About News The WTO might return to diplomatic settlements for trade disputes. Here’s why. Dec 20, 2019 Philip Potter and Julia Gray The WTO might return to diplomatic settlements for trade disputes. Here’s why. The global trade appeals system has stalled. Did it ever really work? The World Trade Organization's headquarters in Geneva. (Photo courtesy of The Washington Post)In December, the World Trade Organization’s ability to rule on trade disputes stalled after the Trump administration refused to appoint judges to its Appellate Body. Is this yet another blow to the international liberal order, as some policymakers worry? The answer is most likely no. Like other trade crises that President Trump has provoked, the paralysis in the WTO is less of a departure from the status quo than it might initially appear. The WTO’s dispute settlement understanding (DSU) sought to provide recourse to smaller countries in the global trading system. But poorer nations tend to bring fewer cases than expected. Instead, the WTO’s docket has been dominated by cases like the endless back-and-forth between the United States and the European Union over aircraft production. Diplomatic side deals are the norm. In fact, countries resolve more than 40 percent of cases via private settlements. READ FULL ARTICLE IN THE WASHINGTON POST MONKEY CAGE Philip Potter Philip Potter is an Associate Professor specializing in foreign policy and international relations. He also conducts research in the area of international terrorism and is a principal investigator for a Department of Defense Minerva Initiative project to map and analyze collaborative relationships between terrorist organizations. Read full bio Related Content Philip Potter Potter: The Death and Life of Terrorist Networks News ISIS is quietly “rising from the ashes” in areas of Iraq and Syria, due in part to the group’s vast international network of affiliates. Batten’s Phil Potter and co-authors outline why ISIS will be difficult to finish off without defeating the terrorist organization’s entire network of allies. Direct Election and the Foreign Policy President News Since the 9-11 attacks, it has become increasingly clear that the congressional role in US foreign policy, particularly in matters of war and peace, has faded to virtually nothing. Batten's Phil Potter, Associate Professor of Politics and Public Policy and Director of the National Security Policy Center, elaborates.
Philip Potter Philip Potter is an Associate Professor specializing in foreign policy and international relations. He also conducts research in the area of international terrorism and is a principal investigator for a Department of Defense Minerva Initiative project to map and analyze collaborative relationships between terrorist organizations. Read full bio
Potter: The Death and Life of Terrorist Networks News ISIS is quietly “rising from the ashes” in areas of Iraq and Syria, due in part to the group’s vast international network of affiliates. Batten’s Phil Potter and co-authors outline why ISIS will be difficult to finish off without defeating the terrorist organization’s entire network of allies.
Direct Election and the Foreign Policy President News Since the 9-11 attacks, it has become increasingly clear that the congressional role in US foreign policy, particularly in matters of war and peace, has faded to virtually nothing. Batten's Phil Potter, Associate Professor of Politics and Public Policy and Director of the National Security Policy Center, elaborates.