The PCA is not a court “in the traditional sense”, but provides services of arbitral tribunal to resolve disputes between member states, international organizations, or private parties arising out of international agreement.

• The cases span a range of legal issues involving territorial and maritime boundaries, sovereignty, human rights, international investment, and international and regional trade. 
• PCA has no sitting judges; instead parties themselves select the arbitrators. 
• The organization is not a United Nations agency but has observer status in the UN General Assembly. 
• The rulings of PCA are binding but the tribunal has no powers for enforcement.