一、磋商程序
磋商程序是WTO爭端解決的第一步，是兩個或兩個以上的成員之間通過協商解決爭端的一種方式。磋商是GATT開始已經確立的一種重要的爭端解決方式，DSU為磋商製定了更加嚴格的程序。
（一）磋商的時限
DSB第4條第3、7、8款對磋商的時限進行了詳細的規定：
3. If a request for consultations is made pursuant to a covered agreement, the Member to which the request is made shall, unless otherwise mutually agreed, reply to the request within 10 days after the date of its receipt and shall enter into consultations in good faith within a period of no more than 30 days after the date of receipt of the request, with a view to reaching a mutually satisfactory solution. If the Member does not respond within 10 days after the date of receipt of the request, or does not enter into consultations within a period of no more than 30 days, or a period otherwise mutually agreed, after the date of receipt of the request, then the Member that requested the holding of consultations may proceed directly to request the establishment of a panel.
7. If the consultations fail to settle a dispute within 60 days after the date of receipt of the request for consultations, the complaining party may request the establishment of a panel. The complaining party may request a panel during the 60-day period if the consulting parties jointly consider that consultations have failed to settle the dispute.
8. In cases of urgency, including those which concern perishable goods, Members shall enter into consultations within a period of no more than 10 days after the date of receipt of the request. If the consultations have failed to settle the dispute within a period of 20 days after the date of receipt of the request, the complaining party may request the establishment of a panel.
磋商請求所針對的成員，應當在收到請求之日起10日內作出答複，並應在收到請求之日起不超過30天的期限內進行磋商。但雙方可另行商定進行磋商的時限，不受上述10天和30天的約束。如對方未在10天內作出答複，或未在30天或商定的時間內進行磋商，則請求方可直接開始申請設立專家組。如在收到磋商請求之日起60天內，磋商未能解決爭端，則投訴方可以申請設立專家組。也就是說，磋商的最長期限為收到磋商請求之日起60天。但是，如果磋商各方共同認為磋商已不能解決爭端，則投訴方可以不必等到60天結束，就可以申請設立專家組。