EU and 15 WTO members establish contingency appeal arrangement for trade disputes

The EU and 15 other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreed on an arrangement that will allow them to bring appeals and solve trade disputes among them despite the current paralysis of the WTO Appellate Body. The Multiparty Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement mirrors the usual WTO appeal rules and can be used between any members of the WTO willing to join, as long as the WTO Appellate Body is not fully functional. Once the respective WTO members complete their internal procedures, the arrangement will become operational.