The WTO in 2019: Systemic Developments, Disputes and Review of the Appellate Body’s Reports

Abstract

The year 2019 was marked by a cataclysmic event for the WTO, the demise of the Appellate Body on 11 December 2019. At this date, as an effect by the protracted blockage by the United States of the reappointment process of AB members by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), the AB was left with just one member (Ms Hong Zhao from China) bringing it to its paralysis. Ten appeals have been left pending without any clear perspective of how, when and by whom they would be decided in order to bring the underlying disputes to conclusion. In 2019, 10 reports have been issued by panels of which 6 have been appealed. The six reports issued by the Appellate Body in 2019 are being reviewed in this contribution.