How to Win a WTO Dispute Based on Non-Wto Law? Questions of Jurisdiction and Merits

Journal of World Trade, Vol. 37, No. 6, 2003

34 Pages Posted: 17 Sep 2004

See all articles by Joost Pauwelyn

Joost Pauwelyn

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID)

Abstract

The recognition that public international law, including non-WTO treaties, has a role to play in the WTO has gained momentum. However, what does it mean in practice for litigants before a WTO panel? Is one just paying lip service to other non-WTO treaties to enhance the legitimacy of the WTO or can a WTO member actually win or loose a dispute by pleading this other law? That is the question examined in this essay. Put differently, can the defendant before a WTO panel successfully fence off a WTO complaint based on other treaties or rulings from other courts or tribunals? Two types of cases are discussed: First, cases where non-WTO law may lead a panel to decline jurisdiction; Second, cases where non-WTO law may effectively justify, on the merits, what would otherwise be a breach of the WTO treaty.

Keywords: international trade, WTO, public international law, dispute settlement, conflicting norms, forum shopping

Suggested Citation

Pauwelyn, Joost, How to Win a WTO Dispute Based on Non-Wto Law? Questions of Jurisdiction and Merits. Journal of World Trade, Vol. 37, No. 6, 2003, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=478021

Joost Pauwelyn (Contact Author)

Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) ( email )

PO Box 136
Geneva, Geneva CH-1211
Switzerland

HOME PAGE: http://graduateinstitute.ch

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
1,473
Abstract Views
6,180
Rank
23,995
PlumX Metrics