The WTO in the Twenty-first Century

Leading scholars and international trade practitioners examine the significant issues facing the WTO.

The WTO will need to address three significant issues in the future: dispute settlement, negotiations and regional integration. Leading scholars and international trade practitioners examine these issues and the interplay between them. In addition, special sections focus on the Asia-Pacific region and recent trends towards greater regional integration.Three significant issues will determine the future of the WTO: dispute settlement, negotiations and regional integration. Dispute settlement is widely regarded as one of the major successes of the WTO in its first ten years. Concluding the Doha round negotiations is one of its main challenges. Regional integration is now at the frontline of debate as regional agreements proliferate and policy-makers and academics come to grips with their impacts on the multilateral trading system. These issues, and the interplay between them, are examined by leading scholars and practitioners in the field of international trade law from North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. In addition, special sections focus on the Asia-Pacific region, its participation in WTO dispute settlement and negotiations, and recent trends towards greater regional integration.