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31 U. Botswana L.J. 3 (2024)

handle is hein.journals/unbotslj31 and id is 1 raw text is: 

3


REVISITING SPECIAL AND DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT PROVISIONS IN THE
WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION (WTO) DISPUTE SETTLEMENT SYSTEM

                              JIMCALL   PFUMORODZE*

                                 EMMA CHITSOVE**

Abstract

Special and differential treatment (hereinafter S&DT) provisions in the DSU are designed to
assist developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) in the WTO dispute settlement
system. These provisions are meant to address the likely disadvantages that these countries would
face in a legal dispute against developed countries. The latter have more resources and litigation
expertise, hence the need for leveling the play field by providing S&DT provisions in the dispute
settlement system. S&DT provisions have been in existence under the GATT dispute settlement
system. Currently, the DSU and other WTO Agreements provide some S&DT  provisions which
may  be used in the dispute settlement process. This paper seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of
these provisions, whether they have been used and the impact of their use.


1. Introduction


Special and differential treatment (hereinafter S&DT) provisions in the DSU are designed to
assist developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) in the WTO dispute settlement
system. These provisions are meant to address the likely disadvantages that these countries would
face in a legal dispute against developed countries. The latter have more resources and litigation
expertise, hence the need for leveling the play field by providing S&DT provisions in the dispute
settlement system.


       S&DT   provisions have been in existence under the GATT dispute settlement system.1
Currently, the DSU and other WTO Agreements  provide some S&DT  provisions which may be