The WTO was created in 1995 and has 134 member countries. Trade dispute panels of the WTO have the right to review and penalize any act of member countries that compromises WTO rules. WTO dispute panels consist of three trade lawyers selected by the disputing countries. Only national governments can make submissions or provide testimony to WTO proceedings. Citizens' organizations and state and local governments are prohibited from participating.
Proceedings are secret.
Rulings can be appealed, but only on narrow matters of trade law. The WTO has also ruled against US requirements that countries selling shrimp in the US market use turtle escape devices to save endangered sea turtles. And they ruled against Europe's ban on beef treated with growth hormones which are suspected of causing cancer in humans. The US has also attacked European efforts to reduce toxic pollution from electronic equipment, on the same grounds Activists say that the US has set weak standards to control imported agricultural and forest pests and has weakened border food inspections in order to avoid violating WTO rules.