What is the World Trade Organization’s appellate body for trade disputes called?

The World Trade Organization’s appellate body for trade disputes is called the Appellate Body.

The Appellate Body was created under the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Understanding and began operating in 1995. It reviewed legal issues in appeals from dispute-settlement panel reports, rather than conducting a completely new trial of the underlying facts.

It was designed to have seven members, with appeals normally heard by a division of three. Members served fixed terms and were expected to act independently of national governments.

The Appellate Body has been unable to function since December 2019, when its number of sitting members fell below the required minimum. WTO panels still exist, but the appellate stage has been disrupted. This distinction matters: the Appellate Body is the name of the institution, even though it is currently inactive.