. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/W/2
9 October 2001
(01-4892)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth SessionDoha, 9 - 13 November 2001Original:  English
PROPOSAL TO REVIEW THE DISPUTE SETTLEMENT UNDERSTANDING
ON RULES AND PROCEDURES GOVERNING
THE SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
Communication from Thailand
The following communication, dated 1 October 2001, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of Thailand with the request that it be circulated for consideration at the Fourth Session of the
Ministerial Conference.
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I. RATIONALE
1. In the Royal Thai Government's view, the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing
the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) is a workable instrument that provides predictability and stability to
the WTO multilateral trading system.  This instrument, however, may be further improved by the
Members so as to enhance and strengthen its multilateral character.
2. One area of immediate concern to the Royal Thai Government is the capability of the
Appellate Body to meet its workload, which has constantly been on the increase since the first report
of the Appellate Body came out in early 1996.  So far 44 dispute cases have reached the Appellate
stage:  four cases in 1996;  five in 1997;  eight in 1998;  nine in 1999;  12 in 2000 and six so far in2001.
3. At present, there are seven Appellate Body me mbers and under Article 17.1 of the DSU three
of them will serve on any one case.  This results in practice in a situation where the Appellate Body
can hardly consider more than two appeals at the same time, especially when there may be a conflict
of interest in an appeal.  Recent practice shows that there can be a delay in appeal proceedingsresulting in the report being circulated more than  90 days after the date of the notice of appeal.
1  This
has so far happened in five cases.2  In two of these cases, the Appellate Body report was circulated as
late as 140 days after notice of appeal.3  In the Royal Thai Government's view, it is high time that the
Members seriously ponder over this problem.
4. During the review of the DSU that expired on 31 July 1999, the Kingdom of Thailand made a
proposal to increase the number of the Appellate Body members by at least two to four persons,
keeping the odd number nature of the Organ.4  Due to time constraints and to the numerous issues put
on the table at that time, this proposal was not and still has not been subject of a thorough discussion
                                                     
1 It would be useful here to draw the Members' attention to Article 17.5 of the DSU, last sentence.
2 These are DS26, DS48, DS122, DS135 and DS138.  Cases in which the actual time-period between
the notice of appeal and the circulation of report is 91 days have not been included.
3 DS122 and DS135.
4 See Job No. 6645/Rev.3, paragraphs 263-267.WT/MIN(01)/W/2
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and consideration by the Members.  Subsequent practice has reinforced the Royal Thai Government's
conviction that there is a need to seriously consider increasing the number of the Appellate Body
members, and the recent debate among the Members on the question of remuneration of the Appellate
Body members has again highlighted the importance of  this issue.  It is therefore the Royal Thai
Government's view that work should begin as soon as possible on a possible amendment ofArticle 17.1 of the DSU to increase the number of the Appellate Body members, preferably in the
context of a new review of the DSU.
II. PROPOSAL
5. A review of the DSU shall be mandated with a specific time-frame to consider an amendment
to paragraph 1 of Article 17 of the DSU with a view to increasing the number of the Appellate Body
members.
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