The burden and order of proof in WTO claims: evolving issues
International Journal of Law and Management
ISSN: 1754-243X
Article publication date: 13 November 2017
Abstract
Purpose
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is one of the best dispute settlement mechanisms in the world. Under WTO rules, aggrieved parties must establish a “prima facie” case before the panel can call on the offending party to respond to the claims. The objective of the present study is to critically evaluate the application of the concept of burden of proof under WTO dispute settlement mechanism.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper examines the rule of “prima facie” in WTO jurisprudence. To do so, the first part will focus on the development of dispute settlement within WTO. The second part is divided into several subsections that will focus on the burden of proof concept, burden of proof in common law, burden of proof in civil law and the prima facie standard.
Findings
The DSU does not explicitly regulate how to allocate the burden of proof, but panels and the AB needed to address that issue early in their history. Despite this, all aggrieved parties to establish a prima facie case before the case can become the subject of a panel hearing. There is a need to adopt a burden of proof standard that assesses evidence on the basis of preponderance of the available evidence rather than on the basis of a party’s failure to adduce evidence to back up or dispute a claim.
Originality/value
The paper is an attempt to address an important issue on the presentation of evidence and proof in international litigation, i.e. WTO.
Keywords
Citation
Ahmad, Z. and Malkawi, B.H. (2017), "The burden and order of proof in WTO claims: evolving issues", International Journal of Law and Management, Vol. 59 No. 6, pp. 1220-1235. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-10-2016-0090
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited