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Abstract

This study explores the intricate relationship between the World Trade Organization (WTO) andinternational law, focusing on how the WTO’s regulatory framework impacts global trade governance.With an expanding scope that now encompasses digital trade, environmental sustainability, and indirecthuman rights concerns, the WTO’s role has grown beyond traditional trade facilitation. The researchinvestigates the WTO’s foundational principles, dispute settlement mechanisms (DSMs), and alignmentwith other international legal frameworks, highlighting challenges that arise from growing protectionismand geopolitical competition. Using a comparative legal analysis, this study assesses how effectively theWTO integrates international legal norms, especially concerning issues like data governance, climatepolicy, and labor rights. Findings suggest that while the WTO has succeeded in fostering a rules-basedtrading system, its governance structures are increasingly strained by multipolar dynamics and emergingglobal priorities. The study concludes that strategic reforms, enhanced cooperation with other internationalorganizations, and increased support for developing countries are critical for the WTO’s continuedrelevance in a complex, evolving global trade landscape.