Trump Receives Trade Setback as WTO Rule May Foil U.S. Strategy

The debate over whether the World Trade Organization has the authority to rule on disputes involving countries’ national security was put to rest April 16, setting up a battle with the U.S., which has asserted the Geneva-based body doesn’t have the standing to make such decisions.

Russia and Ukraine said they won’t appeal a landmark trade decision in which the WTO upheld Moscow’s right to claim a key exemption to international trade rules that allows governments to take “any action which it considers necessary for the protection of its essential security interests.”

Even though Ukraine lost its complaint against Russia’s ...