WTO appoints new Appellate Body member

The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) today appointed to the seven-member Appellate Body Seung Wha Chang of the Republic of Korea for four years commencing on June 1, 2012.
Chang will replace Shotaro Oshima who resigned from the Appellate Body on 7 January 2012. Oshima’s resignation was effective as of April 6, 2012.
Oshima had informed the DSB Chairperson that he would not seek reappointment for a second term.
The appointment was made according to the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) which stipulates that the Appellate Body shall “comprise persons of recognised authority, with demonstrated expertise in law, international trade and the subject matter of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements generally.” The DSU also requires that the Appellate Body membership be broadly representative of the WTO membership. Candidates were nominated by WTO Members and interviewed by a Selection Committee comprising the Director-General, and the Chairpersons of the General Council, the DSB, the Council for Trade in Goods, the Council for Trade in Services and the TRIPS Council. The appointments were made by the DSB on the basis of the Selection Committee’s recommendation and following consultations with WTO Members.