The United States is blocking new appointments because it says members of the WTO’s Appellate Body, the world’s top trade court, have strayed from their role, overstepped their mandate and broken their own procedural rules.

 We urge (WTO) members to engage in a solution-based approach and call on members to fill the vacancies on the Appellate Body immediately.”
Trade experts say the dispute system supports the whole of the WTO, and there would be little point in negotiating new rules if there was no effective enforcement mechanism.
Since WTO was set up in 1995, only South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia have been directly involved in any of the 584 disputes brought to WTO. 43 African countries have joined a list of nations wanting an end to a U.S. veto on judicial appointments at the World Trade Organization.
The African Group suggested several rule changes to ensure the system keeps working, some of which were similar to proposals from the European Union. The group also proposed launching the selection of new judges automatically at least three months before an incumbent’s term ends.