 May > 25 June > 23 July > 30 August > 25 September > 22 October > 20 November > See Dispute settlement news archive for older meetings News    > back to top 4 April 2013: Public video screening of panel hearing in aircraft subsidy dispute case set for 18–19 April 26 March 2013: Indonesia objects to a dispute settlement panel on US agricultural exports > Summary of the meeting > Proposed items for consideration at the DSB 18 March 2013: WTO meeting on “EC — seal products” dispute opened to the public > More news on dispute settlement    Search Documents Online These links open a new window: allow a moment for the results to appear. > quick help with downloading > comprehensive help on Documents Online Recent dispute documents (Document code WT/DS* or TN/DS*) 1. Choose: the last   Select number of days... 10 days 30 days 60 days 90 days  2. > search    Introduction to dispute settlement in the WTO    > back to top How does the WTO settle disputes? This link takes you to the section on disputes in the WTO guide, “Understanding the WTO”. Use your browser's “back” button to return to this page. > Interactive course: The WTO dispute settlement system > Video: Case studies of WTO dispute settlement > Secretariat’s informal consultations concerning the panel process    The legal basis    > back to top The Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) — the main WTO agreement on settling disputes. Like the bulk of the WTO agreements, this was one of the outcomes of the Uruguay Round negotiations. A technical explanation Browse or download the text of the DSU from the legal texts gateway Rules of Conduct on rules and procedures for settling disputes, adopted in December 1996 Working Procedures for Appellate Review The Dispute Settlement Body    > back to top Made up of all member governments, usually represented by ambassadors or equivalent. The current chairperson is H.E. Mr. Jonathan FRIED (Canada). > Chair looks back at developments in dispute settlement in 2011 In a speech delivered on 13 March 2012, H.E. Elin Østebø Johansen looked back at developments in the WTO’s dispute settlement system in 2011 during her chairmanship of the Dispute Settlement Body. > DSB Developments in 2010 Search Documents Online DSB documents use the code WT/DSB/* (where * takes additional values) These links open a new window: allow a moment for the results to appear. > quick help with downloading > comprehensive help on Documents Online Minutes of Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) meetings (Document code WT/DSB/M/*)  Select a year... 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 Any year    > search Annual reports of the DSB (document code WT/DSB/* and keyword “Annual report”)     > search Annual overview of the state of play of WTO disputes Addendum to the DSB annual report. Reflects the state of play of WTO disputes from 1 January 1995 to a given date each year. In table format, allowing the reader to identify the main stages of the dispute settlement process relating to each case and the relevant documents issued. (document code WT/DSB/* and keyword “Overview of the State of Play of WTO Disputes”)     > search > See also: cases update, above  The Appellate Body    > back to top The permanent seven-member Appellate Body is set up by the Dispute Settlement Body and broadly represents the range of WTO membership. Members of the Appellate Body have four-year terms. They have to be individuals with recognized standing in the field of law and international trade, not affiliated with any government. New negotiations on the Dispute Settlement Understanding    > back to top A 1994 Ministerial Decision says dispute settlement rules should be reviewed by 1 January 1999. The review started in the Dispute Settlement Body in 1997. The deadline was extended to 31 July 1999, but there was no agreement. In November 2001, at the Doha Ministerial Conference, member governments agreed to negotiate to improve and clarify the Dispute Settlement Understanding. These negotiations take place in special sessions of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB). Current chairperson of DSB Special Sessions. The 1994 Ministerial Decision (Download in pdf format (1 page; 31KB)). Briefing notes on DSU negotiations prepared prior to Cancún andHong Kong Ministerials The Doha Ministerial Declaration, November 2001 Explanation of the Doha Ministerial Declaration Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration Search Documents Online DSU negotiations documents use the code TN/DS/* (where * takes additional values) These links open a new window: allow a moment for the results to appear. > quick help with downloading > comprehensive help on Documents Online Reports by the Chairman to the Trade Negotiations Committee(Document code TN/DS/* and keyword “Report by the Chairman”)     > search Minutes of the Special Sessions (Document code TN/DS/M/*)     > search Working documents of the DSU negotiations (Document code TN/DS/W/*)     > search The DSB decision to extend the review deadline, December 1998(Document code WT/DSB/M/52)     > search     The disputes    > back to top A web page exists for each of the disputes brought to the WTO. The search facilities below provide links to these pages. Find disputes cases Find disputes documents Disputes chronologically Disputes by agreement Disputes by country/territory Disputes by current status Disputes by short title Disputes by subject Map of disputes between WTO Members GATT disputes: panel reports adopted within the framework of GATT 1947, i.e. pre-WTO Buy the book: Dispute Settlement Reports from Cambridge University Press (co-publisher). This is the only WTO-authorized paginated version.    Links    > back to top The WTO is not responsible for the content of external sites UNCTAD Dispute Settlement Projet Integrated Database of Trade Disputes for Latin America and the Caribbean WorldTradeLaw.net — Trade news headlines   EVENTS Why is the WTO Dispute Settlement System so Successful? Valerie Hughes, LAD Director ANZSIL Conference, Victoria University Wellington, New Zealand (6 July 2012) Legal Affairs Division (LAD) at 30 WTO Conference Geneva (28 June 2012)      THE DISPUTES > Find disputes cases    > Find disputes documents    > Disputes chronologically    > Disputes by agreement   > Disputes bycountry/territory    > Disputes by current status   > Disputes by short title   > Disputes by subject    > Map of disputes between WTO Members    > Dispute report citations and short titles   > GATT disputes      PUBLICATIONS > Publications flyer > The WTO Dispute Settlement Procedures — Third Edition    > WTO Dispute Settlement: One-Page Case Summaries    > Analytical Index Find jurisprudence by Agreement, Article or index term    > Appellate Body Repertory of Reports and Awards 1995-2010    > Buy the book: Dispute Settlement Reports fromCambridge University Press(co-publisher). This is the only WTO-authorized paginated version.      CASE STUDIES > Dispute Settlement between Developing Countries: Argentina and Chilean Price Bands    > Canada and the WTO: Multilevel Governance, Public Policy-Making and the WTO Auto Pact Case    > Costa Rica’s Challenge to US Restrictions on the Import of Underwear    > Victory in Principle: Pakistan’s Dispute Settlement Case on Combed Cotton Yarn Exports to the United States    > Thailand: Conciliating a Dispute on Tuna Exports to the EC

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