2. What Is the WTO?
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the
only global international organization dealing
with the rules of trade between nations.
WTO agreements are negotiated and signed by
the trading nations and ratified in their
parliaments.
The goal is to help producers of goods and
services, exporters, and importers conduct and
grow their business.
3. The Goal
Toimprove the
welfare of the
peoples of the
member countries.
4. Past, Present, Future
The WTO came into being in 1995.
The WTO is the successor to the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT),
established in the wake of the Second World War.
5. The Past 50 Years: Exceptional
Growth in World Trade
Merchandise exports
grew on average 6%
annually
Total trade in 1997 was
14 times the level of 1950
In 1997, 40 governments
concluded negotiations
for tariff free trade.
6. The Organization
Ministerial Conference
GC: Trade Policy GC: Dispute
Review Body Settlement Body
General Council
Council for Trade Council for Intellectual Council for Trade
in Goods Property Rights in Trade In Servfices
Committees
Committees
Committees on Textiles Monitoring Body
Trade and Environment
Trade and Development… Working parties on
Working parties
on Accessions
Working groups
7. The WTO must teach the world
the benefits of trade
We have seen what Ricardo had
to say about comparative
advantage, and the strong
consensus among those who
seriously consider trade issues.
Trade provides nearly 100% of
an economy’s jobs. Global trade
provides a large and growing
share of these jobs.
.
8. Major WTO Functions
Administering WTO
trade agreements
Forum for trade
negotiations
Handling trade
disputes
Monitoring national
trade policies
9. Major WTO Functions
Technical assistance
and training for
developing countries
Cooperation with
other international
organizations
10. The Quad
Some of the most
difficult Canada, Europea
negotiations have n union, Japan,
needed an initial United States
breakthrough in
talks among the
four largest
members
11. How to Join the WTO: the
Accession Process
First,“tell us about yourself”.
Second, “work out with us individually
what you have to offer.” (Country to
country negotiations bilaterally.)
Third, “let’s draft membership terms.”
Finally, “the decision.”
12. Criticisms of the WTO
Itundermines representative democracy
Member nations are prevented from
protecting the environment
The WTO is controlled by the larger nations
The WTO represents the interests of large
corporations and wealthy citizens
Some protesters have arguments fully
worthy of consideration. They deserve a
better venue for hearing than the streets.
Anarchists usually capture the legal protest,
along with
13. The Doha, Qatar Initiatives
A new trade round was launched
November, 2001
For the first time, developing countries
demanded capacity-building and technical
assistance to take part meaningfully.
14. The Doha, Qatar Initiatives
The Pledging Conference was convened in
accordance with the December 2001
decision of the WTO General Council.
In that decision, the General Council set a
target for core funding of CHF 15 million
plus support in kind, including training
courses for trade officials.
