二、专家组程序
与斡旋、调解和调停相比，专家组程序是争端解决的常规方式和重要程序。在DSU的27个条文中，有11个条文是专门针对专家组程序的规定，另外还有许多涉及专家组的条款。磋商不成必然导致设立专家组，而专家组程序又与上诉机构程序相连，因此专家组程序在整个WTO争端解决中处于承上启下的核心地位。
（一）专家组的设立和职能
1.专家组的设立
DSU第6条对该问题进行了规定：
Establishment of Panels
1. If the complaining party so requests, a panel shall be established at the latest at the DSB meeting following that at which the request first appears as an item on the DSB's agenda, unless at that meeting the DSB decides by consensus not to establish a panel.[3]