Which organization operates the global system of rules for resolving trade disputes between member governments?

The World Trade Organization operates the global system of rules for resolving trade disputes between member governments.

WTO members can bring disputes when they believe another member has violated a covered trade agreement. Cases are heard through panels under the Dispute Settlement Understanding, with procedures for findings, compliance and, where authorized, countermeasures.

The system is government-to-government: private companies cannot independently file a WTO dispute, although businesses may encourage their governments to act. The WTO does not function as a world customs authority and does not directly set the prices of traded goods.

The organization was created in 1995 as the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Its agreements cover goods, services and intellectual property. The Appellate Body was designed to review legal issues, but its inability to function has affected the appeals process since 2019, making dispute settlement more complex than it was in the system’s earlier years.