WTO

WHAT IS THE WTO?

MAIN REMITS (MAIN ACTIVITIES)?

EXAMPLES OF CURRENT TRADE NEGOTIATIONS OCCURRING

HISTORY (WHY WAS IT SET UP)?

Negotiation is a method by which people settle differences. It is a process by which compromise or agreement is reached while avoiding argument and dispute.

The joint initiatives laughed by group members in Buenos Aires in December 2017 are important in ensuring that trade policies are relevant to today's global economy.

Was proceeded by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

The goal of the WTO is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly and as predictably as possible

It helps to promote free trade by persuading countries to lower their import tariffs and other barriers to open markets including; wide spread use of import licensees, export subsidies and other non-tariff barriers

The WTO's 2014 Ministerial Conference concluded with minster's approving the 'Bali Package', a series of issues from the broader Doha Round negotiations

The WTO's current Director-General is Roberto Azevêdo

6 Key Objectives:

To provide a forum for negotiation and monitoring further trade liberalization

To set and enforce rules for International Trade

If a trade dispute occurs, the WTO works to resolve it

To increase the transparency of decision-making processes

To cooperate with other major international economic institutions involved in global economic management

To help developing countries benefit fully from the global trading system

WTO member must grant equal market access to all other members and that both domestic and foreign suppliers must be treated equally

Was established in 1st of January,1995. It is marked the biggest reform of international trade since the end of the Second World War.

WTO membership timeline

The rules are designed to help governments resist lobbying efforts by domestic interest groups seeking special favors

It is the largest international economic organization in the world

'09 April - '02 September

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'03 September - '13 December

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The WTO exists the encourage and facilitate the liberalisation of trade between countries

A multi-lateral organisation based in Geneva, switzerland

The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the membership as a whole, either by ministers (who usually meet at least once every 2 years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly in Geneva)

The World Trade Organisation

The WTO deals with the rules of trade between nations at a global or near-global level

WTO membership accounts for 98% of world trade in 2014 compared with 91% in 1995

The WTO agreements are lengthy and complex because they are legal texts covering a wide range of activities - but a number of simple, fundamental principles run throughout all of these documents. These principles are the foundation of the multilateral trading system

There are 2 Types of International Trade agreements:

Bilateral Agreements: They set rules of trade between two countries

Multilateral (or regional) Agreements: They set rules of trade between several countries. Multilateral agreements shape international trade unions such as WTO, EU, NAFTA etc...

Trade negotiations - The WTO agreements cover; goods, services and intellectual property. They operate under the authority of the general council