China on Tuesday got its first judge on the? World Trade
Organization (WTO)'s highest court, six years after the country
joined the Geneva-based body.
Chinese lawyer Zhang Yuejiao was formally appointed by the WTO
Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) as a member of the seven-person
Appellate Body, which issues final rulings in trade disputes, WTO
sources said.
Jennifer Hillman of the United States, Lilia Bautista of the
Philippines and Shotaro Oshima of Japan were also appointed as new
members of the top court at a DSB meeting on Tuesday.
The appointments were made according to the Dispute Settlement
Understanding which stipulates that the Appellate Body shall "
comprise persons of recognized authority, with demonstrated
expertise in law, international trade and the subject matter of the
WTO agreements generally," a WTO statement said.
The WTO said Hillman and Bautista would formally join the top
court next month, while Zhang and Oshima would join in June. They
can serve up to two four-year terms.
Zhang, 63, is professor of law at Shantou University in China.
She is also an arbitrator on China's International Trade and
Economic Arbitration Commission and practises law as a private
attorney.
Zhang once held positions at the Chinese Ministry of Commerce as
well as at the Asian Development Bank.
(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2007)
