Abstract:
In essence, unfulfilled promises are at the heart of WTO disputes. WTO members have
decided not to act unilaterally in the event that they suspect other members are breaking trade
regulations; instead, they will resolve issues through the multilateral system. This entails
following the established protocols and honoring decisions.
When a nation adopts a trade policy measure or does something else that some other WTO
members believe violates the agreements or falls short of responsibilities, a dispute often
results. A third set of nations may indicate their interest in the matter and be granted certain
privileges.
Under the previous GATT, there was a dispute resolution process in place, but it lacked
specified deadlines, verdicts were more easily overturned, and many cases took a very long
time to reach a conclusion. The Uruguay Round accord brought in a more organized method
with more precisely defined steps. With adjustable timelines set at different phases of the
process, it offered additional discipline for how long a case should take to settle. The
agreement highlights that timely settlement is necessary for the WTO to operate efficiently.
It lays forth in great detail the steps and schedule that must be taken in order to settle disputes.
