Jakarta (ANTARA) – The first meeting of the G20 Trade, Industry and Investment Working Group (TIIWG) will seek to urge member countries, including the United States, to reinstate the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

During a virtual press briefing on Friday, the Director General of International Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Commerce, Djatmiko Bris Witjaksono, said that WTO reform is one of the issues that will be discussed at the G20 TIIWG.

The question has been debated for four years by the G20.

It has remained a subject of discussion because currently there is a function or a role of the WTO which is not fulfilled, namely the appellate body, which is part of the dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO.

“It’s because all of the judges or panels have completed their terms,” ​​he explained.

Also, there was no selection process because the United States did not choose to undertake it, he added.

However, the appellate body is part of the dispute settlement process, known as the WTO crown, Witjaksono noted.

Indeed, the Appellate Body is seen as capable of doing a better job in resolving disputes between WTO member countries compared to processes outside the WTO.

To this end, the G20 TIWWG will attempt to build consensus among G20 member countries to push for WTO reform.

“At the very least, the similarities between these 20 members, as this represents the percentage of the global economy and trade,” he explained.

At the end of the meeting, it is expected that there will be a consensus, which can become a contribution to the reform process of the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland.

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