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Quick Take on WTO AB Tuna Ruling

I'm sure Rob (and maybe others) will weigh in soon on today's WTO Appellate Body ruling in the Article 21.5 proceeding of U.S. - Tuna, but let me just quickly mention one point that occurs to me.  (The facts of the measure here are
Simon Lester 20 Nov 2015 2 min read

"Like Circumstances" in the TPP Trade in Services Chapter

From the TPP cross-border trade in services chapter: Article 10.3: National Treatment2 1. Each Party shall accord to services and service suppliers of another Party treatment no less favourable than that it accords, in like circumstances, to its own services and service suppliers. 2 For greater certainty, whether treatment
Simon Lester 19 Nov 2015 1 min read

No ISDS as between Australia and New Zealand

Via what is referred to as an "associated document" on the Australia DFAT web site, and a "side instrument" on the NZ MFAT web site, Australia and New Zealand have agreed to exclude ISDS as between each other in the TPP: 3. No investor of New
Simon Lester 19 Nov 2015 1 min read

Assessing the TPP at the ITC

From the U.S. International Trade Commission: The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has instituted an investigation to assess the likely impact of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement that the President has announced he intends to enter into with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru,
Simon Lester 18 Nov 2015 1 min read

Interpreting GATT Article XXI

Russia wants further interpretation of GATT Article XXI to be on the post-Nairobi agenda: Interpretation and Implementation of Security Exceptions provided in the Multilateral Trade Agreements 1.5. With reference to the "Decision Concerning Article XXI of the General Agreement" adopted by the CONTRACTING PARTIES on November 30,
Simon Lester 18 Nov 2015 1 min read

WTO Jurisprudence in TPP Dispute Settlement

This is from Article 28.11 of the TPP Dispute Settlement Chapter: 3. The panel shall consider this Agreement in accordance with applicable rules of interpretation under international law as reflected in Articles 31 and 32 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969). In addition, with respect
Simon Lester 16 Nov 2015 1 min read

GATT Article XX Exceptions to the TPP TBT Chapter

As far as I know, no responding party ever invoked GATT Article XX as a defense to a claim of violation of the TBT Agreement (although it would have been fun if they had), but given the various statements the Appellate Body has made recently on the interpretation of both
Simon Lester 16 Nov 2015 1 min read

Guest Post on Argentina - Financial Services

This is a guest post by trade lawyer Adarsh Ramanujan:“Treatment no less favourable” –Article II:1, GATS and Article 2.1, TBT Pursuant to Simon’s earlier post about the appeal filed by Panama in Argentina – Financial Services, I noticed that one of the grounds of appeal relates to
Simon Lester 13 Nov 2015 3 min read

The TPP Process for Composing Dispute Settlement Panels

If we want trade agreements to be enforceable, there needs to be a dispute settlement process that functions. The WTO process works well because you have a Secretariat and a Director-General to oversee it.  By contrast, as I understand things, NAFTA Chapter 20 has broken down in the panelist selection
Simon Lester 13 Nov 2015 2 min read

SIEL 2016 Conference Call for Papers Deadline Extended

From the SIEL: The Society of International Economic Law has extended until November 20 the deadline to submit paper and panel proposals for its 2016 conference, which will be held from 7-9 July in Johannesburg at the University of the Witwatersrand.  The extended call for papers is here.
Simon Lester 12 Nov 2015 1 min read

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International Economic Law and Policy Blog

International Economic Law and Policy Blog

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Is this the end of MFN as we know it? The EU submission on WTO reform and the meaning of development

With the release of the EU submission on WTO reform, it has become clear that the MFN principle’s central role within the WTO architecture is under challenge. As a keystone, it risks the entire bridge falling. Even if the foundations are retained but deemed outdated or unusable, and a
23 Jan 2026 3 min read

Can "Geopolitical" Tariffs Be Dealt With through Trade Deals?

Last Friday, U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer was asked about Trump's initial suggestion of tariffs related to the goal of taking over Greenland
20 Jan 2026 4 min read

Is Foreign Antitrust Enforcement "Discriminatory" and "Anti-American"?

The House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust held a hearing in December on "Anti-American Antitrust: How Foreign Governments Target U.S. Businesses." There was a lot of talk at the hearing about how foreign regulations and regulators "discriminate" against American companies.
05 Jan 2026 5 min read

Pennsylvania Court Finds Mexican Government Guilty of "Discrimination" Due To Its Subsidies

I'm always interested in how courts apply the concept of "discrimination" in the context of international trade, so I've been eagerly awaiting a Pennsylvania court decision in a case against Mexico.
12 Dec 2025 8 min read

Economic Security in Trade Agreements: My Response to Geoff Gertz

Thanks to Geoff for laying out his vision of why economic security should be in trade agreements and how to bring it in. It won't surprise anyone to hear I have some additional comments and questions in response!
04 Dec 2025 10 min read

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