The First Case Law within the Dispute Settlement Mechanisms of the New Generation of EU Trade Agreements: Taking Care of Sustainability

Recently, the EU has activated the bilateral dispute settlement mechanisms (DSMs) of the new TAs. The reports issued so far13 consistently emphasize issues related to sustainability. Notably, the Korea - Labour Commitments case specifically focuses on enforcing certain provisions of the TSD Chapter the EU-South Korea Free Trade Agreement.14 After a brief presentation of the key aspects of the TAs procedures dealing with the complaints raised by the contracting parties, this chapter will highlight those sustainability issues in the contentious proceedings triggered by the EU.