The Trade in GMO Products within the Framework of WTO Agreements: Challenges and Solutions

The WTO is the main institution regulating international trade. Raising living standards and expanding trade are important goals of the WTO. On the other hand, this organization is a place for settlement of disputes that arise from states conflict of commercial interests  and in this regard, it must interpret the relevant agreements and binding instruments in an impartial manner. International trade regulations have not been enacted only to protect trade interests, but also the interests of consumers This is because the trade process of goods such as GMOs, due to the importance of maintaining public health and food safety in them, requires a balance between trade and consumer interests, in other words, economic considerations of exporting countries and social considerations of importing countries. The problem is that by applying the provisions of WTO agreements to the trade of GMOs on one hand, and other international and domestic instruments on the other, disputes have arisen between the trading parties, which has led to legal challenges. This paper, using a descriptive-analytical method, attemts to explain these challenges in the WTO normative and procedural system, and to provide solutions to the said challenges.