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DISPUTE SETTLEMENT: APPELLATE BODY
 Appellate Body

The Appellate Body was established in 1995 under Article 17 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU). It is a standing body of seven persons that hears appeals from reports issued by panels in disputes brought by WTO Members. The Appellate Body can uphold, modify or reverse the legal findings and conclusions of a panel, and Appellate Body Reports, once adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), must be accepted by the parties to the dispute. The Appellate Body has its seat in Geneva, Switzerland.

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Disclaimer
The pages on this web site regarding the Appellate Body and the Appellate Body Secretariat are intended solely for information. These pages do not constitute an authoritative interpretation of the WTO Agreements, including the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, or the Working Procedures for Appellate Review.


Introduction  back to top

Appeals in the WTO dispute settlement system
This link takes you to the section on disputes in the WTO guide “Understanding the WTO”.

  

News  back to top

  

Appellate Body Members and Secretariat  back to top

The Appellate Body is composed of seven Members who are appointed by the DSB to serve for four-year terms, with the possibility of being reappointed once. The Appellate Body membership shall be broadly representative of membership in the WTO. The Appellate Body receives administrative and legal support from the Appellate Body Secretariat.

  

Procedures for Appellate Review  back to top

Appeals are conducted according to the procedures established under the DSU and the Working Procedures for Appellate Review.

  

Current Appeals  back to top

24 January 2005: The Dominican Republic filed a Notice of Appeal in “Dominican Republic — Measures Affecting the Importation and Internal Sale of Cigarettes” (WT/DS302). The Appellate Body Report will be circulated no later than 25 April 2005.

13 January 2005: The European Communities filed a Notice of Appeal in “European Communities — Export Subsidies on Sugar, Complaint by Australia” (WT/DS265), “European Communities — Export Subsidies on Sugar, Complaint by Brazil” (WT/DS266), and “European Communities – Export Subsidies on Sugar, Complaint by Thailand” (WT/DS283). The Appellate Body Report will be circulated no later than 28 April 2005.

7 January 2005: The United States filed a Notice of Appeal in “United States — Measures Affecting the Cross-Border Supply of Gambling and Betting Services” (WT/DS285). The Appellate Body Report will be circulated no later than 7 April 2005.

18 October 2004: The United States filed a Notice of Appeal in “United States — Subsidies on Upland Cotton” (WT/DS267).The Appellate Body Report will be circulated no later than 3 March 2005.

  

Appellate Body Reports  back to top

The Reports of the Appellate Body for individual appeals.
> Chronological list, with links to the Reports.
> Statistics on number of appeals.
> Analytical Index: Guide to WTO Law and Practice

  

Appellate Body Annual Report  back to top

Search Documents Online
These links open a new window: allow a moment for the results to appear.

  • Appellate Body Annual Report (Document code WT/AB/* and keyword “annual report”)     > search     > help

You can perform more sophisticated searches from the Documents Online search facility (opens in new window) by defining multiple search criteria such as document symbol (i.e. code number), full text search or document date.

  

10th Anniversary Conferences back to top

Academic Groups to host conferences commemorating establishment of WTO Appellate Body.
> Click here for more information

            
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  Publications

> Appellate Body Repertory of Reports and Awards 1995–2004

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