The European Commission announced, on Monday 3 August, that the World Trade Organization (WTO) multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement (MPIA) has entered its operational phase.
Following a selection process which started in June this year, the participants in the MPIA (of which the EU and 22 other states are members) notified the WTO, on Friday 31 July, of the ten arbitrators who will hear appeals on the basis of the WTO panel reports in the MPIA, explains the Commission in its press release. This notification is thus the final step for the MPIA to become operational to deal with disputes between the participants.
This is a new mechanism approved by the EU Council in mid-April (see EUROPE 12464/2) and entered into force on 30 April. This mechanism allows participants to benefit from an appeal procedure under the WTO dispute settlement system.
“We can now turn our attention to finding a solution to the underlying problems through reform of the WTO Appellate Body and other aspects of the WTO system that need improvement.” said EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan.
This mechanism remains provisional pending the creation of a permanent WTO Appellate Body, which for the time being remains blocked by the Trump administration (see EUROPE 12387/23). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)