The WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism: A Developing Country Perspective

This book offers a multidisciplinary approach to the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism and provides a "developing country" perspective over issues that are likely to remain at the center of the scholarly and policy debate for years to come. "This volume brings together an outstanding group of trade law experts trained and socialized in developing states, primarily Brazil. Focusing on broad systemic issues and specific disputes, these essays substantially advance our understanding of developing states' role in the WTO dispute system. The impressive contributions to this volume reveal both the promise and the limits of WTO dispute settlement and should attract a broad and interdisciplinary readership." Prof. Jeffrey Dunoff, Beasley School of Law, Temple University "The rules-based multilateral trading system faces an unprecedented set of challenges. This important and unique volume of essays analyses these challenges. It is important because it provides a sophisticated analysis of both technical complexities of the WTO and its Dispute Settlement Mechanism as well as their broader political and economic context. It is unique in drawing on the knowledge and experience of the extensive Brazilian community of experts; in providing excellent and in-depth analysis of many of the cases and issues in which Brazil has been involved as its role and importance within the WTO has expanded; and in elaborating a view of the trading system that reflects the interests and values of the Global South." Prof. Andrew Hurrell, Oxford University "This book is a timely contribution to debates on international trade in an era of increasing protagonism by emerging powers in the global trading system. The contributors devote special attention to the role that transnational epistemic communities of trade specialists have played in building up and maintaining the system. What is especially interesting about the edited volume is that it provides a perspective on the WTO from scholars and practitioners based in Brazil, a country whose government has been particularly active in the organisation and which has been prominent in challenging inequalities in world trade and the unilateral tendencies of the long-established powers. Anyone who wants to understand the changing global order, which is simultaneously becoming more multilateral and more economically nationalist, would benefit from reading this book." Prof. Anthony W. Pereira, Brazil Institute, King's College London.