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Mr. Giorgio Sacerdoti

Mr. Giorgio Sacerdoti
Professor of International and
European Law
Bocconi University, Milan

Biography Biography in PDF

International Economic Law
World Trade Organization (WTO)
The World Trade Organization
Dispute Settlement System
The WTO dispute settlement system is an outstanding example of how inter-State disputes may be resolved peacefully and efficiently through third-party adjudication based on international law. In the light of almost 15 years of operation, and after more than 110 disputes decided by ad hoc panels and the Appellate Body, Professor Sacerdoti addresses the key features of the system and possible improvements based on his experience as a Member of the Appellate Body and his academic background.

Video | Audio
(22/5/2008, 51 minutes)
International Economic Law
World Trade Organization (WTO)
The World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement System
A. Legal Instruments
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, Geneva, 30 October 1947, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 55, p. 187.

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, Vienna, 23 May 1969, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1155, p. 331.

Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization (with final act, annexes and protocol), Marrakesh, 15 April 1994, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1867, p. 3.

General Agreement on Trade in Services, April 15, 1994, Annex 1 B to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1869, p. 183.

Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, 15 April 1994,Annex 1 C to Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1869, p. 299.

Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, 15 April 1994, Annex 2 to Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1869, p. 401.
B. Jurisprudence
World Trade Organization, Standards for reformulated and conventional gasoline (Venezuela and Brazil v. United States of America), Appellate Body Report of 20 May 1996, WT/DS2/AB/R.

World Trade Organization, Regime for the Importation, Sale and Distribution of Bananas (Ecuador and others v. European Communities), Appellate Body Report of 9 September 1997, WT/DS27/AB/R.

World Trade Organization, Import Prohibition of Certain Shrimp and Shrimp Products, Appellate Body Report of 12 October 1998, WT/DS58/AB/R.

World Trade Organization, Measures Affecting Asbestos and Products Containing Asbestos, Appellate Body Report of 12 March 2001, WT/DS135/AB/R.

World Trade Organization, Final Dumping Determination on Softwood Lumber from Canada, Appellate Body Report of 11 August 2004, WT/DS264/AB/R.

World Trade Organization, Continued Suspension of Obligations in the EC — Hormones Dispute (European Communities v. Canada), Appellate Body Report of 16 October 2008, WT/DS321/AB/R.
C. Documents
World Trade Organization Appellate Body Annual Report 2007
PDF in English(English, 566 KB)
PDF in French(Français, 374 KB)
PDF in Spanish(Español, 606 KB)

Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes
PDF in English(English, 116 KB)
PDF in French(Français, 126 KB)
PDF in Spanish(Español, 124 KB)

Procedures for Appellate Review.
PDF in English(English, 128 KB)
PDF in French(Français, 135 KB)
PDF in Spanish(Español, 117 KB)

Dispute Settlement Flowchart.

D. Doctrine
G. Sacerdoti, “Structure et fonction du système de règlement des différends de l’OMC: les enseignements des dix premières années”.

G. Sacerdoti, “The Dispute Settlement System of the WTO in Action: A Perspective on the First Ten Years”, in G. Sacerdoti, A. Yanovich and J. Bohanes (eds.), The WTO at Ten: The Contribution of the Dispute Settlement System, Cambridge University Press, 2006, pp. 35-57.
E. Additional References
For more information on the World Trade Organization Dispute Settlement Appellate Body, see the official website.