WTO

Essay by Fat-ChiuHigh School, 11th gradeA, May 2004

download word file, 5 pages 4.5 2 reviews

The World Trade Organization is an international organization dealing with the global rules of trade between nations. It was created as a result of the Uruguay Round negotiations between 1986 and 1994. There are currently 150 members of the WTO with many more nations currently negotiating for membership. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the primary objective of the WTO is to help trade flow smoothly, freely, fairly and predictably. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world's trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. At the apex is the Ministerial Conference, with many types of councils, committees and specialized working groups working toward the goal of helping producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.

The WTO manages its primary objective of helping trade between nations by: administering trade agreements, acting as a forum for trade negotiations, settling trade disputes, reviewing national trade policies, and by assisting developing countries in trade policy issues through technical assistance and training programs and cooperating with other international organizations.

With over 150 members, each representing diverse economic and cultural background, the desire is not to create a trading system. The WTO manages to do this through consensus. Trade agreements are a result of negotiations between member nations must be ratified by members' parliaments. These agreements clearly outline the rights and obligations and ensure a smooth and fair trading system. Through these agreements, the WTO helps decrease trade barriers. Economists around the world have argued on both sides of the WTO issue, both in support and in opposition of it. In most recent times the WTO has been the target of the green movement. The WTO has contributed significantly towards creating a global economy and has played a major role in creating peaceful resolutions to...