Dispute settlement activity in 2012

There was a sharp increase in dispute settlement activity in 2012 with both developed and developing countries active in bringing disputes to the WTO for resolution. Some WTO members, including Russia, participated for the first time. Disputes covered a wide variety of areas, including some that are less often adjudicated, such as issues under the General Agreement on Trade in Services. The European Union and Latin American countries formally settled the long-running banana disputes. Efforts to achieve efficiencies in dispute settlement processes continued. Finally, the legal affairs division celebrated an important anniversary.