Poorer countries are set to be handed assistance in covering the legal costs of World Trade Organisation (WTO) disputes in a move that will ramp up the volume of cases for trade lawyers.

The WTO's dispute settlement body held a special session on 9 October to discuss proposals by India, Indonesia, Malaysia and six other developing countries to award assistance in covering legal costs for poor WTO members.

India is leading the campaign in the hope that a deal can be reached at the review's conclusion in May 2003.