Weaponization of Trade Measures and Countermeasures

The trend of weaponizing trade measures has become an increasingly serious issue, as demonstrated by several recent cases within the World Trade Organization (WTO). These cases represent only a fraction of the broader phenomenon, with many similar instances occurring outside the scope of WTO regulations. Key factors driving this trend include the expanding definition of national security and the rise of unilateral trade sanctions. Such practices have already had a profound negative impact on the multilateral trading system. Without effective measures to curb this trend, it will pose an even greater threat to the already fragile international trade system. In such a context, this article critically analyses the current state of trade measure weaponization and proposes seven countermeasures to address this issue.