Henry Gao has been making the case that WTO Members should have a vote on appointing AB Members, as a way to get around the U.S. block. I don't think that's likely to happen, but just for fun, I ran a totally unscientific Twitter poll to see how people thought the U.S. would react to such a vote:
What I had in mind for each one, but didn't have the space to explain on Twitter, was:
- "Withdraw from WTO" -- Congress either repeals the URAA or votes to withdraw during one of those five year periodic vote opportunities set out in the URAA.
- "Not engage with WTO work" -- The Biden administration simply decides not to show up at any WTO meetings.
- "Accept the result" -- The U.S. basically says "OK fine we accept the new AB Members and we'll participate in WTO DS again."
- "Something else" -- Dmitry Grozoubinski offered a good example here under which the U.S. blocks the WTO budget.
Again, I don't expect a vote to happen, but for whatever it's worth, I voted for "not engage with WTO work."
U.S. Trade Rep. Katherine Tai will be giving a big speech on U.S.-China trade relations on Monday. I hope that someone at USTR gives us some hints soon about U.S. ideas to get WTO dispute settlement working again.
