The Participation of Developing Countries in the Dispute Settlement System of the WTO

This thesis examines the participation of developing countries in the dispute settlement system of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and argues that they are in a disadvantageous position compared to their developed counterparts. The system's failure to effectively address or efficiently deal with this position is evidence of its bias against and disregard for developing countries' participation. The book focuses on the problematic issues developing countries face throughout their use of the system. It also considers the role that the WTO's Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) has played in addressing these issues, as well as the efficiency of that role in restraining and limiting their effect on developing countries' participation in the system. The thesis analyzes some ideas on the reform of the DSU that have been proposed through WTO negotiations or literature, and it discusses their applicability on the current dispute settlement system. Finally, it employs these proposals to introduce a reformed model of the DSU, which is more sensitive to developing countries' concerns in the system, in order to provide an understanding of how such modifications can be carried out in future reforms on the DSU. Thesis.