Thread by @bbaschuk

The civil war at the @wto appellate body escalates with a new letter written by three members (Bhatia, Servansing, Zhao) that rejects their colleague (Thomas Graham's) "insinuations about the competence and neutrality" of Werner Zdouc.

bit.ly/2Pa2Y4I

@wto Graham has been sharply critical of Zdouc and threatened to step down from his role as an appellate body member after his term ends on Dec. 10 -- unless -- the WTO Director-General @WTODGAZEVEDO fired Zdouc.

Here's Bloomberg's story:
bloom.bg/35YAOjZ

@wto @WTODGAZEVEDO Graham complained to WTO officials that Zdouc would lobby appellate body members, dominate their internal discussions, & steer internal documents & reports towards his own subjective interpretations.

Graham's colleagues reject this & said they have "full confidence" in Zdouc.

@wto @WTODGAZEVEDO Graham's colleagues also complained that details of @WTODGAZEVEDO's Nov. 21 meeting with the 3 AB members was leaked and "misrepresented" to the press.

I'm told that they contest the claim that all three AB members (Graham, Bhatia & Zhao) OK'd Zdouc's termination.

@wto @WTODGAZEVEDO Sources tell me that while Graham was indeed supportive of Zdouc's termination -- Bhatia and Zhao said they would support the move only if it had the backing of the WTO's 164 members.

Consensus at the WTO is notoriously difficult -- so they were basically saying no.

@wto @WTODGAZEVEDO Bottom line:

The @wto appellate body was already under significant external pressure from the U.S. block on new appointments.

This letter would confirm that the members of the appellate body are also at war with themselves.

This is the end.

Graham responds: “I'm disappointed with my [Appellate Body Member] colleagues for having leaped to speculative conclusions, for not discussing the matter or their letter with me, and for not inviting me to sign the letter."