- India is unlikely to strike bilateral deals with World Trade Organization (WTO) members such as the European Union (EU) and Canada.
- The deal aims to work out an interim arrangement to preserve the dispute settlement function of the multilateral body by agreeing to set up arbitration panels to resolve disputes.
- The Appellate body considered the supreme court of the WTO is set to become dysfunctional by 10 December,2019 as the US is not allowing appointment of judges to the panel.
- The US has been trying to use the opportunity of a dysfunctional Appellate Body to push through wide-ranging reform in the WTO rules including amendment of the developing country criteria,
- However,India is of the view that crisis in the Appellate Body should not be used as a leverage to extract concessions in other areas of the WTO’s functioning.
- India has proposed that the focus should remain on solution-oriented approaches to address the concerns of the appellate body in a manner that accommodates the interests of the entire membership and preserves the essential features of the system.
- The Appellate Body of the WTO was established in 1995 with its seat in Geneva, Switzerland.It is a standing body of seven persons.It hears appeals from reports issued by panels in disputes brought by WTO Members.
- The Appellate Body can uphold,modify or reverse the legal findings and conclusions of a panel.The Appellate Body Reports once adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) must be accepted by the parties to the dispute.
