WTO fails to finalize dispute settlement reform but welcomes ‘significant progress’

The World Trade Organization will not have a fully functioning and reformed dispute settlement system this year as member countries had hoped, but the General Council chair this week welcomed “significant progress” in the talks and pledged to outline next steps early in 2025. During a General Council meeting held on Monday and Tuesday, Norwegian Ambassador Petter Ølberg, the chair of the General Council, summarized the state of the reform talks, praising the “significant progress” achieved so far. He cited...