NEGOTIATIONS ON IMPROVEMENTS AND CLARIFICATIONS OF THE WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT UNDERSTANDING

INTRODUCTION. Negotiations on improvements and clarifications of the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding are on top of the agenda today. WTO members are negotiating new rules, which are deemed to improve the effectiveness of WTO dispute settlement system. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The author has analyzed negotiations reports and materials as well as practice of the Dispute Settlement Body with respect to the issues discussed and presented comments concerning twelve issues discussed in the course of negotiations process. The methodological basis of the research consists of general scientific and special methods. RESEARCH RESULTS. The author comes to the conclusion, that the Dispute Settlement Understanding needs substantive review. However, WTO members are very cautions when giving additional powers to the WTO, trying to secure themselves from any decisions, which could be contrary to their interests. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The author has presented the assessment of twelve issues discussed in the course of negotiations on improvements and clarifications of the Dispute Settlement Understanding and come to the conclusion that Dispute Settlement Understanding needs to be reviewed. At the same time certain changes proposed are not viable and beneficial. Moreover, it should be highlighted that the current organization of the course of negotiations is not really productive and the negotiations are not likely to be finished. For this reason, WTO members need to work on organization of the negotiations, putting strict deadlines to facilitate the conclusion of the negotiation process.

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