Viet Nam joins WTO Multi-party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement
VGP – Viet Nam on October 16 officially announced its participation in the Multi-party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), becoming the 57th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to join this mechanism at a ceremony in Geneva.
A logo is seen at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters
The MPIA aims to preserve the stability of the WTO's dispute settlement system, with participation from major economies and key trading partners such as the European Union, China, Japan, Canada, Australia, and ASEAN members including Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Viet Nam's participation in the MPIA demonstrates its strong commitment to a rules-based multilateral trading system. In the context of the WTO Appellate Body — the "supreme court" of global trade — remaining temporarily non-functional, the move reflects Viet Nam's responsible approach to upholding trust and stability in international trade.
Established in 2020, the MPIA serves as a temporary mechanism that allows WTO members to maintain a two-tier, impartial, and transparent system for resolving trade disputes. By joining the MPIA, Viet Nam not only safeguards its national interests but also contributes to strengthening the foundations of the multilateral trading system together with the international community.
Under the MPIA framework, appeals are handled by arbitrators randomly selected from a pool of 10 individuals appointed by participating members. These arbitrators are recognized for their authority and expertise in law, international trade, and WTO agreements. The mechanism remains open to all WTO members as a practical solution for appeal arbitration pending the full restoration of a reformed and functional WTO dispute settlement system.
As of June 1, 2025, the MPIA maintains an updated pool of appeal arbitrators to ensure that appeals are heard by independent experts of the highest calibre.
Current MPIA participants include Australia, Benin, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the European Union (and its Member States), Guatemala, Hong Kong (China), Iceland, Japan, Macao (China), Mexico, Malaysia, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Viet Nam.
Viet Nam became an official member of the WTO on November 7, 2006.
Viet Nam has recently completed its notification on rules of origin under the WTO framework, marking a step forward in trade transparency and international cooperation. With a relatively comprehensive legal framework, Viet Nam successfully applied the new template. As one of the first WTO members to complete a high‑quality notification, Viet Nam encourages other members to follow suit to build a complete and consistent database under the WTO framework./.
