LUBBOCK, TEXAS (RFD NEWS) — Global agricultural trade is increasingly being shaped outside the World Trade Organization (WTO) as countries rely more on regional agreements, bilateral negotiations, and national trade policies to resolve disputes.
The WTO still provides the foundation for international trade rules, but its negotiating process has struggled to produce new agricultural agreements. Members generally must reach consensus before adopting major changes, making reform difficult when exporting and importing countries have sharply different priorities.
The dispute settlement system has also changed significantly. The United States continues to block appointments to the WTO Appellate Body, arguing reforms are needed before the appeals process resumes. Without a functioning appellate body, some trade disputes cannot reach final resolution through the organization’s traditional enforcement system.
At the same time, governments increasingly negotiate outside the WTO through agreements such as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and other bilateral trade arrangements covering agriculture, manufacturing, and market access.
