Question to the Department for International Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the UK will join the multi-party interim appeal arbitration arrangement established by the EU; and if she will make a statement.

The United Kingdom is committed to a fully functioning WTO dispute settlement system, with an appeal function, to ensure that the rules we have negotiated are enforceable.

We believe that reform discussions must progress and should not prevent parties from reaching binding resolution to disputes in the meantime. We are continuing to follow developments on the interim appeal arrangement, recently notified by nineteen WTO members, very closely.

This does not replace the need for a system that is supported by all Members and we welcome the continued commitment of Members supporting this arrangement to ‘resolving the impasse of the Appellate Body appointments as a matter of priority’.