Canada and 16 other members of the World Trade Organization have agreed to develop a multi-party interim appeal arrangement that will allow the participating WTO members to preserve a functioning and two-step dispute settlement system at the WTO in disputes among them. 

The Canadian foreign ministry said it was possible to reach an agreement thanks to the joint efforts with the European Union.  

The arrangement is a contingency measure and it will only apply until the WTO Appellate Body becomes operational again. 

The Americans were hindering appointment of new judges in the Appellate Body.