Sustainable development issues in the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization: breaking down myths and barriers

Abstract:The concept of sustainable development includes social justice, equal income distribution, full employment, safe and healthy working environments, environmental protection and socio-economic welfare. This paper intends to provide a comparative analysis of sustainable development issues inside the WTO dispute system based on the analysis of the cases presented to WTO since January 1st 1995 until January 1st 2014. This paper proposes to analyse the extent and nature of the incorporation of sustainable development issues into WTO dispute settlement through the analysis of the WTO "case law". No one can deny that the WTO will face in the near future challenges related to sustainable development issues. The WTO's ability to reconcile multilateral trade liberalization with sustainable development in its system of dispute is a central concern to the institution's legitimacy.