In late April, the United States once again blocked a routine motion at the World Trade Organization to fill vacancies on the panel responsible for resolving disputes among its members. This marked the 75th time in a row that such a motion has been blocked, effectively rendering the WTO powerless for nearly five years. This has allowed members found guilty of rule violations to appeal decisions to a panel that is unable to function due to a lack of personnel, leaving transgressions unpunished.
The current state of affairs at the WTO is indicative of a global trend where institutions and rules meant to promote global trade are increasingly becoming irrelevant. Each day brings concerning headlines, such as the European Union considering imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and conducting raids on Chinese companies for subsidies. Additionally, the United States has recently imposed sanctions on hundreds of entities, including those in China and Turkey, for supporting Russia’s military.
These developments illustrate a growing trend of countries resorting to protectionist measures and disregarding international trade regulations. The lack of cooperation and adherence to established rules threatens the stability and fairness of global trade, highlighting the urgent need for reform and revitalization of international trade institutions. Two years ago, members of the WTO had resolved to revitalize the dispute-resolution mechanism by this year, but their efforts have fallen short. At the most recent summit earlier this year, instead of taking concrete actions to address the issue, members opted to “accelerate discussions” without any sense of irony.
This ongoing dysfunction at the WTO is a reflection of broader challenges facing international trade and investment institutions. The lack of cooperation and adherence to established rules threatens not only global trade but also international investment flows and economic growth prospects in many countries around
