WTO Dispute Settlement System and Developing Countries : A Neorealist Critique

This monograph studies the WTO Dispute Settlement System (DSS) with a focus on challenges for developing countries. It explains how the DSS operates, highlighting its quasi-judicial nature, procedures, and compliance mechanisms. The report reviews case studies where developing countries successfully utilized the system, as well as instances where structural barriers limited access. Issues such as legal expertise, financial resources, and political asymmetry are examined. The study highlights Bangladesh’s limited but important engagement, especially in trade-related disputes affecting textiles and agriculture. It concludes that while the DSS offers opportunities, its effectiveness for weaker economies remains constrained by capacity gaps and power politics.