WTO's Dispute Settlement, MPIA, and India 

The establishment of a two-tier dispute settlement system at the WTO has significantly judicialized international trade relations. However, this process is currently hindered by the Appellate Body's dysfunction. In the absence of the Appellate Body, the Multi-Party Interim Arbitration (MPIA) Arrangement is partially bridging the gap. This MPIA initiative aims to restore the WTO's two-tier dispute settlement system and has recently gained traction, garnering support from 57 countries. However, India, a crucial developing-country member, has not joined the MPIA, despite its ongoing call for the restoration of the Appellate Body. Most of India's concerns regarding the MPIA do not hold up under scrutiny. Contrary to India's argument, joining the MPIA would not diminish its position in advocating for the restoration of the Appellate Body. Furthermore, although the United States-India's key trading partneris not a member of the MPIA, India can still invoke the MPIA in disputes with other significant players, such as the European Union and Japan. As the multilateral trading system faces increasing challenges, countries like India need to build alliances and develop innovative solutions. Supporting the MPIA is one such step toward restoring the WTO's judicial function and should be embraced by India.