Alternative Dispute Resolution

Expanding international trade creates a growing need for fair, expeditious and cost-effective resolution of disputes arising out of international commercial transactions. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a set of private, consensual processes, such as mediation or arbitration, designed to meet these needs and is the method of choice to resolve disputes that arise when doing business in today's world.

The countries of NAFTA recognized the importance of facilitating these types of private international dispute resolution by establishing the Advisory Committee on Private Commercial Disputes. This work continues under CUSMA (Article 31.22(4)). The Advisory Committee comprises persons with expertise or experience in the resolution of private international commercial disputes, and facilitates the use of arbitration, mediation, online dispute resolution and other procedures for the prevention and resolution of international commercial disputes between private parties in the free trade area.