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World Trade Organization (WTO)


We can look at WTO in several ways. WTO happens to be an organization responsible for liberalizing trade. It’s a forum to negotiate trade agreements for various governments. It’s a place where trade disputes are settled. It operates a system of trade rules.

  • One of the most important features is that it is a forum where results come out after serious negotiations.
  • Essentially, the WTO is a place where governments who are members go, in order to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.
  • The first step is to talk. The WTO was born out of negotiations, and everything the WTO does is the result of negotiations.
  • The bulk of the WTO’s current work comes from the 1986-94 negotiations called the Uruguay Round.

The negotiations have helped to liberalize trade where countries have faced trade barriers and wanted them to be lowered. But the WTO is not just about liberalizing trade, and in some cases, its rules are such that trade barriers get support— for example, to protect consumers.

History of WTO


The WTO started functioning on 1 January 1995, but its trading system is half a century older. Since 1948, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) had given the rules for the system. (The second WTO ministerial meeting, held in Geneva in May 1998, included a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the system.)

  • It did not take long for the General Agreement to give birth to an unofficial, extant international organization, also known informally as GATT.
  • Over the years, GATT evolved through several rounds of negotiations.
  • The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) had its last round in 1986 and it lasted till 1994.
  • This was known as the Uruguay Round and it led to the formulation of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

While GATT mostly dealt with trade in goods, the WTO and its agreements could not only cover goods but also trade in services and other intellectual properties like trade creations, designs, and inventions.
The WTO has 164 members and 23 observer governments. Afghanistan became the 164th member in July 2016. In addition to states, the European Union, and each EU country in its own right is a member.

Functions of the World Trade Organization (WTO)


The WTO’s overriding objective is to help trade flow smoothly, freely, fairly, and predictably. It does this by:

  • Administering WTO trade agreements
  • Conducting forum for trade negotiations
  • Handling trade disputes
  • Monitoring national trade policies
  • Providing technical assistance and training for developing countries
  • Cooperation with other international organizations

Ministerial Conferences of WTO

Ministerial Conferences

Place

Year

Description

MC1

Singapore

1996

Ministers of finance, trade, foreign, and agriculture from more than 120 countries participated and the following issues were in discussion.

  • trade and investment
  • trade facilitation
  • transparency in government procurement
  • trade and competition

These are known as the Singapore Issues.

MC2

Geneva, Switzerland

1998

Discussions on the implementation of Singapore Issues.

Further discussions for the next round related to Export subsidies, market access, etc.

MC3

Seattle, USA

1999

The Uruguay Round was discussed.

Further discussions on agricultural and services mandated at the last Ministerial.

The Ministerial Conference ended without a conclusion though.

MC4

Doha, Qatar

2001

The Doha Round was discussed.

MC5

Cancún, Mexico

2003

Discussions on the progress of the Doha Development Agenda and other negotiations from the last Ministerial.

MC6

Hong Kong

2005

Discussions on aiming to conclude the Doha Round by 2006.

Adoption of the ‘Swiss Formula’ to cut down tariffs on non-agricultural goods (NAMA) by both developed and developing countries with different coefficients.

MC7

Geneva, Switzerland

2009

This meeting didn’t revolve around the Doha Round.

Ministers discussed various other ideas for further development.

The theme of MC7 was ‘The WTO, the Multilateral Trading System and the Current Global Economic Environment’

MC8

Geneva, Switzerland

2011

Discussions on multiple topics for least developed nations and trade policy reviews.

WTO approved Montenegro, Russian Federation, and Samoa accessions.

Doha Round was discussed to make the mandate more effective, operational, and precise.

MC9

Bali, Indonesia

2013

The ‘Bali Package’ was adopted by the WTO that aimed at the following points:

  • Boosting trade in the least developed countries (LDCs)
  • Higher food security provisions for developing countries
  • Streamlining trade

The Bali Package is a selection of issues from the broader Doha Round negotiations.

Yemen became a part of WTO.

MC10

Nairobi, Kenya

2015

Discussion on agriculture, cotton, and issues of LDCs.

The Nairobi Package was adopted by WTO that delivered beneficial commitments to WTO’s poorest members.

MC11

Buenos Aires, Argentina

2017

Discussions on e-commerce duties, fisheries subsidies, and other commitments to negotiations in all sectors.

MC12

Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

2021

Postponed due to pandemic situation.

Doha Declaration

  • The Doha Declaration is the November 2001 declaration that came out of the 4th Ministerial Conference of the WTO, that took place in Doha, Qatar.
  • This declaration gives the mandate for negotiations on an array of topics including issues concerning the implementation of the previous agreements.
  • This is called the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health.
  • There were disagreements between developed and developing countries.
  • The major bones of contention were agriculture, non-tariff trade barriers, industrial tariffs, services, and trade remedies.
  • The Bali Ministerial Declaration was achieved in 2013 which is the first agreement under the Doha Round, and also the first unanimous agreement under WTO.

Dispute Settlement of the World Trade Organization 

  • WTO is an international body that also deals in Dispute Settlements.
  • The member country will approach the WTO’s dispute settlement body when a country fails to comply with WTO rules.
  • All the members are encouraged to settle the disputes through consultation or a panel if the consultation fails.
  • The constituted panel will circulate the verdict of the dispute settlement amongst WTO members who can decide to reject the ruling.
  • If the ruling is approved, the member country that violated the rules must change rules in line with the WTO Agreement.
  • In the case of failure to do so, the complaining country and the violating country may determine a mutually-acceptable compensation, failing which, the complaining country may retaliate suitably.

Is India a founding member of the WTO?

  • India has been a member of the World Trade organization since the beginning of 1995.
  • India was also a member of GATT since 1948.

What is the WTO and what are its functions?

  • The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.
  • Its main functions are to maintain smooth trade globally and resolve issues or disputes that can affect world trade.

What are the advantages of WTO?

  • With WTO, member countries get a provision of a legal framework to process negotiations and disputes amongst them. Other advantages are:
  • Better stability in trade
  • Predictability
  • The WTO is also an administrative organization that allows trade under certain conditions for global ease.
The document The World Trade Organization | UPSC Mains: International Relations is a part of the UPSC Course UPSC Mains: International Relations.
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FAQs on The World Trade Organization - UPSC Mains: International Relations

1. What is the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
Ans. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that deals with the global rules of trade between nations. It serves as a platform for negotiations and settling disputes related to international trade. The WTO aims to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible.
2. What is the role of the WTO in international trade?
Ans. The WTO plays a crucial role in international trade by providing a framework for negotiating and implementing trade agreements. It helps to reduce trade barriers, such as tariffs and quotas, and promotes fair and open trade practices. The organization also provides a platform for resolving trade disputes through its dispute settlement mechanism.
3. How does the WTO promote fair trade practices?
Ans. The WTO promotes fair trade practices by establishing rules and regulations that govern international trade. These rules are designed to ensure non-discrimination, transparency, and predictability in trade relations among member countries. The WTO also monitors and reviews trade policies and practices to ensure compliance with these rules.
4. How does the WTO resolve trade disputes?
Ans. The WTO has a dispute settlement mechanism that allows member countries to resolve trade disputes in a fair and impartial manner. This mechanism involves a panel of independent experts who review the case and issue a ruling. If a country fails to comply with the ruling, the WTO can authorize the affected country to impose trade sanctions on the non-compliant party.
5. How does the WTO benefit developing countries?
Ans. The WTO aims to promote the integration of developing countries into the global trading system. It provides technical assistance and capacity building support to help these countries participate effectively in international trade. The WTO also advocates for special and differential treatment for developing countries, allowing them more flexibility in implementing trade policies and addressing their specific development needs.
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