By Chris Horseman and Iana Dreyer.
WTO dispute settlement
Comment: Hong Kong vs US – small is beautiful in the WTO
A World Trade Organization panel recently ruled in favour of Hong Kong in a dispute with the US regarding a requirement that imported goods should be marked as being of ‘China’ origin rather than ‘Hong Kong’ as hitherto. The panel upheld the rights of a small economy against the most …
Week in Brussels: Steel safeguard WTO compliance, Chips Act, Chinese beer kegs
The wheels of the EU trade policy machinery have started to churn again this week after the Christmas break. An update on various developments by Iana Dreyer and Rob Francis.
WTO: EU claims victory over Colombia in first-ever MPIA arbitration case
The European Commission has claimed victory “in substance” in the first ever WTO dispute settlement case to be referred to multi-party arbitration. The three arbitrators appointed under the new multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement delivered their ruling on Wednesday (21 December) in a dispute settlement case relating to Colombian anti-dumping …
WTO panel report: US origin marking changes for Hong Kong products not legal
The World Trade Organization released a panel ruling today related to a dispute brought by Hong Kong authorities against Washington’s decision to mark the origin of products imported from Hong Kong as originating in China. The conclusions are similar to those of a recent report on US Section 232 tariffs …
WTO Corner: China files dispute on US export controls, Indonesia appeals on nickel
After a few months of calm at the World Trade Organization, a storm has descended upon the dispute settlement body in Geneva. China requests consultations with US over semiconductor export controls A Chinese official confirmed that the government requested consultations at the dispute settlement body with the United States regarding …
WTO panel rules US Section 232 steel, aluminium tariffs illegal
Panellists in the dispute settlement cases brought by China, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey in an almost coordinated fashion after 2018 could no longer delay the publication of perhaps the politically most salient case in the World Trade Organization’s twenty-seven year history: the United States Section 232 steel and aluminium tariffs. …
WTO: EU takes disputes on intellectual property and Lithuania coercion to next level
The European Union requested the establishment of dispute panels in two geopolitically salient cases regarding China related to intellectual property protection and what the EU considers coercive trade measures affecting its member state Lithuania.
WTO: Colombia, EU, eye first MPIA ruling in early 2023
The European Union and Colombia are rapidly approaching the business end of a dispute settlement case that has attracted attention as much for the processes involved as for the substance of the dispute. A verdict is expected to be delivered early next year on Colombia’s appeal against a ruling delivered …
Indonesia nickel export ban: another WTO appeal into the void?
The EU won single-handedly its legal case brought against Indonesia’s export ban on nickel in a panel ruling released today. But Indonesia is expected to ignore the ruling and appeal the case to a non-existing appellate body at the WTO in Geneva.