Capacity of the dispute settlement body of the world trade organization for resolution of disputes related to trade in forest products

The World Trade Organization (WTO) regulates the world trade through establishing tariffs and elimination of non-tariff barriers and trade of its member countries covers 95% of the global trade. It sets up a common frame for commerce in goods, services and intellectual property extending its influence also to the forest sector through a number of mechanisms, one of which being the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO. The aim of this paper is to shed light on possibilities of the Dispute Settlement Body to settle conflicts in trade of wood-based products and underline its importance as a negotiation platform for regulating international disputes. Analysis of the disputes in trade of forest products submitted for consideration of the Dispute Settlement Body reveals that such conflicts mostly relate to anti-dumping measures, safeguard actions and standards for exported wood and are often resolved by means of consultations between parties. However, failing to settle at this stage some cases have proceeded with a panel formation and been resolved by an ultimate panel ruling. Moreover, some of the cases have been solved by negotiation process instead of a panel process.