A new study released this July by the WTO entitled “The Future and History of the WTO” and written by Professor Craig VanGrasstek presents, in part, a statistical assessment of  WTO litigation.  This innovative study relied upon data compiled by the WTO.  It is rare that a study of  WTO litigation presents a statistical analysis.  Often such studies focus only on the jurisprudential. In reality those jurisprudential studies are much less useful to policymakers grappling with the future of the WTO. Here are some salient points of this study:

• The author looks at what he calls the descriptive statistics of WTO cases as provided in a database on the WTO website. He considers this approach more relevant to policy makers than jurisprudential studies.

• He views the multilateral system as becoming more litigious over time.

• He notes the shift to litigation from negotiation can be seen as either an advance or a decline. He argues this is an advance.

• He views some national cultures as favoring conciliation (Asia) over confrontation. He argues this really doesn’t explain any difference in litigation practice. (Japan and India are active litigants and China has quickly learned how to become one.)

• He notes that Confucian thought places a value on avoidance of litigation. (This hasn’t slowed China’s international litigation.)

• He also notes while many countries use the WTO dispute resolution system African and Middle East countries have yet to file a single action.

• The difference between common and civil law countries are not significant in explaining the differences in levels of litigation.

• Developed countries are the most litigious in the WTO.

• The U.S has moved away from unilateral threat of domestic litigation of the GATT era.

• Unilateral enforcement is now banned under global trade law.

• The US and the EU have filed the largest number of cases.

• There has been a decline in litigations early days (except 2012).

• 1/3 of all cases involve trade remedy cases. Most are antidumping cases.

      All of these observations are particularly informative. As a European the author notes, as expected, that the EU – US litigation accounts for the most WTO litigation.

     It is particularly interesting to note the rise of litigation between the US and China as well as between the EU and China. The level of litigation involving India, Japan and Korea is very telling as well as the  increasing litigation by Brazil.  Since the completion of the study, actions have been filed for the first time against one of the newest members of the WTO, the Russian Federation.  These have been filed by the EU and Japan.  The US has  indicated that it will also  do so shortly.

     A study of WTO litigation by the different US presidents (Clinton, Bush and Obama), as a mater of US foreign policy, would be also very informative. But that’s another story.

     I agree a statistical assessment of WTO litigation is essential to policymakers confronting the future. This study is a major advance in understanding the success of the WTO dispute resolution system as an essential part of global economic governance.

 …. Chapter 7 — “Dispute Settlement” in   C. VanGrasstek, “The Future and History of the WTO.” (2013).

…. Malawer, “U.S. – China WTO Litigation (2001 – 2010),” (December 2010).

…. Malawer, “Litigation and Consultation in the WTO — Ten Years.” (July 2005).

 …. Malawer,”WTO Litigation After 10 Years.” New York Law Journal (December 2004).

….  Malawer, “U.S. and WTO: Lessons Learned from Trade Litigation.”  (April 2003).