Two WTO Members that are also signatories to a regional integration agreement with a dispute settlement system have a controversy about a technical standard. The technical standards falls simultaneously under both the regional trade agreement and the WTO Agreement (in particular, the TBT Agreement and Article III of GATT 1994). Is it possible to initiate WTO dispute settlement proceedings right away?Select one:a.No. The dispute settlement system of the regional trade agreement has priority. The DSB will reject any request for the establishment of a panel until the regional procedure is completed.b.Yes. Dispute settlement systems under regional trade agreements are available only after the completion of the WTO procedure. The complainant must thus always start by bringing its complaint to the WTO.c.Yes. The complainant can start with either forum for initiating the dispute, but it can only use one of the two and it must choose. This is to avoid contradictory outcomes in two separate disputes.d.Yes. As far as dispute settlement is concerned, the two systems are separate and independent one from another. Under each dispute settlement system the adjudicatory body would decide according to the rules governing that system.

WTO Members A and B conclude a compromise, according to which a specific WTO dispute between A and B is to be resolved by the International Court of Justice in the Hague and according to the procedures set out in its Statute. Are A and B permitted to do so?Select one:a.For disputes under the covered agreements, Article 23.1 of the DSU mandates recourse to the WTO dispute settlement system and therefore does not permit the use of other procedures for resolving WTO disputes.b.The Statute of the International Court of Justice does not permit States to decide that the Court is competent.c.The priority of the WTO dispute settlement system is to secure a positive solution, if possible through a negotiated agreement. The negotiated agreement can also provide for any particular form of adjudication of the dispute.d.A and B may take their dispute to the International Court of Justice, but they need the approval of the DSB who would decide by consensus.

The components of WTO areSelect one:a.Ministerial conferenceb.Disputes settlement bodyc.Director Generald.All of the above

A non-governmental organization that is concerned with environmental issues has a strong interest in an ongoing WTO dispute. Is there any way it can participate in the dispute settlement proceedings?Select one:a.The non-governmental organization cannot be a party in the dispute settlement proceedings, but it can become a third party by notifying the DSB of its substantial interest.b.The non-governmental organization can file a so-called amicus curiae brief to the panel or Appellate Body, which is obliged to consider the content of that submission in its decision-making.c.Under the current (controversial) practice, the non-governmental organization can file an amicus curiae submission, which the panels or the Appellate Body may consider, without any obligation to do so.d.The proceedings are confidential, so the non-governmental organization cannot attend the panel or Appellate Body hearings, nor is there any other form of contribution it can make to the dispute under the current practice.

The panels of the WTO Dispute Settlement Body are not empowered to make any new rules; they may simply apply the existing rules to a given set of facts.Group of answer choicesTrueFalse

Once the WTO Appellate Body has issued a decision in a dispute, the disputing governments must immediately conform to the decision with no further discussions on settlement.Group of answer choicesTrueFalse