The United States intends for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) trade dispute arbitration system to be “fully functioning” by the end of 2024 as negotiations begin their third phase.
The WTO’s appeals court, which rules on the most significant disputes, has been inactive for more than two years owing to Trump-era obstructions to adjudicator appointments. Under the administration of President Joe Biden, the United States has opposed WTO members’ requests to approve appointments and has instead led negotiations on how to revitalize the WTO’s dispute system.
“Our goal is a fully functioning (dispute system) by 2024,” Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Maria Pagan told Reuters in her first public comments on the closed-door discussions, adding that Washington was “very committed” to revisions.
Pagan stated that the U.S.-led conversations with more than 70 countries over the previous year focused on 12 reform issues that were expected to result in tangible ideas.
She declined to provide specifics but hinted that they would involve alternatives to formal conflict resolution, such as mediation.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has previously stated that the global trade body may obtain agreements on difficult matters such as reform by the time of its next major meeting (MC13) in early 2024; however, Pagan believes this may be overly optimistic.
“We do not consider this an obligation for MC13. However, this does not imply we are not dedicated to working as rapidly as possible on this; we are “She stated,
Some delegates are dissatisfied with the United States’ participation in the WTO, which it helped establish 28 years ago. They mention Washington’s absence last week from a crucial WTO summit in Davos as an example. However, Pagan has denied this, citing a scheduling conflict.