Towards stakeholder participation in the initiation of WTO disputes : A case study for Namibia and SACU

Abstract

The participation of African countries in the Dispute Settlement System (DSS) of the Worlt Trade Organisation ( WTO) is insignificant. This research seeks to find a suitable model/mechanism which meets the particular needs of developing countries. The practical aim of this reseach was to enhance active participation of various stakeholders in developing countries who may be adversely affected or who face potential damage by unfair trade pracices of other players in the brutal and complex battleground of world trade. Thus the research seeks to suggest a suitable legal framework which can be utilised by stakeholders in African countries as part of the process of trade dispute initiation when their interests are threatened or adversely affected.