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S 16 104th Congress Senate

WTO Dispute Settlement Review Commission Act

Official title: A bill to establish a commission to review the dispute settlement reports of the World Trade Organization, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 24, 1995 See on congress.gov
Foreign Trade and International Finance Administrative procedureCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCongressCongressional oversight
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Congressional reporting requirementsDispute settlementExecutive reorganizationExpedited congressional procedureFree tradeFreedom of informationGovernment Operations and PoliticsHouse rules and procedureInternational AffairsInternational agenciesJudgesLawLegislative resolutionsOffice of the U.S. Trade RepresentativePresidential commissions
This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 11, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12522)
May 10, 1995
Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
Jan 4, 1995
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Jan 4, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S176-177, S179)
Jan 4, 1995
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action August 11, 1995

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S12522)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

WTO Dispute Settlement Review Commission Act - Establishes the WTO Dispute Settlement Review Commission to review reports of dispute settlement panels or the Appellate Body of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in proceedings initiated by other WTO parties which are adverse to the United States and which are adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body.

Requires the Commission to determine whether the panel or the Appellate Body: (1) exceeded its authority; (2) added to the obligations of or diminished the rights of the United States; (3) acted arbitrarily or capriciously, engaged in misconduct, or demonstrably departed from proper procedures; and (4) deviated, in its report, from the applicable standard of review. Requires the Commission, upon an affirmative determination on one or more of these questions, to further determine whether the action of the panel or the Appellate Body materially affected the outcome of its report.

Requires the President, upon enactment of a joint resolution directing such action, to negotiate to amend or modify the rules and procedures of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes with respect to any affirmative determinations submitted to the Congress concerning the action of a panel or the Appellate Body. Provides for a joint resolution withdrawing congressional approval of the WTO agreement, ending U.S. participation in the WTO, if such negotiations do not result in a satisfactory solution.

Sets forth provisions governing the participation in WTO panel proceedings of private U.S. persons supportive of the U.S. Government position at issue.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 16: WTO Dispute Settlement Review Commission Act. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-16/
MLA
"S. 16: WTO Dispute Settlement Review Commission Act." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-16/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 16, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-16/.
Markdown link
[S. 16: WTO Dispute Settlement Review Commission Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-S-16/)
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