396 research outputs found
A Survey of the Literature on the WTO Dispute Settlement System
No full textThis paper surveys the law and economics literature on WTO dispute settlement. As a background, we first briefly lay out main features of the legal framework, and discuss possible roles of a dispute settlement mechanism. We then discuss the two main themes in the empirical literature on dispute settlement: (i) the determinants of participation by members as complainants, respondents and third parties; and (ii) the role of the DS system for the settling of disputes. The paper finally points to a number of areas that are in need of further research.WTO; Dispute Settlement; DSU
Use of radiobiological modeling in treatment plan evaluation and optimization of prostate cancer radiotherapy
No full textThere are many tools available that are used to evaluate a radiotherapy treatment plan, such as isodose distribution charts, dose volume histograms (DVH), maximum, minimum and mean doses of the dose distributions as well as DVH point dose constraints. All the already mentioned evaluation tools are dosimetric only without taking into account the radiobiological characteristics of tumors or OARs. It has been demonstrated that although competing treatment plans might have similar mean, maximum or minimum doses they may have significantly different clinical outcomes (Mavroidis et al. 2001). For performing a more complete treatment plan evaluation and comparison the complication-free tumor control probability (P+) and the biologically effective uniform dose (D ) have been proposed (Källman et al. 1992a, Mavroidis et al. 2000). The D concept denotes that any two dose distributions within a target or OAR are equivalent if they produce the same probability for tumor control or normal tissue complication, respectively (Mavroidis et al. 2001)..
The case for tradable remedies in WTO dispute settlement
No full textIn response to concerns over the efficacy of the WTO dispute settlement system, especially in regard to its use by developing countries, Mexico has tabled a proposal to introduce tradable remedies within the Dispute Settlement Understanding. The idea is that a country that has won cause before the WTO, and who is facing non-implementation by the author of the illegal act but feels that its own capacity to exercise its right to impose countermeasures is unlikely to lead to compliance, can auction off that right. The attractiveness of this idea is that it offers an additional possibility to injured WTO members to get something from the dispute settlement mechanism without putting into question the legal nature of the existing contract, that is, the predominantly decentralized system of enforcement in the WTO. Examining all disputes brought to the WTO since its inception, the authors find some support for Mexico's perception that developing countries face a practical problem when they attempt to carry through with effective retaliation within the WTO system. And based on the formal results of Bagwell, Mavroidis, and Staiger (2003), they describe arguments that lend some support to the efficacy of Mexico's proposed solution from the perspective of formal economic theory.Information Technology,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,General Technology,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Trade and Services,Economic Theory&Research,International Terrorism&Counterterrorism,Information Technology,World Trade Organization
Beyond the WTO? An anatomy of EU and US preferential trade agreements. Bruegel Blueprint Series 7, February 2009
No full textThere is a growing concern that Preferential Trading Agreements (PTAs) go far beyond the scope of current WTO agreements, maybe creating unfair trade relations. This Blueprint looks in detail at all the provisions of all the PTAs signed by the EC or the US and other WTO members. Henrik Horn, Petros C. Mavroidis and André Sapri find that Europe and the US have adopted very different approaches to PTAs; however, both powers may also be seeking to protect their global regulatory priorities
Antitrust-based remedies and dumping in international trade
No full textThe authors explore the possibility of government's seeking to agree to apply competition policy based considerations and disciplines in addressing unfair-trade allegations before turning to"standard"antidumping remedies. The premise of proponents of antidumping actions is that the existence of market power in exporter's home markets, or potential market dominance in the importing (host) market, is an important source of perceived"unfairness."But antidumping authorities do not investigate the existence of such situations. The authors propose that allegations of dumping first be investigated by competition authorities to determine the contestability of the relevant markets. Their proposal does not involve harmonization of competition laws. All that would change from the status quo is that a necessary condition for an antidumping action is that competition authorities find that the exporting firm's home market is not contestable, and conclude that no remedial action is possible through the application of competition law. Ideally, agreement along these lines would be sought in the multilateral (GATT) context, but bilateral or regional trade agreements could also be concluded. For example, European Union cooperationor association agreements might be extended along the lines proposed.TF054105-DONOR FUNDED OPERATION ADMINISTRATION FEE INCOME AND EXPENSE ACCOUNT,Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Access to Markets,Markets and Market Access
The Sources of WTO Law and Their Interpretation: Is the New OK, OK?
No full textIn this incisive book, Petros C. Mavroidis examines the complex practice of interpreting the various sources of World Trade Organization (WTO) law. Written by a leading expert in WTO scholarship, the book serves as a broad grounding in the legal theory of the WTO contract and its sources, as well as its application in practice.
Delving into the workings of the Vienna Convention of the Law of Treaties (VCLT) and its use within the WTO courts, the author provides a critical assessment of the interpretation of the WTO contract and illuminates the role of WTO adjudicators and the Secretariat in clarifying obligations. Mavroidis then explores the uncertainty and distortion that emerge as a result of the discretion from adjudicators invited by the VCLT, explaining why this matters and offering steps towards resolving these issues.
Providing an expansive analysis of the interpretation of WTO treaties, this book will be an invaluable resource for scholars and students in the field of WTO law, as well as international trade and economic law more broadly. Its discussion of the possible future of dispute settlement, particularly its proposal for a re-evaluation of the judicial selection process, will also prove insightful to practitioners in this area.https://scholarship.law.columbia.edu/books/1336/thumbnail.jp
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The sources of WTO law and their interpretation ::is the new ok, ok? /
No full text"In this incisive book, Petros C. Mavroidis examines the complex practice of interpreting the various sources of World Trade Organization (WTO) law. Written by a leading expert in WTO scholarship, the book serves as a broad grounding in the legal theory of the WTO contract and its sources, as well as its application in practice. Delving into the workings of the Vienna Convention of the Law of Treaties (VCLT) and its use within the WTO courts, the author provides a critical assessment of the interpretation of the WTO contract and illuminates the role of WTO adjudicators and the Secretariat in clarifying obligations. Mavroidis then explores the uncertainty and distortion that emerge as a result of the discretion from adjudicators invited by the VCLT, explaining why this matters and offering steps towards resolving these issues. Providing an expansive analysis of the interpretation of WTO treaties, this book will be an invaluable resource for scholars and students in the field of WTO law, as well as international trade and economic law more broadly. Its discussion of the possible future of dispute settlement, particularly its proposal for a re-evaluation of the judicial selection process, will also prove insightful to practitioners in this area"-
Determination and use of radiobiological response parameters in radiation therapy optimization
No full textOptimization of radiation therapy is critically dependent on the use of patient related information. For this reason, radiobiological models describing the dependence of tumour and normal tissue responses on the irradiated volume and the dose-time-fractionation schedule should be introduced. In addition, the heterogeneity of the delivered dose distribution and tumour or normal tissue sensitivity variations have to be taken into account clinically. In the present study, a treatment optimization procedure is used that considers the shape and the structure of the target tissues and healthy organs at risk, their relative position and their dose-response relations for the individual patient.Mathematical models largely based on the Poisson statistics and the linear-quadratic model of cell kill, have been used to quantify the radiobiological response of normal human tissues and tumours to radiation therapy. The presented models predict a decreasing probability of achieving complication free tumour control with increasing tumour size and increasing volume of normal tissues irradiated. The radiobiological parameters D50, gamma, sigma and Vref of the Poisson and relative seriality models have been estimated for certain normal tissues and targets. The process for determining these dose-response relations was based on clinical materials where the treatment information and follow-up results of the individual patient were available. The statistical methods used, estimated and verified the parameters and their uncertainties. The clinical range of variability of the dose-response relations is important for their correct use in the clinical routine.The clinical use of the derived dose-response relations is demonstrated using radiobiological parameters for different tumours and normal tissues that were also calculated based on data clinical trials. A biological evaluation procedure is introduced and applied on clinical cases. This procedure uses the biological models and dose-response data of the involved organs and optimizes the dose level of the treatment technique under study. This is done by evaluating the plan using the P+, objective, which estimates the probability to achieve tumour cure without having severe complications to the healthy tissues. The clinical value of biologically based treatment planning was compared with alternative physical criteria (e.g. tolerance doses) and with the judgment of personnel on particular clinical cases.It is demonstrated that the radiobiological objective functions allow a much higher conformity and a more clinically relevant scoring of the treatment outcome. The probability of achieving tumour control without fatal complications in normal tissues is increased and the dose delivery optimized. Recent developments can reduce or even eliminate the need for intracavitary treatment by delivering more conformal dose distributions using intensity modulated external dose delivery. In these cases the reliability of the patient setup becomes critical for the effectiveness of the treatment. It is realized that accurate information concerning the response of different organs to fractionated intensity modulated radiation therapy is the key to true optimization of the delivered dose distribution.List of scientific papersI. Mavroidis P, Laurell G, Kraepelien T, Fernberg JO, Lind BK, Brahme A (2001). "Dose response parameters for esophageal stricture from head & neck radiotherapy." Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys (Submitted)II. Mavroidis P, Theodorou K, Lefkopoulos D, Nataf F, Karlsson B, Lax I, Kappas C, Lind BK, Brahme A (2001). "Prediction of AVM obliteration after stereotactic radiotherapy using radiobiological modelling." Radiother Oncol (Submitted)III. Mavroidis P, Axelsson S, Hyodynmaa S, Rajala MA, Lind BK, Brahme A (2001). "Positioning uncertainty and breathing effects on dose delivery and radiation pneumonitis prediction in breast cancer." Acta Oncol (Submitted)IV. Mavroidis P, Kappas C, Lind BK (1997). "A computer program for evaluating the probability of complication-free tumor control incorporated in a commercial treatment planning system." J Balcan Union Oncol 3: 257-64V. Lind BK, Mavroidis P, Hyodynmaa S, Kappas C (1999). "Optimization of the dose level for a given treatment plan to maximize the complication-free tumor cure" Acta Oncol 38(6): 787-98 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10522770VI. Mavroidis P, Lind BK, Van Dijk J, Koedooder K, De Neve W, De Wagter C, Planskoy B, Rosenwald JC, Proimos B, Kappas C, Claudia D, Benassi M, Chierego G, Brahme A. (2000). "Comparison of conformal radiation therapy techniques within the dynamic radiotherapy project Dynarad. " Phys Med Biol 45(9): 2459-81 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11008949VII. Mavroidis P, Lind BK, Brahme A (2001). "Biologically effective uniform dose (D) for specification, report and comparison of dose response relations and treatment plans. " Phys Med Biol 46(10): 2607-30 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11686278</p
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