00-2202 MOREPRESS RELEASE
PRESS/180
5 June 2000
WTO'S UNIQUE SYSTEM OF SETTLING DISPUTES NEARS 200 CASES IN 2000
Alcohol, brooms, buses, cars, cement, coconut, co ffee, computers, footwear, gasoline, leather,
macaroni, rice, scallops, steel, tomatoes, underwear –  are among the many products in international
trade which have been the subject of nearly 200 disputes brought to the World Trade Organization
(WTO) since its creation in January 1995.
"It is a resounding vote of confidence in the WTO's dispute settlement system that the 136
member governments, both large and small, have so often sought solutions to difficult problems
through our organization," said WTO Director General Mike Moore.
"It is the backbone of the multilateral trading system, created by governments themselves in
the conviction that a solid mechanism of dispute settlement ensures that carefully negotiated trade
rules are respected and enforced. The system is desi gned to uphold international trading rules, thereby
also giving a better deal to workers and consumers.
"The dispute settlement mechanism, moreover, is unique in the international architecture.
WTO Member Governments bind themselves to the outcome from panels and, if necessary, the
Appellate Body.  That's why the WTO has attracted so much attention from all sorts of groups who
wish to use this mechanism to advance their interests.
“Settlement, of course, is the key principle here. During the period 1995-1999, for example,
77 disputes were resolved of which 41 were resolved without going to adjudication.  Without this
system, it would be virtually impossible to maintain  the delicate balance of international rights and
obligations. Disputes would drag on much longer, have a destabilizing effect on international trade,which, in turn, could poison international relations in general.  The system's emphasis on negotiating a
settlement could serve the same governments equally well in other areas of international relations."
Low-income nations are enjoying the benefits of the dispute settlement system, which accords
the smallest members the same weight as the bigger trading nations. “Although no one can claim thatthe WTO’s dispute settlement system compensates for unequal economic power distribution in the
world, it must be emphasized that this system gives small countries a fair chance, they otherwise
would not have, to defend their rights,” said Mr Moore.  Developing countries as a group have
registered 50 of the 194 disputes, with India, Brazil, Mexico and Thailand playing the most active
roles. The United States and the European Commission have registered the most complaints at the
WTO, with 60 and 50 respectively, and are also the most frequently cited by other governments as not
being in compliance with WTO rules.PRESS/180
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ENDNote to Editors
[All figures as at 30 May 2000.]
1. An overview of all the 194 disputes is available on the WTO website:  http://www.wto.org
2. A summary of some of the statistics is given below:
Annual Progress of Disputes
1995 25 cases filed
1996                       39 cases filed
1997                       47 cases filed
1998                       44 cases filed
1999                       30 cases filed2000 (1 Jan – 30 May) 9 cases filed
Breakdown of complaints
Disputes involving as Complainant as Respondent with Developing  Countries
US/EC/Japan
as ComplainantUS/EC/Japan
as Respondent
United States 60 42 22 15
EC 50 28 23 11
Japan 8 12 3 0
Developing Countries 50 67 \ \
Some WTO agreements cited in the disputes
SPS/TBT Agriculture Textiles TRIMS TRIPS GATS
26 25 13 15 21 9