ROUND TABLE ON WTO DISPUTE SETTLEMENT: INTERESTS OF BUSINESS AND ROLE OF LAWYERS

Partner Nataliia Isakhanova and associate Olesia Kryvetska participated at the round table “WTO Dispute Settlement: Interests of National Business and Law Community Engagement”.

Sergii Koziakov and Partners co-organized the event jointly with USAID Trade Policy Project and International Law Committee, Ukrainian Bar Association. The round table was moderated by SKP associate Olesia Kryvetska.

Among discussants, representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine participated at the event. Also, Gary Horlick, a world’s top-ranked trade lawyer took part at the round table upon organizers’ invitation.

Gary Horlick also has been Chairman of WTO and Mercosur panels in a range of international trade disputes.

The round table participants seized the opportunity to discuss the current situation regarding the use by Ukrainian business of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and a level of companies’ awareness on this matter.

Moreover, the participants shared ideas and proposals on involvement of domestic law firms in representing Ukrainian businesses in the WTO dispute settlement proceedings.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine has recently carried out a negotiating procedure in order to procure legal advisors’ services for representing Ukraine in the WTO disputes.

Currently, Ukraine is engaged in three WTO disputes against Russia: in two as a Complainant, and in one dispute – as a Respondent. The Ministry also plans to initiate another dispute against Russia at the WTO.