The United States is entering the third phase of talks with countries on reforming the World Trade Organization's (WTO) trade dispute arbitration system and aims to have it "fully operational" by the end of 2024. U.S. Ambassador to the WTO Maria Pagan told Reuters.

The WTO Appellate Panel, which rules on crucial disputes, has been mothballed for more than two years because of the blocking of judicial appointments during Donald Trump's presidency. Under President Joe Biden, Washington resisted calls from WTO members to approve the appointments and instead negotiated on how to reboot the WTO dispute resolution system.

Asked if it is possible to revive the Appellate Body, Pagan did not rule it out.

Pagan said U.S.-led consultations with more than 70 countries over the past year included 12 reform topics that would lead to concrete proposals.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has previously said the global trade organization could reach agreements on difficult topics such as reform by its next major meeting in early 2024, though Pagan said that may be too soon.

Some delegates expressed frustration with the U.S. interaction with the 28-year-old WTO, which they helped create. They cite Washington's failure to attend a key WTO meeting in Davos as an example. But Pagan denied this, citing scheduling problems.