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The Role of Panel and Appellate Body Rulings as Precedent: Suggestions from Thailand

This is from a draft General Council decision communicated to the WTO by Thailand: E. The precedential effect of previous panel and Appellate Body reports: 16. Under Article 3.2 of the DSU, the role of panels and the Appellate Body is to preserve the rights and obligations of Members
Simon Lester 05 May 2019 1 min read

NAFTA/USMCA State-State Dispute Settlement Panels

This question (asked by Senator Ron Wyden) is from the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Questions for the Record for Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, as part of a recent hearing: Question 15 The revised NAFTA includes some clear improvements over the status quo, especially in the Digital Trade chapter. But
Simon Lester 02 May 2019 2 min read

CETA ISDS Upheld by CJEU

In an opinion released today, the European Court of Justice concluded that: "The mechanism for the resolution of disputes between investors and States provided for by the free trade agreement between the EU and Canada (CETA) is compatible with EU law." This is from paras. 151-161 of
Simon Lester 30 Apr 2019 5 min read

China and the WTO E-Commerce Talks

In a recent communication related to the Joint Statement on Electronic Commerce in Davos, China said the following: 4.1. Along with the new opportunities provided by electronic commerce, issues such as cyber security, data safety and privacy are increasingly highlighted, bringing unprecedented security risks and regulatory challenges to Members.
Simon Lester 25 Apr 2019 1 min read

The Role of Appellate Body Rulings as Precedent: Suggestions from Japan and Australia

This is from a communication from Japan and Australia: 2  DRAFT DECISION The Dispute Settlement Body, Having regard to paragraph 1 of Article 2 and Article 17 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU), Affirming that recommendations and rulings made by the DSB are
Simon Lester 24 Apr 2019 1 min read

Call for Papers-- The Law of the Blue Economy: International and South Asian Perspectives

This is from the South Asia International Economic Law Network (SAIELN): The South Asia International Economic Law Network (SAIELN) is pleased to announce a call for papers for its biennial conference on “The Law of the Blue Economy: International and South Asian Perspectives”. The network is a freestanding body associated
Inu Manak 24 Apr 2019 1 min read

Toning Down WTO Precedent

This is from last week's China - TRQs panel report: 6.20. The United States requests that the reference to a "well-established principle in WTO case law" in paragraph 7.212 be deleted, since it could be "misunderstood as indicating that prior panel and appellate
Simon Lester 23 Apr 2019 1 min read

Contracting Party vs. Member

This is from last week's China - TRQs panel report: 6.18. The United States requests that the term "contracting party" be replaced by the term "Member" in paragraph 7.187.120 China has not commented on this request. We note that the term "
Simon Lester 23 Apr 2019 1 min read

Guest Post: Might WTO Law Prevent Climate Change Mitigation Affecting Agricultural Trade?

This is a guest post from Christian Häberli of the World Trade Institute The Great Taboo – Or will somebody please tell me where I am wrong? The multilateral trading system is presently facing what some observers call an existential crisis with possibly dramatic consequences. So much so that nobody finds
Simon Lester 21 Apr 2019 4 min read

New Book on EU Trade Law

U.S. trade policy is grabbing most of the headlines these days, but EU trade policy has seen some big changes as well. Rafael Leal-Arcas sends the following summary of his new book on EU Trade Law: This book is an attempt to do a thorough chronological analysis of
Simon Lester 21 Apr 2019 1 min read

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Why Section 338 Does Not Work in a GATT/WTO World: Lessons from Trade Law History

On July 21, 2026, President Trump exercised his authority under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (hereinafter Section 338) to impose the maximum amount of additional tariffs (fifty per cent) on Canadian cars, alcohol, and dairy, owing to his determination of Canada’s discriminatory treatment of US exports.
23 Jul 2026 10 min read

EU WTO Reform Proposal Seeks To Extend Accession-Based State Enterprise Rules To All Members

In a new WTO reform paper entitled "Further Reflections on Disciplines, Subsidies and Industrial policy," the EU argues for stronger WTO disciplines on the behavior of state enterprises.
17 Jul 2026 5 min read

Governments Make Their Case Against Section 301 Forced Labor Tariffs

Last month, USTR made a determination in its Section 301 investigation into "Acts, Policies, and Practices of Various Economies Related to the Failure To Impose and Effectively Enforce a Prohibition on the Importation of Goods Produced With Forced Labor."
10 Jul 2026 5 min read

How Should the EU Get Tough with China? Unilateral Action vs. WTO Complaints

I've seen several recent calls for the EU to get tougher in its economic relations with China, along with arguments that it has been too slow to act against the Chinese economic threat.
06 Jul 2026 4 min read

Trump Administration Decides Not To Extend USMCA for Another Term: What Does That Mean Exactly?

Today, as part of the first joint review of the USMCA, the three governments held a virtual meeting.
01 Jul 2026 4 min read

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