The ACWL’s Report on Operations for 2022 is now available on the ACWL’s website.
The ACWL’s mandate is to ensure that developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) are able to participate fully in the WTO legal system. The ACWL provides, on demand, legal advice, assistance in WTO dispute settlement proceedings, and training on WTO law to its developing country Members and to the LDCs. At present, half of the Members of the WTO (82) are entitled to the ACWL’s services.
The Report on Operations for 2022 summarizes the ACWL’s operations during the year.
In 2022, the ACWL provided 158 legal opinions on issues of WTO law to its developing country Members and the LDCs and has now provided over 3,530 legal opinions since its inception. A total of 38 different countries – more than a quarter of the membership of the WTO – sought this advice during 2022.
In the first half of 2022, the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), held in Geneva, dominated the work of the ACWL. We responded to many requests for legal advice on the various issues discussed during MC12.
These legal opinions help developing and least-developed countries participate fully in the WTO legal system by increasing their understanding of WTO law and enabling them to defend their interests in the WTO. The ACWL’s legal advice also serves an important dispute prevention function by enabling these countries to ensure the WTO-consistency of their trade-related measures.
During 2022, the ACWL’s team of 12 lawyers participated in 16 different dispute settlement proceedings, including two new requests for assistance in WTO dispute settlement proceedings. The ACWL has now provided assistance in 72 disputes, or in about 20 per cent of all WTO disputes since the ACWL’s inception.
We were also pleased to be able to resume our in-person training and outreach activities as COVID restrictions were phased out. We also welcomed excellent and dedicated participants in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 cycles of the Secondment Programme.
Printed copies of the Report will soon be available and will be sent to ACWL Members and to the LDCs entitled to the ACWL’s services. We will also provide printed copies of the Report to other interested institutions or persons. To request a printed copy, please send an e-mail stating your name and mailing address to secretariat@acwl.ch.
If you have any questions regarding this Report or the operations of the ACWL, please do not hesitate to contact the Executive Director or any other ACWL staff member using the following standard email format: name.surname@acwl.ch. Enquiries may also be addressed to secretariat@acwl.ch.
22 June 2023