Glossary

All documents produced in the (WTO) dispute settlement system (with the exception of the parties?submissions) are public. They are accessible via the dispute settlement gateway of the WTO’s website: http://www.2n2y.com/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_e.htm.

This section will briefly explain the symbols of the most important WTO dispute settlement documents. The main categories of documents are:

WTO dispute settlement (WT/DS) documents can be looked for and recognized as follows:

Information and documents on the WTO Website  back to top

The above documents are accessible on the WTO website. The following sites are particularly relevant for the dispute settlement system:

The WTO’s Documents Online database (http://docsonline.wto.org) allows users to search for all WTO documents. One can search for documents using their documents symbols, numbers, key words, or by date.

Reference books  back to top

The first edition of the WTO Analytical Index¹ has recently been published. The WTO Analytical Index contains excerpts from documents relating to the application of the entire WTO Agreement and the development of WTO law. It includes a chapter on the DSU containing extracts from panel and Appellate Body reports relating to the various articles of the DSU.

For the dispute settlement practice under GATT 1947, the GATT Analytical Index² remains relevant.

Contacting the WTO  back to top

At the WTO Secretariat, the Legal Affairs Division has general responsibility for administration of the dispute settlement system. Disputes under the Anti-Dumping Agreement and the SCM Agreement fall within the particular responsibility of the Rules Division. The Appellate Body, which handles the appellate review of panel reports, has its own Secretariat. These divisions can be reached as follows:

Notes:

1. WTO Analytical Index: Guide to WTO Law and Practice, 1st edition (2003).  back to text

2. World Trade Organization, Analytical Index: Guide to GATT Law and Practice, Vols. 1 and 2 (6^th ed., 1995).  back to text