Distinctive Features of Countermeasures within the WTO framework

Abstract

The Dispute Settlement Understanding within the framework of the World Trade Organization has addressed the issue of non-implementation of recommendations and decisions issued by the dispute settlement body by granting the complaining party the possibility to resort to countermeasures or what is called within the framework of the organization to suspend concessions and other obligations, as a last resort and as a means to achieve compliance and reparation and rebalance mutual commercial benefits. However, countermeasures within the framework of the Organization are characterized by specificities that make them different from its traditional concept according to the general rules of international responsibility. This study aims to clarify this specificity and the extent of its contribution to the effectiveness of countermeasures and this is achieved by addressing the similarities and the differences between them and countermeasures according to the general rules of international responsibility