A few years ago, I did two posts on the difference between "interpretations" by WTO Members under WTO Agreement Article IX:2 and "clarifications" by panels and the Appellate Body under DSU Article 3.2.  Based on the statements by the Appellate Body quoted in the

That's the way Global Trade Watch sees the 2012 US Model BIT, which was announced on Friday.  They have a tracked changes comparison of the old one and new one.  As far as I can see, there is not much difference in terms of substantive obligations.  Luke Peterson

Speaking of Todd, he also has a long post in which he discusses the timing of implementation in the Clove Cigarettes case, and various options the U.S. might have for implementing. This is just off the top of my head, and I haven't put too much thought

Todd Tucker of Global Trade Watch points to a recent Brazilian ban on all flavored cigarettes: Unless you're an avid reader of Spanish and Portuguese language news wires, you probably missed Brazil's announcement last month of a ban on all flavored cigarettes: cloves, chocolates, and even

As we all know, SCM Agreement Article 3 says that "subsidies contingent, in law or in fact, whether solely or as one of several other conditions, upon export performance" -- in other words, export subsidies -- "shall be prohibited."  So, no export subsidies at all right?

Over at Opinio Juris, some familiar names are discussing a new paper by Joel Trachtman and Greg Shaffer, “Interpretation and Institutional Choice at the WTO.”  Here's how the authors describe the paper: Our article develops a new framework for understanding the drafting and interpretation of the agreements of

For technical reasons, I'm posting this on behalf of Rob Howse: I wanted to respond to Simon and further respond to Todd regarding the reaction to US-Cloves.  In earlier posts I have defended the approach of the Appellate Body in proposing a test of whether detrimental effects on

I did two posts a while back on the issue of a U.S. work visa fee.  As the NY Times described it: ... Senator Charles E. Schumer , Democrat of New York, said his staff had come up with an alternative that would not hurt American workers: raising the visa application

Somewhat predictably, Global Trade Watch is going nuts about this decision.  Todd Tucker actually tweeted: "The #WTO paves the way for kids smoking cola ciggies and dying from lung cancer." I understand the role of rhetoric in achieving policy goals, so I don't take most of

Like the Cloves Panel report, the Cloves AB report has crucial lessons for national treatment more broadly.  Two stand out. 1. “Likeness” in all its variations is now about competition, not content or purpose: But who decides? Already in Philippines – Spirits, the AB recently confirmed that also “likeness” under GATT