EU proposes law enabling retaliation before WTO authorization

The European Commission on Thursday proposed an amendment to its trade enforcement law that would allow it to impose retaliatory tariffs on countries that block the resolution of a dispute at the World Trade Organization. According to the Commission, the proposal is a direct response to the paralysis of the WTO’s Appellate Body, which was caused by the United States’ blocking of nominations. The terms of two of the three remaining Appellate Body members expired earlier this week, leaving the...