The United States and trade disputes in the World Trade Organization: Hegemony constrained or confirmed?

■ Does the World Trade Organization function to reinforce American dominance (or hegemony) of the world economy? We examine this question via an analysis of trade disputes involving the United States. ■ This allows us to assess whether the US does better than other countries in this judicialised forum: and in so doing enhance the competitive prospects of their firms. ■ The results are equivocal. The United States does best in the early phases of a dispute, where political power is important. It does less well as the process develops.