Academic Research on Dispute Settlement Body

• Principles of international law in the WTO dispute settlement body, Cameron, J., & Gray, K. R. (2001).International & Comparative Law Quarterly,50(2), 248-298. This paper examines the framework that governs the trade obligations of and between members of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Where the 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) covered trade involving only goods, the WTO now includes services, intellectual property, and investment, among other economic concerns.
• Compliance by WTO members with adverse WTO dispute settlement rulings: the record to date, Wilson, B. (2007). Journal of International Economic Law,10(2), 397-403. This paper takes a broad look at the recent history of how World Trade Organization (WTO) members have accepted adverse rulings handed down by the Appellate Body of the WTO. According to the authors findings, almost 90% of the reports show that when a WTO member has been found to be in violation, they show a willingness to comply with the WTO ruling if they have not already done so.
• International trade policy and domestic food safety regulation: The case for substantial deference by the WTO Dispute Settlement Body under the SPS Agreement, Trebilcock, M. J., & Soloway, J. A. (2002). This paper takes a look at how a states regulatory policy can, in some cases, function as de facto tariffs, even when traditional tariffs are not in place. This paper suggests a system of approaches for the World Trade Organization (WTO) that can meet public health needs while still reducing the barriers to international trade when the WTO reviews international safety and health regulations.
• Out of Conformity: China's Capacity to Implement World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Body Decisions After Accession, Duncan, C. (2002). Am. U. Int'l L. Rev.,18, 399.
• Developing Countries and the WTO Legal and Dispute SettlementSystem: A view from the bench, Lacarte-Muro, J., & Gappah, P. (2000).Journal of International Economic Law,3(3), 395-401. This article outlines the role that developing countries play in respect to their interaction with the World Trade Organizations (WTOs) Appellate Body. Their participation, contribution to WTO legal issues, and how they help form provisions that serve their special interests are also examined.
• Peculiarities of retaliation in WTO dispute settlement, Anderson, K. (2002). World Trade Review,1(2), 123-134. Retaliation is the imposition of sanctions by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on a country that doesnt conform to agreed-to WTO policies, and this paper takes a look at the purpose of retaliation and why it is preferred to compensation. The situations under which retaliation are permissible are also examined. Suggestions for improving this particular method of dispute resolution are also discussed.
• The new WTO dispute settlement procedure: an overview of the first three years, Hudec, R. E. (1999). Minn. J. Global Trade,8, 1. The new obligations and stronger procedures of the World Trade Organizations (WTOs) improved dispute settlement process are examined. The author first outlines the substantive changes to the process, and then makes an examination of the recent decisions that fall under this updated procedure.
• The WTO dispute settlement system: the first ten years, Davey, W. J. (2005). Journal of International Economic Law,8(1), 17-50. This paper makes a general survey of the actions taken by the World Trade Organizations (WTOs) dispute settlement system during its first ten years from 1995 to 2004. A general review of the system is made, and then interactions with major countries are examined and evaluated. Particular attention is paid to certain bilateral relationships, like the one between the U.S. and E.C. The author finds that while the system is effective in achieving its stated goals, it does not operate as quickly as hoped.
• Dispute Settlement and the WTO, Jackson, J. H. (1998). Journal of International Economic Law,1(3), 329-351. This paper examines the first 40 months of the World Trade Organizations (WTOs) dispute settlement system. The developing jurisprudence of the Appellate Body is examined, and recommendations are made regarding the Bodys approach to national regulatory systems. The author also notes some areas of concern regarding the Bodys ability to address ambiguities in the language of the system.
• WTO dispute settlement: praise and suggestions for reform, Schoenbaum, T. J. (1998).International & Comparative Law Quarterly,47(3), 647-658. This paper takes a look at the first three years of the newly formed system for dispute settlement under the World Trade Organization. The author examines the rulings and offers suggestions to improve the operation of this dispute resolution process.
• The economics of trade disputes, the GATT's Article XXIII, and the WTO'sDispute Settlement Understanding, Bown, C. P. (2002). Economics & Politics,14(3), 283-323. This article questions why some World Trade Organization (WTO) member countries might choose to violate their trade agreements, even when faced with clearly defined retaliation systems. The authors take a look at situations where a member country might choose to violate the agreement and why the punishments levied by the WTO are not sufficient incentive to play by the rules.
• The new WTO dispute settlement procedure: an overview of the first three years, Hudec, R. E. (1999).Minn. J. Global Trade,8, 1.
• International Law Status of WTO Dispute Settlement Reports: Obligation to Comply or Option to Buy Out?, Jackson, J. H. (2004). American Journal of International Law,98(1), 109-125. This piece takes a look at rulings from the World Trade Organizations (WTOs) Appellate Body. The author examines the rulings in comparison to the traditional view of international law. They find that the WTO is less of a legal framework meting out justice and enforcing rules, but rather a place of voluntary policing between sovereign governments.
• The review of the WTO understanding on dispute settlement: some reflections on the current debate, Van der Borght, K. (1998).Am. U. Int'l L. Rev.,14, 1223. This piece offers an overview of the World Trade Organizations (WTOs) framework for dispute resolution, and then tries to determine if it is meeting the needs and expectations of the member states.
• Revenge of the push-me, pull-you: the implementation process under the WTO dispute settlement understanding, Reif, T. M., & Florestal, M. (1998). InInt'l L.(Vol. 32, p. 755). This editorial takes on the World Trade Organizations (WTOs) dispute resolution system. The author examines various decision of the WTOs appellate body. The summary questions whether both parties benefit or are equally inconvenienced by the bodys decisions.
• The WTO dispute settlement understanding: an unlikely weapon in the fight against AIDS, Curti, A. M. (2001). Am. JL & Med.,27, 469. This article examines the role that the World Trade Organization (WTO) plays in affecting the trade and intellectual property protection of pharmaceuticals that could be used to treat AIDS. The author shows how a narrowly tailored pharmaceutical licensing program could stay consistent with the WTOs agreements on intellectual property protection while still increasing the availability of life-saving medications in developing countries.
• Review of the dispute settlement understanding: Operation of panels, Stewart, T. P., & Karpel, A. A. (1999).Law & Pol'y Int'l Bus.,31, 593. This paper takes an overview of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) as it relates to the agreements ability to resolve conflict between member states. The essential function of panels and panel reports in this system of agreements is examined.
• True Appellate Procedure or Only a Two-Stage Process-A Comparative View of the Appellate Body under the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding, Joergens, K. J. (1998). Law & Pol'y Int'l Bus.,30, 193. This paper takes a look at the function and success of the Appellate Body system of dispute resolution under the World Trade Organization (WTO). The author notes the initial concerns that the Appellate Body may take too legal of an approach in a system built on practical diplomacy. Analysis of the appellate decisions and review of the system finds that the Appellate Body satisfies member needs and succeeds more than it fails.
• TRIPS and the Dispute Settlement Understanding: The first six years, Felgueroso, J. (2002). AIPLA QJ,30, 165. This article offers a broad examination of the dispute resolution system under the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement, with a specific look at the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. The author takes a look at the makeup and history of the WTO before beginning an examination of past WTO case rulings.
• The Dispute Settlement Understandingof the WTO Agreement: An Inadequate Mechanism for the Resolution of International Trade Disputes, Feeney, S. P. (2002). Pepp. Disp. Resol. LJ,2, 99. This critical analysis takes to task the dispute resolution system of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement. The author outlines the needs that the dispute resolution was intended to address, then analyzes past rulings to determine their effectiveness.
• The politics of procedure: an examination of the GATT dispute settlement panel and the Article XXI defense in the context of the US embargo of Nicaragua, Whitt, R. S. (1987).Law & Pol'y Int'l Bus.,19, 603. This takes a look at the GATT panel and how it operated in the 1985 embargo of Nicaragua put in place by Ronald Reagan. It examines GATT exceptions that take the form of nation security measures under Article XXI. Suggested reforms are also included.
• Participation in wto Dispute Settlement: Complainants, Interested Parties, and Free Riders, Bown, C. P. (2005). The World Bank Economic Review,19(2), 287-310. This article takes a look at the reasons that may push a country to formally engage in a trade dispute that is directly related to their exporting interests. While looking at five years of litigation from the World Trade Organization (WTO), the author finds that the size of exports at stake is an important factor, as well as their ability to legally respond to trade disputes. These factors support the authors hypothesis that for these reasons, developing countries operate at a disadvantage when bringing claims before the WTOs Appellate Body.
• Dispute Settlementin GATT, Davey, W. J. (1987).Fordham Int'l LJ,11, 51.
• WTO dispute settlement: praise and suggestions for reform, Schoenbaum, T. J. (1998).International & Comparative Law Quarterly,47(3), 647-658.
• Overlapping institutions, forum shopping, and dispute settlement in international trade, Busch, M. L. (2007).International Organization,61(4), 735-761. This paper takes a look at disputes over Mexican brooms and Canadian periodicals to demonstrate the practice of forum shopping in international trade disputes. Preferred trade agreements give members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) the ability to select from a variety of forums in which to bring their trade grievances. This lets them strategically select forums that will give them the ideal ruling not only for their current issue, but in a way that can set beneficial precedents for future litigation.
• Recognizing public goods in WTO dispute settlement: who participates? Who decides? The case of TRIPS and pharmaceutical patent protection, Shaffer, G. (2004). Journal of International Economic Law,7(2), 459-482. This paper takes a look at the patent protection for pharmaceutical products to start a discussion about who gets to decide what is in the public good in the context of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Because so many different countries and cultures are involved, the balance between open trade, administration of public health, and the protection of new knowledge have never been more important. This paper takes a look at the WTOs Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The article also notes that the system in place makes it difficult for developing countries to have a meaningful place in the WTOs judicial process.
• The merits of dual pricing of Russian natural gas, Tarr, D. G., & Thomson, P. D. (2004). World Economy,27(8), 1173-1194. This paper argues that there is no reason, from Russias perspective, to segment the Russian and European markets when it sets the price for natural gas. The authors take a look at possible revenue from various pricing schemes. The possibility of tariffs is also examined.
• Bargaining in the shadow of the law: early settlement in GATT/WTO disputes, Busch, M. L., & Reinhardt, E. (2000). Fordham Int'l LJ,24, 158. This paper takes a four-step approach to analyzing the dispute resolution in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) for 50 years from 1948 to 1999. The authors look at the outcomes of the disputes as they relate to their stated hypotheses. They further analyze disputes the benefitted from the dispute settlement reforms of the 1990s. Proposed future reforms are also offered.
• Has the WTO dispute settlement system exceeded its authority? A consideration of deference shown by the system to member government decisions and its use of, Davey, W. J. (2001).Journal of International Economic Law,4(1), 79-110. This paper undertakes a systematic study of 38 decisions rendered by the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The author finds that the decisions made by this body generally do not overstep their stated authority as they show deference to member governments.
• The WTO dispute settlement understanding: less is more, Bello, J. H. (1996). American Journal of International Law,90(3), 416-418. This editorial offers an opinion regarding the unintended consequences of agreements and rulings that are a product of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The concerns of environmentalists and economic nationalists are examined, as well as state and local governments that take issue with the collection and distribution of tax revenue related to products that are traded between WTO member countries.