Bypassing Trump's fake complaints paves way for WTO renewal

Abstract

In recent years, US President Donald Trump has managed to bring the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute settlement system to its knees. This has now prompted Australia (along with China, the European Union, Canada, Switzerland and 12 other countries) to agree to a replacement process: an Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement. The US is not a signatory. The agreement has been created as a surrogate WTO Appellate Body, the pillar of the much-lauded dispute settlement process of the WTO described by successive directors-general of the WTO and others as the “jewel in the crown of the WTO”.