Premium Essay

The World Trade Organisation

In:

Submitted By imerelka
Words 1376
Pages 6
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION

The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established and incorporated in January 1st 1995 at the amendment of the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT) in 1994 with the aim of regulating international trade. The creation of this organization clearly underscored the acceptance and commitment of trade liberalization by most of the international communities. Upon signing and ratifying the WTO Agreement, each member state of the WTO committed itself through a series of agreements to ultimately liberalize its trade in goods, services and trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights. Each member state signed the WTO Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes as well as the Agreement relating to the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). This action required member states to periodically subject their national trade and economic policies for examination to ensure that their respective mandates are in keeping with the WTO’s commitments. (Strategic Plan of the Foreign Trade Division 2002).
The expansion of trade has often played a significant role in the growth of the global economy since World War II, but it was not until the commencement of trade negotiations in the Uruguay Round in 1986, that multilateral trade deals tended to be limited to that of industrial countries. While developing countries benefited significantly from the growth in global trade, they were rarely active participants in the bargaining process (Economic Issues Vol. 37).
At its inception, the WTO comprised of 90 member states, a figure that has since increased to 144 which together generates most of the world’s trade. The WTO as a fully fledged international organization whose responsibilities and authority are much broader than that of the GATT, later followed in the footsteps of its predecessor by serving an important

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

World Trade Organisation

...1. Introduction The World Trade Organisation (WTO) was formally made in January of 1995, and essentially supplanted the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which had been in power subsequent to 1948, a couple of years after the Second World War (Study.com, 2015). The WTO is a multilateral establishment charged with directing rules for exchange among 145 official member countries. The United States and different members partaking in the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations (1986-1994) required the arrangement of the WTO to encapsulate the new trade disciplines received amid those transactions (Wto.org,. 2015). This essay will firstly evaluate the roles of the WTO and then the challenges the World Trade Organisation face in the world economy and these how challenges are addressed. 2. The Role of the WTO in the Global Economy The World Trade Organisation exists to encourage the implementation, administration and operation, and additionally to facilitate the goals of the WTO agreements (Ruttley, P., Macvay, I. & George, C., 1998). Beyond this general purpose, the WTO has four particular functions. Firstly, to provide a meeting for arrangements among its members concerning their multilateral trade cognations in matters dealt with the accedences in the Annexes of the Marrakech Agreement for both current matters and any future understandings. The WTO may withal provide a forum for further negotiations among its members concerning their multilateral...

Words: 915 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

World Trade Organisation

...GANGAN 14 NEHA GAONKAR 15 INDEX 1. WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION  GATT  Principles of WTO  Objectives & Function 2. INDIA & WTO 3. INDIAN ECONOMY 4. INDIAN AGRICULTURE  Agricultural Trade  Agricultural Support Policies  Importance Of Indian Agriculture 5. AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE  The Three Boxes: Green, Amber and Blue  Trend In Pattern Of Consumption  Implication Of Agreement : Short Term and Long Term 6. WTO & INDIAN AGRICULTURE  India’s Commitment  India’s Agricultural Trade Under WTO Regime 7. A STUDY & ITS FINDINGS 8. SUGGESTIONS 9. BIBLIOGRPHY ACKNOWLEGEMENT We would like to acknowledge and express our sincerest gratitude for the efforts and timely guidance of our professor Mrs. Neelam Shetty of Managerial Economics for providing us the opportunity to study the impact of WTO agreements on the Indian economy especially focused on the agricultural sector. We would also like to thanks and express our gratitude towards professor Mr. Agnelo Menezes of economics from the Bachelors of Arts faculty and his student from XRCVC Master Prashant Lindayat. Each and every team member gave in his best to make sure that this report has all the necessary inputs and is completed on time. We definitely had a knowledgeful and enriching experience. WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION The WTO provides a forum for negotiating agreements aimed at reducing obstacles to international trade and ensuring a level playing field for all, thus contributing...

Words: 12777 - Pages: 52

Premium Essay

World Trade Organisation

...The world trade organization is an organization can be looked at in a number of ways; firstly the WTO is an organization for trade opening; a forum where governments discuss trade agreements; and as platform for solving trade disputes. Further on, the WTO functions as a system of trade rules and as a place where member states sort out their trade issues among themselves. This organization was founded out of negotiations and its modus operandi is that of negotiation. Today, most of WTO’s current operations stem from the Uruguay Round as well as other negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). It is currently hosting the new negotiations that were birthed from the “Doha Development Agenda” of 2001 (Wto.org,. 2014). Where states have been confronted with trade barriers and want them lowered, deliberations at the WTO have facilitated opening of markets for trade. In conjunction, the WTO is not only about opening of new markets, it also supports maintenance of trade barriers- for instance where consumer rights are threatened or to prevent harm to the consumers. At the core of WTO are the agreements that have been negotiated and sealed by the majority of the world’s trading states. These agreements present the legal guidelines for international trade. They are in essence contracts that bind governments to maintain their trading rules within the set limits (Wto.org,. 2014).. While they are signed and negotiated by states, the aim remains to help the providers...

Words: 3037 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

The World Trade Organisation

...Economic Policy Seminar Short Report     The  World   Trade   Organization  (WTO)  is  an  organization  that  intends  to   supervise   and   liberalize   international   trade.   Essentially,   the   WTO   is   a   place   where  member  governments  go,  to  try  to  sort  out  the  trade  problems  they  face   with  each  other.   At  its  center  are  the  WTO  agreements,  negotiated  and  signed  by   the   majority   of   the   worlds   trading   nations.   These   documents   provide   the   legal   ground-­‐rules  for  international  commerce.  This  traduces  essentially  in  contracts,   binding  governments  to  keep  their  trade  policies  within  agreed  limits.     Currently,   the   organization   faces   an   impasse   attempting   to   complete   the   negotiations   of   the   Doha   Round,   which   was   launched   in   2001   with   an   explicit   focus   on   addressing   the   needs   of   developing   countries.   The   reasons   for   this   impasse  can  be  explain  by  the  awareness  of  the  implications  of  the  commitments   that  countries  undertake...

Words: 537 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

World Trade Organisation

...that its exports will be treated fairly and consistently in other countries’ markets. Each promises to do the same for imports into its own market. The system also gives developing countries some flexibility in implementing their commitments. GATT is now the WTO’s principal rule-book for trade in goods. The Uruguay Round also created new rules for dealing with trade in services, relevant aspects of intellectual property, dispute settlement, and trade policy reviews. The complete set runs to some 30,000 pages consisting of about 30 agreements and separate commitments (called schedules) made by individual members in specific areas such as lower customs duty rates and services market-opening. Non-discrimination A country should not discriminate between its trading partners and it should not discriminate between its own and foreign products, services or nationals. More open Lowering trade barriers is one of the most obvious ways of encouraging trade; these barriers include customs duties (or tariffs) and measures such as import bans or quotas that restrict quantities selectively. Predictable and transparent Foreign companies, investors and governments should be confident that trade barriers should not be raised. With stability and predictability, investment is encouraged, jobs are created and consumers can fully enjoy the benefits of competition — choice and lower prices. More competitive Discouraging ‘unfair’ practices, such as export subsidies and dumping products...

Words: 455 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

The World Trade Organisation (Wto)

...Global Business Environment The World Trade Organisation (WTO) It has been suggested that “of all major economic institutions, the WTO has the worst reputation”. Outline the role of the WTO, and explain why it has proved difficult to reach agreement in recent WTO meetings in Doha, Geneva and Hong Kong. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) The WTO was founded in 1995 after the 8 year Uruguay round of talks, and it succeeded the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) created in 1947. Most of the WTO's current work comes from the Uruguay Round of negotiations (1986-1994). Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the WTO has 151 members (as at 27th July 2007), accounting for over 97% of world trade. The organisation is governed by a Ministerial Conference, which meets every two years, a General Council which implements the conference's policy decisions and a director-general appointed by the Ministerial Conference. The World Trade Organization deals with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business. These agreements are the legal ground-rules for international commerce Global trade deals are negotiated at the Ministerial Conference meetings, which are known as trade rounds and are aimed at reducing barriers for trade. One of the central principles...

Words: 2636 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

World Trade Organisation -Assignment

...world trade organisation | SHIRISH SAWANT 321618 | world trade organisation | SHIRISH SAWANT 321618 | WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION: INTRODUCTION: * WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO) is an organization which was established with the motive of negotiations between the countries regarding trade problems. * WORLD TRADE ORGANIZTION was established on 1st January 1995 after the failed attempt made in 1948 to make INTERNATIONAL TRADE ORGANIZATION. * It is considered as the biggest reform of international trade. * From 1948, GENERAL AGREEMENT OF TARIFF AND TRADE (GATT) WTO has taken the rules for its system. * GENERAL AGREEMENT led to establishment of an unofficial international organization also known as GATT. * GATT changed through many rounds of negotiations, but the biggest round was Uruguay Round which almost lasted eight years from 1986-1994. * Which led to the formation of WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO). * When GATT is concerned it only used to look after the trade in goods, but WTO looks after trade in services and in traded invention, creations and designs. * WTO is located in GENEVA, SWITZERLAND. * The membership of WTO is 160 countries till 26th June 2014. * The secretarial staff of WTO is 640. * The current Director- General of WTO is Roberto Azevedo. * When it comes to India, India is the member of WTO from 1st January 1995, and member of the GATT since 8th July 1948. FUNCTIONS OF WTO: ...

Words: 1411 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

The World Trade Organisation Has the Worst Reputation”.

...Preparing For Structural Reform in the WTO Thomas Cottier World Trade Institute, Berne September 26, 2006 I. Structure-Substance Pairing Negotiations at the WTO are mainly driven by domestic constituencies and governments. They define outcomes. The structure of the organisation is instrumental to this goal, and does not in itself decide on outcomes. Nevertheless, the structure and operation of the WTO is not without impact. The ways by which decisions are prepared and made do affect outcomes and results. This is common to all law, domestic and international law. Process and substance are inextricably intertwined. We call this substance-structure pairing. Effective global governance requires open attitudes towards multilateralism, shared perceptions on objectives, but also clear structures on all layers of government, local, national, regional and global. It is equally true for the WTO. While international trade regulation is almost exclusively treaty-based, the process in the WTO often deviates from written rules and is mainly shaped by custom and diplomatic practices developed under GATT 1947. Except for dispute settlement, it is not clearly framed in institutional terms. Difficulties to achieve agreement and to make progress among the currently 149 Members of the WTO are partly due to these practices. Except for the General Council and the Ministerial Conference, no body is mandated and authorised to address procedural issues in a comprehensive manner, coming forward with...

Words: 2596 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

International Manag Ment

...multinational corporation planning to open a new manufacturing plants in China and India to save on labor cost. There are a few factors that must consider when making the decision. The factors are including the environment business of the both country. First factor that must be consider is regulations and laws of the country. It is a very important thing that the producer must care when planning to open a new business in a foreign country. It is because the business cannot against the regulations of the country that can be affect the business such as the company must close their business in the country. The regulations and laws that the producers must be mention such as minimum wage laws, labor laws, safety and sanitation requirement, and trade union organizing provision. This regulations and laws is made because the country have to protect their labor right. Second factors that the producers must consider to come in the foreign country is the culture of the country. It factor is important for producer to make their business suitable and acceptable by the country. It is because if the business is against the culture of the country the business cannot running because the citizens of the country not be support the business. Moreover, in contacts of culture of the country, producer must be care about the labor culture of working such as the methods of working, the time of working, the amount of salary that provide, the conditions of workplace and others. It is...

Words: 4127 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Business Environment (Merit)

...which will detail the diverse types of business within the local area. In a bid to assist future business owners and leaders to gain understanding of varying business environments the author within task 1 will now go on to; identify the purposes of different types of businesses, describe how an organisation meets the objectives of different stakeholders and explain the responsibilities of an organisation and strategies employed to meet them. ‘’ In our lives we come into contact with a great assortment of organisations with many form types and usually with very different objectives.’’ (Business Essentials, 2007, p. 3) In order to understand the importance of diversity within a business it is important to first identify the varying purposes of different organisations. The purpose of an organisation can differentiate hugely depending on why they were set up. Examples of this would be that Starbucks operate to make a profit, whilst Help for Heroes on the other hand does not as it is a voluntary organisation. There are many different types of organisations serving different purposes to meet a variety of needs. There are three predominant classifications of industry in which organisations operate dependent on its purpose. These are the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. The primary sector involves making direct use of natural resources and obtaining raw materials. In contrast the secondary sector produces manufactures goods. This is the process by which everything is put together...

Words: 8083 - Pages: 33

Free Essay

Hrm Global Context

...Democratic Organisation Morocco International Trade Unionism : we are building the future This call has been launched by trade unions from Europe, Africa, America and we have diverse affiliation or non-affiliation to the International Trade Union Confederation, the World Federation of Trade Unions. We also participate in various international trade union networks, etc. All our unions recognize the unionism of struggle, workers' democracy, self-organisation of workers and the need for social transformation. The crisis of the capitalist system has consequences in the world. Economic, financial, environmental and social crises interact and become self-reinforcing. The global crisis of capitalism shows a shared impasse based on increasingly unequal distribution of wealth produced, financial deregulation, free trade and the widespread disregard for ecological imperatives. To save the profits of the shareholders and owners, to ensure the future of banking and global institutions (the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organization, etc.), governments and employers place increasingly heavy burdens on workers' rights and workers. The current economic and political system organises the looting of many countries, forcing millions of people to leave their region of origin in order to survive ... and then they are denied all their rights because they are immigrants. The destruction of public services, the questioning of all social rights, attacks on trade union rights...

Words: 944 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Doha Round International Economic Analysis

...SEMESTER 2, 2012 – CASE STUDY | | | I Executive Summary This report briefly assesses the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and in particular, the Doha Round, which has been the longest running trade liberalization round in the history of the GATT/WTO era. Launching in November, 2001 in the wake on the September 11 Terrorist attacks on the USA, it had the explicit aim to conclude a broad deal to facilitate development through trade and thereby better integrate the more disadvantaged into the global economy. The conclusion of the Doha Round however has been much harder to conclude than any other trade round in the history of the WTO for many reasons that will be highlighted below. Table of Contents I Executive Summary 1 II Introduction 3 III The World Trade Organisation 3 IV Other Rounds of the World Trade Organisation 3 V The Doha Round 4 Negotiations: geographical indications —multilateral register for wines and spirits 4 TRIPS, biological diversity and traditional knowledge (Doha paragraph 19) 4 Geographical indications — ‘extension’ 4 VI Problems With Concluding the Doha Round 4 The Single Undertaking Method: 5 Changed Geopolitical Situations: 5 Trade Liberalisation and Non-agricultural Market access (NAMA): 5 Agriculture: 5 VII Conclusion 6 VIII References 6 II Introduction The effort to launch a new round of multilateral trade negotiations in the late 1990s was turbulent in two ways. First, the WTO, with its broader mandate...

Words: 1898 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Free Trade vs Fair Trade

...With globalization creating a world economy, and world trade growing substantially, we are all uniquely interconnected. International trade, and policies surrounding it are a key discussion point for politicians and citizens of nations worldwide, with poverty and development often mentioned when discussing these subjects. As the World Bank puts it, “Trade is a key means to fight poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals. It allows countries to import ideas and technologies, realize comparative advantage and economy of scale, and foster competition and innovation to increase productivity and achieve higher sustainable employment and economic growth.” (World Bank, 2013) Many economists have attributed much of the global economic growth down to free trade agreements, with the relaxing of tariffs, duties and quotas seen worldwide. Despite the widespread adoption of free trade agreements, fair trade is still relatively minimal. Some proponents of fair trade have compared it to the Code of Hammurabi, the earliest known legal code which claims the law is to ‘promote the welfare of the people and to cause justice to prevail in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil that the strong might not oppress the weak’ with the opinion that fair trade can be used to prevent incredibly rich people and organisations from using trading relationships in the oppression of the vulnerable and weak and impoverished which is what occurs in free trade. (Northcott, 2006) Influenced by theorists...

Words: 2709 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

The Failures of Environmental Multilateralism Demonstrate the Need for a World Environment Organisation

...‘The failures of environmental multilateralism demonstrate the need for a World Environment Organisation.’ Critically evaluate this claim. One of the main challenges that face environmental politics today is a significant lack of integration between the global governance structures that address ecological matters. The international trade system has some of the most powerful institutional actors, such as the World Trade Organisation, where legal rules are supported by a dispute resolution body, trade sanctions, as well as the power to authorise other retaliation tactics when a country does not comply with a ruling (Eckersley 2003.) In contrast, the existing multilateral framework for environmental politics provides a fragmented, and incoherent arrangement to govern some of the most important ecological issues. Organisations like the United Nations Environmental Programme, for example, are supported by voluntary member state contributions, and lack the financial foundation, as well as the legal mandate to express sound environmental policy-making. As quoted by Eckersley (2003), “judged in terms of size and teeth, we might regard the WTO as a large tiger and MEAs as a ragged collection of small cats” (pp. 2.) This paper makes the case for a reorganisation of environmental governance, with the specific transformation of UNEP into a World Environment Organisation (WEO.) A WEO is argued to be able to provide an authoritative voice and force to issues of the global commons...

Words: 2688 - Pages: 11

Premium Essay

Marketting

...Assignment title | BE1: Assignment 2/2 The Business in an Economic, Cultural and Global Environment. (LO3 & LO4) | ------------------------------------------------- Learning Outcome | Assessment Criteria | In this assessment you will have the opportunity to present evidence that shows you are able to: | Task no. | Evidence(Page no) | LO 3 Understand the behaviour of organisations in their market environment | 3.1 | Explain how market structures determine the pricingand output decisions of businesses | | | | 3.2 | Illustrate the way in which market forces shapeorganisational responses using a range of examples | | | | 3.3 | Judge how the business and cultural environmentsshape the behaviour of a selected organisation | | | LO4 Be able to assess the significance of the global factors that shape national business activities. | 4.1 | Discuss the significance of international trade to UK business organisations | | | | 4.2 | Analyse the impact of global factors on UK business organisations | | | | 4.3 | Evaluate the impact of policies of the European Union on UK business organisations. | | | Learner declaration | I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully acknowledged. Student signature: Date: 17/12/2015 | In addition to the above PASS criteria, this assignment gives you the opportunity to submit evidence in order to achieve the following MERIT and DISTINCTION grades (Tutor: please delete grade descriptors...

Words: 1475 - Pages: 6