WTO Dispute Settlement Texts

Documents are all PDF files. To view them, you will need the free Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded from Adobe.

GATT/WTO Dispute Settlement Legal Texts

WTO Dispute Settlement Legal Texts

Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes
(Dispute Settlement Understanding or DSU)

Rules of Conduct for the DSU

Appellate Review Legal Texts

 

(This table is based on Annex III of WT/AB/WP/6)

 

Document Rules Amended Working Documents / Explanatory Texts Principal DSB Meeting(s) at which Amendments Discussed

Working Procedures for Appellate Review (Current version)
WT/AB/WP/6

(Effective September 15, 2010)

Rules 6(3), 18(1), 18(2), 18(4), 21(1),
 22(1), 23(1), 23(3), 23(4), 24(1), 24(2), 27(1),
32(1), and 32(2), and Annexes I and III
WT/AB/WP/W/10
(December 16, 2009),
WT/AB/WP/W/11

(July 27, 2010)
May 18, 2010,
WT/DSB/M/283

Working Procedures for Appellate Review (Fifth version)
WT/AB/WP/5

(Effective January 1, 2005)

Rules 1, 18, 20, 21, 23, 23 bis, and 27, and Annexes I and III WT/AB/WP/W/8
(April 8, 2004),
WT/AB/WP/W/9

(October 7, 2004)
May 19, 2004,
WT/DSB/M/169

Working Procedures for Appellate Review (Fourth version)

WT/AB/WP/4

(Effective May 1, 2003)

Rules 24 and 27(3), with consequential amendments to Rules 1, 16, 18, 19, and 28, and Annex I WT/AB/WP/W/6
(December 17, 2002),
WT/AB/WP/W/7

(April 9, 2003)
October 23, 2002,
WT/DSB/M/134

Working Procedures for Appellate Review (Third version)

WT/AB/WP/3
(Effective January 24, 2002)

Rule 5(2) WT/AB/WP/W/4
(July 10, 2001),
WT/AB/WP/W/5

(September 18, 2001)
July 24, 2001,
WT/DSB/M/107

Working Procedures for Appellate Review (Second version)

WT/AB/WP/2
(Effective February 28, 1997)

Rule 5(2)
and Annex II
WT/AB/WP/W/2
(February 24, 1997),
WT/AB/WP/W/3

(January 20, 1997)
February 25, 1997,
WT/DSB/M/29

Working Procedures for Appellate Review (First version)

WT/AB/WP/1
(Effective February 15, 1996)

N/A WT/AB/WP/W/1
(February 7, 1996)
January 31, 1996,
WT/DSB/M/10 and
February 21, 1996,
WT/DSB/M/11

 

Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration 

Other Related Texts

 

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
(Treaty Interpretation Rules are in Articles 31-33)

 

GATT Dispute Settlement Legal Texts

1994 Extension of the 1989 Improvements

1989 Improvements to GATT Dispute Settlement Rules and Procedures
1984 Dispute Settlement Decision
1982 Dispute Settlement Decision
1979 Understanding Regarding Notification, Consultation, Dispute Settlement and Surveillance
1966 Decision on GATT Article XXIII Procedures