Regional Trade Agreement and WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism

At the intersection of global trade governance is the relationship between the WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism and RTAs. This study explores potential synergies and problems within the current framework as it digs into the nuances of this relationship. The cohabitation of the global standards established by the WTO and the region-specific flexibility RTAs gives rise to conflicts that could potentially split the international trade system. Relationship complexity is increased by ambiguity in the integration of RTA law into the WTO framework. The paper anticipates a future to strike a balance between regional autonomy and global coherence by tackling these issues.