IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026

4 Oct - 9 Oct 2026

Session information

Cross-border trade settlement systems and the WTO Appellate Body crisis: where do we stand?

Committee(s)

International Commerce and Distribution Committee (Lead)

Description

Since 11 December 2019, the Appellate Body has been unable to deliver binding resolutions of trade disputes, nor can it guarantee the right to appellate review. New appointments to the WTO's Appellate Body are blocked. Pending a resolution of the Appellate Body situation, the EU and other WTO members have established a multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement (MPIA), and other bilateral and multilateral initiatives have been undertaken.

Our roster of panellists will discuss how participating WTO members can continue to benefit from two-step dispute settlement systems, as well as the reform of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.