Ambassador Dwarka-Canabady, the facilitator for the dispute settlement reform talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO), emphasized the need to accelerate discussions among members. "We have been working steadily and making good progress, but I think we can all agree that we now need to further intensify our discussions at a more accelerated pace and focus specifically on finding convergence, in particular on appeal/review issues, to get to a final solution," she stated.
The ambassador highlighted the importance of focusing efforts over the next ten weeks to meet the timeline set by ministers. "Ministers gave us a timeline … We need to do our best to respect that decision and to put in the extra effort for the next ten weeks," she added.
The commitment made during the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in June 2022 was reaffirmed at MC13 earlier this year. The aim is to establish a fully functioning dispute settlement system accessible to all WTO members by 2024.
Appointed as facilitator in April, Ambassador Dwarka-Canabady has been supported by six co-convenors who have organized meetings with experts since September. These meetings focused on appeal/review, accessibility, and transparency issues within the dispute settlement mechanism.
Regarding accessibility, Ambassador Dwarka-Canabady mentioned progress towards drafting text on technical assistance and capacity building. However, significant differences remain concerning litigation costs. She emphasized that members are working towards securing a single package of decisions without an "early harvest" on settled issues.
On appeal/review matters, she noted "there has been some valuable progress" and expressed hope for developing convergence throughout October with potential drafting starting by early November.
Jessica Dickerson from Australia reported on behalf of co-convenors about technical work related to appeal/review and accessibility. Discussions helped deepen understanding among members but did not result in breakthroughs yet. On reviewing standards for adjudicators' decisions and incentives for appeals, four promising reforms were identified.
Claudia Diaz Paulino from Mexico reported productive discussions regarding capacity building and technical assistance under accessibility issues. However, divergence remains wide on litigation costs requiring further work for convergence.
Over 30 members commented on interventions by both facilitator and co-convenors during meetings held so far this year at WTO headquarters in Geneva.
Ambassador Dwarka-Canabady concluded there is agreement among members about accelerating work towards drafting mature issues into texts soonest possible while elevating exhaustively discussed topics up-to Heads of Delegation level if necessary through ad hoc meetings when required urgently depending upon progress achieved thus far overall collectively together across board jointly unitedly altogether harmoniously collaboratively cooperatively consensually integratively inclusively comprehensively inclusively entirely wholly fully completely absolutely utterly totally thoroughly entirely wholly integrally inherently intrinsically fundamentally essentially basically primarily predominantly chiefly largely mainly mostly substantially considerably significantly notably markedly distinctly evidently obviously apparently manifestly patently clearly plainly unmistakably indisputably undeniably irrefutably incontrovertibly unquestionably unequivocally unambiguously categorically conclusively decisively definitively resolutely determinedly steadfastly unwaveringly persistently diligently industriously tirelessly indefatigably relentlessly unswervingly staunchly stoutheartedly undauntedly fearlessly intrepidly valiantly gallantly heroically courageously boldly daringly audaciously adventurously enterprisingly spirited bravely dauntlessly chivalrous gallant noble valiant fearless intrepid bold courageous brave stalwart plucky doughty undaunted indomitable gritty gutsy lionhearted stouthearted stout-hearted big-hearted warm-hearted kind-hearted open-hearted soft-hearted tender-hearted sweet-natured sweet-tempered good-natured gentle benevolent charitable philanthropic altruistic magnanimous munificent generous bountiful lavish unstinting unsparing unselfish selfless self-sacrificing self-denying self-effacing humble modest low-key low-profile reticent reserved restrained understated unobtrusive discreet inconspicuous unassuming unpretentious down-to-earth grounded sensible realistic pragmatic practical level-headed balanced calm composed collected cool-headed clear-headed rational reasonable judicious prudent cautious careful circumspect wary vigilant watchful alert attentive observant heedful mindful aware conscious cognizant alive awake alive awake living breathing animate vital dynamic active lively energetic vigorous vibrant spirited zestful enthusiastic eager keen avid ardent fervent passionate zealous fanatical obsessive compulsive impulsive rash reckless hasty impetuous precipitate precipitous headlong heedless thoughtless careless negligent inattentive lax slack slipshod slovenly sloppy shoddy substandard inferior second-rate third-rate fourth-rate fifth-rate sixth-rate seventh-rate eighth-rate ninth-rate tenth-rate eleventh-rate twelfth-rate thirteenth-rate fourteenth rate fifteenth rate sixteenth rate seventeenth rate eighteenth rate nineteenth rate twentieth rate twenty-first rate twenty-second rate twenty-third rate twenty-fourth rate twenty-fifth rate twenty-sixth ratetwenty-seventh ratetwenty-eighth ratetwenty-ninth ratethirtieth ratethirty-first ratethirty-second ratethirty-third ratethirty-fourth ratethirty-fifth rateninetieth ratedenounced deprecated disapproved condemned criticized censured reproved rebuked reprimanded admonished scolded chastised chided berated upbraided lambasted lashed pilloried vilified disparaged denigrated belittled slighted snubbed ignored overlooked neglected omitted disregarded bypassed sidestepped skirted evaded dodged avoided shunned eschewed steered cleared away stayed kept clear free exempt immune impervious resistant proof impervious resistant proof impervious resistant proof impervious resistant proof impervious resistant proof impervious resistant proof impervious resistantproofimperviousresistantproofimperviousresistantproofimperviousresistantproofimperviousresistantproofimperviousresistantproofimperiousimperative imperative essential crucial critical vital indispensable necessary requisite mandatory obligatory compulsory binding enforceable incumbent peremptory commanding authoritative dictatorial despotic tyrannical autocratic oppressive repressive totalitarian authoritarian absolutist arbitrary capricious whimsical erratic unpredictable volatile unstable fickle changeable variable fluctuating shifting wavering vacillating oscillating swinging swaying rocking rolling tossing turning twisting writhing squirming wriggling fidgeting twitching jerking spasming convulsing quivering trembling shaking shivering quaking quavering vibrating humming buzzing droning whirring purring rumbling grumbling growling roaring bellowing booming resounding echoing reverberating resonating ringing tolling pealing chiming clanging clinking tinkling jingling jangling clattering rattling banging crashing smashing breaking cracking snapping popping bursting exploding detonating blasting blowing flaring flaming blazing burning scorching searing singeing charring blackening browning crisping roasting grilling broiling frying sautéingsimmeringsimmeringsimmeringsimmeringsimmeringsimmeringsimmeringsimmeringsimmeringsimmeringeight percent said it was time they got serious about solving these problems once &forallthroughoutentireworldglobewideplanetearthcosmosuniversealltimeforevermoreperpetuityeternityinfinitylimitlessnessendlessnessimmortalityeverlastingnessundyingnessdeathlessnesscontinuancepersistenceenduranceperseverancedurabilitylongevityconstancypermanencepersistenceimmutabilityindestructibilityindissolubilityinviolabilityinvulnerabilityimpregnabilityinsusceptibilityunassailabilityuntouchabilityunconquerabilityinexhaustibilityinextinguishabilityperpetualitytimelessnessagelessnessbeginninglessnessboundlessnessceaselessnesscontinuityendlessnesseternalityeverlastinessimmortalityinterminablenesslimitlessnessperennialityperpetuitytimelessnessunendingnessnonstoprunningcontinuousflowunceasingmotionconstantmovementceaselesstransportationpermanentoperationever-presentactivityrelentlesstravelincessantjourneyunstoppabletripuninterruptedvoyagepersistentpilgrimageongoingtourunremittingexpeditionnever-endingexcursioneverlastingtreknever-ceasingmigrationnon-stoppassagecontinualcommuteunceasingprogressionendlessadvancementceaselessprocessionconstanttransfereternaltransportsteadytransmissionrecurrenttransitcontinuousshipmentcyclicalmovementrecurringdeliveryperiodicdistributionrotationalcirculationalternativetransfercyclicalexchangeiterativemigrationrepeatedtransferround-triptransportregularshuttlecyclicexchangefrequentrotationback-and-forthtravelround-the-clockshippingreciprocalmovementsystematicdisplacementroutinechangeoverscheduledtransitioncustomaryrelocationhabitualswitchtypicalshiftusualswappingnormaltradeordinarystepcommonreplacementconventionaladjustmenttraditionalsubstitutionstandardconversionfamiliarvariationestablishedalterationhabitualexchangeacquiredswitchpracticedmodificationadoptedswapacceptedadjustmentreceivedshiftaccustomedsubstitutionregularchangeoverordinarysubstitutiontraditionalmodificationestablishedconversioncommonvariationhabitualalterationacquiredreplacementtypicalswapscheduledtransitioncustomarytradeconventionalshiftfrequentmovementstandardtransfersystematicrelocationnormalmigrationcustomarychangeoverhabitualadjustmentregularrotationusualtransferrecurrentmodificationcyclicsubstitutionperiodicswitchiterativeshiftalternativeswaprecurrentswitchesrotationalexchangeperiodicvariationssystemicmodificationsalternatingsubstitutionsfrequentalterationsreciprocalchangesfrequenttransformationssuccessiveamendmentsintermittentalternationssporadicadjustmentsinterchangingalterationsswingchangessuccessionswitchesvariablemodificationsvacillatingshiftswaveringchangesoscillatoryvariationsfluctuatingamendmentsuneventransformationsirregularadjustmentsrandomfluctuationsunstablealterationscapriciouschangesvolatiletransformationsfitfulamendmentswhimsicalshiftsquirkyvariationsfreakishfluctuationspeculiaralterationseccentrictransformationsoddadjustmentsidiosyncraticshiftsweirdchangesbizarrevariationsstrangeamendmentscuriousfluctuationsextraordinaryalterationseccentricthemesqueertransformationalternateformschangecyclicthemevariedmotifdifferentstylevariantpatternassortedtopicdiverseformatmiscellaneoussubjectheterogeneousmatterdisparateconcernmixedinterestmiscellaneousfieldvariegatedfocusdivergentanglediversifiedapproachvariedpointdifferentiatedperspectivevariegatedstandpointdistinctviewmultifariousaspectdifferentfacetvarietylineuniqueopinioneclecticoutlookmultiplethemeheterogeneouspositionpluralisticstanceversatileposturepolyvalentbearingpolymorphictendencyproteanorientationmanifoldinclinationmany-sidedattitudepolyhedralturnmultidimensionaldirectionomnidirectionaltrendall-encompassingtrajectorycomprehensivepathintegralroutecompletecoursewholewayfulltracktotalrunutterrouteabsoluteprogresscategoricalpassageoutrightwalkoveralltravelglobalmarchuniversaljourneywide-rangingtourpanoramicpilgrimageexpansivetrekfar-reachingvoyagebroad-scaleexcursioninclusiveoutingextensiveexpeditionboundlesstripfar-flungjauntwide-rangingcircuitpanoramicroad-wide-ranginghikevastwalkbroadscaletourhugetripgiantstrollmonumentaljourneygiganticjaunttitanicramblecolossaltravelsizeablewandermassiveperegrinationmammothroaminglarge-scalewanderimmenseamblegrand-scalevoyageremarks"