Can the U.S. and Allies Agree on WTO Reform?
Hudson Institute hosted a panel to discuss a new Hudson report by Senior Fellow Thomas J. Duesterberg, __The Importance of Reform from a Transatlantic Perspective__, which explores the need for World Trade Organization (WTO) reform and the progress of current reform efforts. A keynote address was given by General Counsel for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Stephen P. Vaughn. This was followed by a panel of experts from Japan, the U.S., and Europe.
At the Buenos Aires WTO ministerial meeting in December, the U.S., the EU, and Japan agreed to work intensively to address shortcomings in the operations and rules of the WTO. Motivating the effort is the rise of mercantilist China, its flaunting of existing rules on intellectual property rights and subsidies, and its renewed support for state owned enterprises. Additionally, the U.S. critiques the plodding pace, overreach, and improper interpretation of rules by the WTO’s dispute settlement body. Participants will discuss these and other concerns regarding WTO reform.
