WTO dispute settlement arm appoints new members

GENEVA - The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Tuesday announced the appointment of two new members to its seven-member dispute settlement body.

The new appointees, Ricardo Ramirez and Peter Van den Bossche, will replace Luiz Olavo Baptista and Giorgio Sacerdoti in the appellate body, which is responsible for hearing appeals on disputes between governments and the organisation, a WTO statement said.

The appointments were made according to the Dispute Settlement Understanding which stipulates that the appellate body shall comprise persons of recognised authority, with demonstrated expertise in law, international trade and the subject matter of the WTO agreements generally, the statement said.

While Baptista resigned in February owing to health reasons, Sacerdoti’s term will expire in December this year.

Ramirez, a former deputy general counsel for trade talks of Mexico’s economy ministry, will take charge July 1.

Bossche, a former acting director of the WTO appellate body secretariat, will assume office Dec 12, the statement said.