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Trump and many of his predecessors have gone through the WTO and have very little to show for it. It takes years for any decision and by the time you get the re
by speedplane 8y ago
Trump and many of his predecessors have gone through the WTO and have very little to show for it. It takes years for any decision and by the time you get the result it’s far too late (see solar panels). Why should any country submit itself to a proven broken system?
- simonh 8y agoThe WTO dispute resolution system has actually been pretty effective[1]. It typically takes about 1-2 years, but usually complainants will impose interim measures themselves anyway. This is just a smoke screen though. Suppose China does make a deal with the US and does agree various measures, what magical secret sauce does the US have to make sure they keep to them and don't violate agreements in the future? There will still need to be a dispute resolution system, a genuine open free trade system can't operate without one. The US policy right now is inimical to that - it's brazenly and explicitly stated to be partisan and based on economic strength rather than equitable free trade. Steel tariffs on close allies on 'national security' grounds? Really? [1] https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/dispu_settlement_e.htm https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/publications_e/dispu_settl...
- speedplane 8y agoYeah, the wto dispute resolution system is so fair that multinational corporations can no longer export pollution, weak worker safety protections, and fraudulent business practices to other countries. Everyone is on a level playing field. Or not. Good dispute resolution systems are good. Bad ones provide the facade of justice and merely give credibility to those that have the power to commit injustice.