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Intro to the WTO - Coggle Diagram
Intro to the WTO
What is it?
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It created the rules for international trade, which are broad ranging and deep reaching obligations
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Key Disciplines
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National treatment obligation: prohibits discrimination against imported goods in favour of domestic "like" goods
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The GATT
Marked the breakdown of old imperial preferences and put the key disciplines onto a multilateral and reciprcal footing for the first time
Emerged out of post war negotiations, with the aim of integrating economies and preventing war
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Successful until its breakdown in the 1980s, leading to the WTO:
- Growth and diversification of the contracting parties and their interests
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Developed states wanted to increase non tariff barries, increase sanitary restrictions and introduce intellectual property protection. Restrictions that would require significant reforms and costs in developing countries
The breakdown of consensus made developing states to be disilusioned with the GATTs because of its inability to address their interest and discipline powerful states. Eg EC - Bananas
The Uruguay Round of 1986 adressed all of these issues. Developed countries agreed to new obligations on agriculture and textiles while developing states agreed on intellectual property. The outcome of this package deal was the WTO.
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The stated aim of the WTO is "free trade". However, its obligations are extensive and create complex regulations of state trade relations