No. 6/10 – The World Trade Organization: Multiple Dimensions of
Global Administrative Law
Author: Richard B. Stewart
Title: The World Trade Organization: Multiple Dimensions of
Global Administrative Law
Abstract:This paper examines the WTO development of Global Administrative Law (GAL) norms of transparency, participation, reason giving and review. Vertically the WTO has improved
members' domestic administration by requiring adherence to GAL norms. But internally, it has
failed to follow such norms in decision making by its own administrative bodies; it should do so.
Horizontally, it should evaluate other global regulatory bodies' adherence to GAL norms in
deciding whether to recognize their regulatory standards. Wider adoption of GAL norms would
promote more effective and responsive trade regulation in an increasingly complex global
scenario of competing values engaging a wide variety of constituencies.
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