Inside U.S. Trade Quotes Stephen Kho on U.S. Position on WTO
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Akin Gump international trade partner Stephen Kho has been quoted from an appearance at a recent congressional briefing in the Inside U.S. Trade article “Without an Appellate Body, what’s next for the WTO?” With its Appellate Body down to just one member, the article reports that the World Trade Organization does not have a properly functioning mechanism to settle disputes between its members.
For the past two-and-a-half years, the article notes, the United States has been blocking appointments to the Appellate Body over philosophical and procedural issues with how it operates. As a result, according to the article, the proliferation of back-and-forth tariffs could continue. Countries could also lose their incentives to avoid WTO-inconsistent measures.
Kho said Washington’s position on the WTO has changed the way other countries view the United States. The U.S. used to be comfortable that when it leads, others follow, he said. But with its entrenched position on the Appellate Body, that is “less and less the case.” Instead, the knee-jerk reaction of members is to dismiss the U.S.’ comments or contest them.
