How do I Dispute Free Trade Settlement Protectionism?
Appealing to arbitration through an international trade institution is the most common way to dispute protectionism. In the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canada, the United States and Mexico agreed to submit to the decisions of an independent panel regarding claims of protectionism. For example, starting in 1999, the US and Canada fought an ongoing dispute regarding US tariffs on Canadian timber. The world’s largest trade institution, with 153 members, is the World Trade Organization (WTO). Its stated goal is to “deal with the rules of trade between nations,” so the following steps reflect WTO guidelines for disputing and resolving claims of protectionism. Consult or seek mediation with the offending country. Disputes regarding protectionism involve a belief that one party has broken its promise to maintain the terms of a previously established trade agreement. In the WTO, formal disputes begin when one government enters into official discussion, though a Dispute Settlem
