Simon Lester

From WTO DG Roberto Azevedo: Some years ago there was a proposal to increase the number of AB members. Under the current situation the 7 member AB can handle around 10-12 appeals at most per year. That’s stretching the envelope. And this is with AB Members working almost full-time.

From WTO DG Roberto Azevedo: ... there are many big issues which can only be tackled in an efficient manner in the multilateral context through the WTO. Trade Facilitation was negotiated successfully in the WTO because it makes no economic sense to cut red tape or simplify trade procedures at the

Trade law is famous for its "sin" tax cases, on products such as alcohol and tobacco.  But the list of "sins" out there keeps growing.  There is sugar, there is junk food in general, and yes, now we have hamburgers.  This is from the FT: Anyone

Last week, I was complaining about an attempt to defend ISDS by someone who did not seem aware of how investment obligations work.  In contrast, here is someone who gets it right: What investment treaties typically do is offer investors (in either direction) reciprocal guarantees of basic principles such as

The U.S. has been threatening to pursue complaints under labor chapters of trade agreements for a while now.  USTR's announcement yesterday may indicate that we will soon see an actual panel process completed: United States Trade Representative Michael Froman today announced that the United States is proceeding

Investor-state dispute settlement is a complex, difficult issue. Reasonable people can disagree on it. I've come out against it, but I see why people would be for it. However, when people do support it, I wish they would get the law and the facts right.  It doesn'

CETA, the Canada-EU trade deal under negotiation, is well ahead of the TTIP in terms of its progress towards a final text.  How is it faring in terms of politics?  The European Parliament was debating it yesterday.  Here's what they report: Hopes and fears for the EU-Canada Comprehensive

I've been watching the telemedicine industry with great interest.  As with online education, I think there is great potential to offer medical services online.  Not all of them, of course, but certainly many types of consultations could take place this way.  If governments allow it, that is. If

Is it time to talk about the possibility of Scotland leaving the UK, and the implications for international economic law?  Polls are showing that it could really happen.  Maybe it will, maybe it won't.  But I figure I should do this post now, because if the vote is