A Handbook on the WTO Dispute Settlement System

The WTO dispute settlement system plays an important role in clarifying and enforcing the legal obligations contained in the WTO Agreement. It has gained a strong practical relevance as more than 300 disputes have been brought from 1 January 1995 through October 2003. While dispute settlement is certainly not the only activity taking place within the WTO, it has become an important part of the practical reality of the Organization. WTO dispute settlement has also become an important tool in the management by WTO Members of their international economic relations at large. The objective of this handbook is to give the reader a good understanding of the practical operation of this system. Working through this guide, the reader will be introduced to all elements of the dispute settlement process, from the initiation of a case through to the implementation of the decision.

Introduction to this handbook
List of abbreviations
Table of cases cited in this publication
Introduction to the WTO dispute settlement system
Historic development of the WTO dispute settlement system
WTO bodies involved in the dispute settlement process
Legal basis for a dispute
Possible object of a complaint - jurisdiction of panels and the appellate body
The process - stages in a typical WTO dispute settlement case
Legal effect of panel and appellate body reports and DSB recommendations and rulings
Dispute settlement without recourse to panels and the appellate body
Participation in dispute settlement proceedings
Legal issues arising in WTO dispute settlement proceedings
Developing countries in WTO dispute settlement
Evaluation of the WTO dispute settlement system: results to date
Further information
Annex - legal texts.