Members of the World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) convened on 24 October, where ongoing gridlock over appellate appointments again overshadowed routine proceedings, according to a Geneva-based trade official.
India and Chinese Taipei jointly requested — for the eighth consecutive time — that the adoption of the panel report in DS588: India — Tariff Treatment on Certain Goods in the Information and Communications Technology Sector be postponed.
The report, originally circulated in April 2023, concerns tariffs imposed by India on certain ICT products. The parties said they continue to seek a mutually agreed solution and asked the DSB to defer action until 21 April 2026. Members agreed to the extension.
In a recurring display of institutional deadlock, a group of 130 WTO members again put forward a proposal to launch the process to fill vacancies on the Appellate Body. This marks the 91st such request blocked by the United States.
The group, represented by Colombia, underscored that widespread support for appointments reflects members’ common interest in restoring the full functionality of the dispute settlement system. The United States reiterated its long-standing position that systemic concerns must first be addressed and that simply launching appointments would not resolve what it views as fundamental flaws in the system.
Over 20 members — including the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom, and others — took the floor to reaffirm support for the proposal and urged swift action to restore a binding two-tier dispute mechanism.
Several delegations welcomed Viet Nam as the newest participant in the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), effective 16 October. Members noted the MPIA continues to provide a temporary alternative to the non-functioning Appellate Body and encouraged further participation.
Several members — including Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom — reiterated condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Federation responded that the matter falls outside the remit of the DSB.
The United States, the European Union, and Indonesia provided updates on implementation in several ongoing disputes, including cases involving anti-dumping measures, copyright legislation, palm oil measures, and agricultural import restrictions.
The next regular DSB meeting is scheduled for 24 November 2025.
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