Introduction
The Shrimp-Turtle dispute is arguably the most important environmental case ever before the WTO. It raises a critical issue: to what extent can nations restrict importation of products whose production threatens endangered species and harms the global environment? The dispute also requires a WTO dispute settlement panel to interpret the environmental exceptions to the GATT and thus provides a litmus test of the WTO's commitment to ensuring that trade promotes sustainable development.
The Shrimp-Turtle dispute arose from a challenge by India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand to US trade measures designed to protect endangered sea turtles. Thousands of highly migratory sea turtles are killed worldwide every year by shrimp nets fitted without "turtle excluder devices" (TEDs). To protect endangered sea turtles, the US measures require that nations that catch and export wild shrimp to the United States be certified as having adopted conservation measures that require the use of shrimp nets fitted with TEDs.
The final report was released to the parties on April 6, 1998. This briefing examines how, and even whether, the report considers relevant legal and conservation arguments and facts crucial to a balanced settlement of the dispute. After reviewing the panel report, WWF and CIEL consider that the panel has failed to achieve such a balanced settlement. If adopted, the panel report would escalate existing conflicts between the WTO and domestic and international environmental law and policy

