Last year about this time, I was talking about how many more WTO disputes there were than normal. We ended up with the most WTO disputes in a long time: 27.
With the latest WTO complaint (the EU's complaint against Russia's car recycling fee), I thought it was time for another count. So far this year, there have been 8 complaints:
| Russian Federation - Recycling Fee on Motor Vehicles |
462 |
European Union |
Russia |
Jul 09, 2013 |
GATT, TRIMs |
| Colombia - Measures Relating to the Importation of Textiles, Apparel and Footwear |
461 |
Panama |
Colombia |
Jun 18, 2013 |
GATT |
| China - Measures Imposing Anti-Dumping Duties on High-Performance Stainless Steel Seamless Tubes ("HP-SSST") from the European Union |
460 |
European Union |
China |
Jun 13, 2013 |
AD, GATT |
| European Union and Certain Member States - Certain Measures on the Importation and Marketing of Biodiesel and Measures Supporting the Biodiesel Industry |
459 |
Argentina |
European Union |
May 15, 2013 |
GATT, SCM, TBT, TRIMs, WTO |
| Australia - Certain Measures Concerning Trademarks, Geographical Indications and Other Plain Packaging Requirements Applicable to Tobacco Products and Packaging |
458 |
Cuba |
Australia |
May 03, 2013 |
GATT, TBT, TRIPS |
| Peru - Additional Duty on Imports of Certain Agricultural Products |
457 |
Guatemala |
Peru |
Apr 12, 2013 |
Agriculture, Customs, GATT |
| India - Certain Measures Relating to Solar Cells and Solar Modules |
456 |
United States |
India |
Feb 06, 2013 |
GATT, SCM, TRIMs |
| Indonesia - Importation of Horticultural Products, Animals and Animal Products |
455 |
United States |
Indonesia |
Jan 10, 2013 |
Agriculture, GATT, Licensing |
That puts us on pace for about 16 complaints this year.
Over the last 6 years, the figures for complaints are:
| 2012 |
27 |
| 2011 |
8 |
| 2010 |
17 |
| 2009 |
14 |
| 2008 |
19 |
| 2007 |
13 |
Which averages out to about 16 complaints per year.