International Trade Dispute Settlement 2.0. Remarks by Geraldo Vidigal

During the decade between 2007 and 2017, the World Trade Organization (WTO) became the almost exclusive forum for the settlement of interstate trade disputes. The previous 1995–2005 period had seen some signs that regional trade agreements (RTAs), such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR), and the Andean Community, could become alternative forums for dispute settlement in trade. Between 2007 and 2017, however, the only agreement under which (two) trade disputes were brought to adjudication was the Dominican Republic—Central America—United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).