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Does the present paralysis of the AB mean that the WTO is dead? No, and this is why.

By an odd coincidence, it seems that we have actually returned to the situation that prevailed in the previous GATT 1947 system. Recall that this system was characterized by a strange feature that allowed a veto by the losing party as soon as it communicated that it wanted to explore
Marc Benitah 22 Dec 2019 2 min read

USMCA in Last Night's Debate

This is from last night's Democratic debate: WOODRUFF: Let's turn now to an issue that is on the minds of all Americans, and that is the economy. Senator Sanders, today, the House of Representatives voted for a new bipartisan trade agreement among the United States, Canada
Simon Lester 20 Dec 2019 2 min read

The House Passes USMCA by a Wide Margin

In October of 2017, I noted that U.S. Trade Representative Bob Lighthizer said he hoped to “get back to the days where there was a substantial majority of people in both parties that voted for these trade agreements,” adding “that is my objective right now. I want to have
Simon Lester 19 Dec 2019 2 min read

The U.S. Appeal in DS436

In the last post, I talked about what might happen as a result of the U.S. appeal "into the void" of the Article 21.5 panel report in DS436. Let me now add to the confusion. The full text of the U.S. appeal, as posted in
Simon Lester 19 Dec 2019 2 min read

The Future of U.S. Participation in WTO Disputes

This is from the U.S. statement at today's DSB meeting: As discussions among Members continue, the dispute settlement system continues to function. The central objective of that system remains unchanged: to assist the parties in the resolution of a dispute. As before, Members have many methods to
Simon Lester 18 Dec 2019 2 min read

Debunking the NFTC Report regarding Antidumping

Debunking the NFTC Report regarding Antidumping Steve Charnovitz 18 December 2019 Yesterday, the (US) National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) released a Report Resolving the WTO Appellate Body Crisis: Proposals on Overreach. The Report proposes that "guidance" be given to the Appellate Body that WTO adjudicators must examine broadly
Charnovitz 18 Dec 2019 2 min read

USMCA Implementing Legislation Provisions on the Sunset Clause

This is from the relevant section of the USMCA implementing legislation submitted to the House on Friday: Subtitle B—Joint Reviews Regarding Extension of USMCA SEC. 611. PARTICIPATION IN JOINT REVIEWS WITH CANADA AND MEXICO REGARDING EXTENSION OF THE TERM OF THE USMCA AND OTHER ACTION REGARDING THE USMCA. (a)
Simon Lester 14 Dec 2019 2 min read

Unilateral Enforcement in the US-China "Phase One" Trade Agreement

This is from USTR's fact sheet on the U.S. - China "phase one" trade agreement announced on Friday: Dispute Resolution: The Dispute Resolution chapter sets forth an arrangement to ensure the effective implementation of the agreement and to allow the parties to resolve disputes in
Simon Lester 14 Dec 2019 1 min read

Congressional / Executive Power over Trade and the USMCA Sunset Clause

This is from Jennifer Hillman: Before it is too late, Congress should insist on including a number of items in the implementing legislation or on essential changes to the May 30, 2019, draft Statement of Administrative Action (SAA).  Indeed, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer’s transmittal letter for the
Simon Lester 13 Dec 2019 1 min read

Guest Post on the Appellate Body

This is a guest post from law professor Wolfgang Weiss The Appellate Body is dead - long live the WTO! What will happen with the enforcement of WTO law after the Appellate Body's ability to work has ceased - hopefully not permanently -? The end of the Appellate
Simon Lester 13 Dec 2019 5 min read

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International Economic Law and Policy Blog

International Economic Law and Policy Blog

Expert commentary on the law, politics and economics of international trade and investment

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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

Guest Post: The Case for Bringing Economic Security Priorities into U.S. Trade Agreements, Part II

This is a guest post from Geoffrey Gertz of the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), responding to my post on Economic and National Security Provisions in U.S. Trade Agreements An earlier post made the case for why the United States should bring economic security commitments into trade
01 Dec 2025 3 min read

Guest Post: The Case for Bringing Economic Security Priorities into U.S. Trade Agreements, Part I

Thanks to Simon for kickstarting a debate on the prospect of bringing economic security provisions into trade agreements, and for allowing me to respond here.
26 Nov 2025 4 min read

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