Dispute Settlement Mechanism of the World Trade Organisation

The Dispute Settlement Mechanism of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has dealt with over 500 disputes since its introduction on 1 January 1995, making it one of the world's most widely used dispute resolution forums. However, despite its popularity, there have also been criticisms of a number of aspects that could ultimately undermine the confidence enjoyed by the dispute settlement mechanism among its WTO members. For example, there has long been concern about the ability of poorer countries to pursue disputes successfully, as they often lack the necessary financial resources. Other examples are also how to appoint judges and how it affects the quality and outcome of the dispute as well as the effects of disputes.