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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

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Comparing the Economic and National Security Provisions in the New U.S. Trade Deals

By my count, we now have the legal texts of five Trump administration trade agreements. Will there be enforcement actions under these agreements?
09 Feb 2026 4 min read

Jamieson Greer on the 30 Year Aberration in U.S. Trade Policy

When he was in Davos last week for the World Economic Forum, U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer talked a bit about U.S. trade policy history and described a recent period during which, in his view, U.S. trade policy shifted away from tariffs/protectionism and towards free trade.
29 Jan 2026 6 min read

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

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