WTOMade By :

Mohit Mahajan

What is the World Trade Organization ?

The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the rules of trade between nations at a global or near-global level. But there is more to it than that.

• Is it a bird, is it a plane?

• Born in 1995, but not so young

What WTO Is ?

• There are a number of ways of looking at the World Trade Organization. It is an organization for trade opening. It is a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements. It is a place for them to settle trade disputes. It operates a system of trade rules. Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.

What WTO Does ?

• Trade negotiations • Implementation and monitoring • Dispute settlement • Building trade capacity • Outreach

WTO Stands For

• Non-discrimination • More open • Predictable and transparent• More competitive • More beneficial for less developed countries • Protect the environment

FUNCTIONS OF THE WTO

• Administering trade agreements .• Acting as a forum for trade negotiations .• Revieing national trade policies .• Assisting developing countries in trade policy

issues , through technical assistance and training programmes .

• Cooperatiing with other international organizations .

The WTO's main activities are• Negotiating the reduction or elimination of obstacles to trade and

agreeing on rules governing the conduct of international trade.• administering and monitoring the application of the WTO's agreed rules

for trade in goods, trade in services, and trade-related intellectual property rights

• monitoring and reviewing the trade policies of our members, as well as ensuring transparency of regional and bilateral trade agreements

• settling disputes among our members regarding the interpretation and application of the agreements

• building capacity of developing country government officials in international trade matters

• assisting the process of accession of some 30 countries who are not yet members of the organization

• explaining to and educating the public about the WTO, its mission and its activities.

Things the WTO can do

• The WTO can ... cut living costs and raise living standards

• The WTO can ... ….settle disputes and reduce trade tensions

• The WTO can ... stimulate economic growth and employment

• The WTO can ... cut the cost of doing business internationally

• The WTO can ... encourage good governance

• The WTO can ... help countries develop• The WTO can ... give the weak a stronger voice• The WTO can ... support the environment and

health• The WTO can ... contribute to peace and

stability• The WTO can ... be effective without hitting the

headlines

OVER VIEW

• Over the past 60 years, the WTO, which was established in 1995, and its predecessor organization the GATT have helped to create a strong and prosperous international trading system, thereby contributing to unprecedented global economic growth. The WTO currently has 164 members, of which 117 are developing countries or separate customs territories. WTO activities are supported by a Secretariat of some 700 staff, led by the WTO Director-General. The Secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland, and has an annual budget of approximately CHF 200 million ($180 million). The three official languages of the WTO are English, French and Spanish.

THANK YOU