The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has promulgated the Trade Dispute Resolution Rules, 2026, instituting a structured legal framework for the expeditious, transparent, and commercially responsive resolution of disputes arising across the full spectrum of trade and business activities, particularly those linked to cross-border transactions.

Issued vide S.R.O. 552(I)/2026 under Section 58 of the Trade Dispute Resolution Act, 2022, the Rules came into force upon Gazette publication, acquiring binding legal force across all relevant commercial domains. Section 58 empowers the Federal Government to frame implementing rules necessary to operationalise the Act’s objectives, the operational details of which are now codified in the 2026 Rules.

The Rules establish a comprehensive procedural framework governing the institution, processing, and adjudication of disputes before the Trade Dispute Resolution Commission (TDRC). Their scope extends to a wide range of commercial activities, including export–import transactions, international sales of goods, supply chain and logistics contracts, shipping and freight arrangements, customs valuation disputes, e-commerce transactions, trade finance instruments such as letters of credit, joint ventures, distribution and agency agreements, and foreign investment-related commercial engagements.

The Commission shall exercise jurisdiction in cases where the value of claims is not less than USD 5,000, thereby filtering out trivial matters and ensuring that adjudicatory resources are directed towards disputes of genuine commercial consequence.

Applications may be submitted through multiple channels, including physical filing, registered post, and designated digital platforms, an approach aligned with global best practices in trade facilitation. Applicants are required to submit complete and verifiable documentation, including........

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