Japan submits reform proposals for WTO dispute settlement procedures

May 10, 2019

Tokyo--Japan has submitted reform proposals for the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement procedures, after its Appellate Body last month supported South Korea's ban on Japanese fishery products, a government official said Thursday.

The proposals were jointly submitted to the WTO's General Council by Japan and Australia, which were later joined by Chile, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Kotaro Nogami said.

The Appellate Body's decision "doesn't contribute to dispute settlement, contrary to the body's purposes," Nogami said at a press conference.

South Korea bans imports of fishery products from eight Japanese prefectures, a measure that has been in place since the 2011 nuclear accident in Fukushima.

The reform proposals were submitted on April 17, six days after the Appellate Body issued the decision, according to Japanese government sources.

The proposals include setting up an opportunity for dialogue between the Appellate Body and member states and ensuring the body's compliance with WTO agreements, the sources said.

The General Council discussed the proposals on Tuesday. Japan plans to take up the topic of reforming the WTO's dispute settlement functions at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka, western Japan, in June. Jiji Press