THE WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION

The World trade organisation (WTO) was established as the successor to the GATT (General agreement of Tariffs and Trade), and as a result a stronger basis for dispute was established. The WTO has had many negotiations, where they discuss and implement issues effecting countries e.g. tariffs, and “provides a unique framework of reciprocal obligations and benefits, which support and reinforces developing country efforts.”

        In 2000 the WTO has had another meeting “the Doha round of  trade negotiations”, this was where the ministers had agreed to instigate around “50 decisions clarifying the obligations of developing country member governments with respect to issues including agriculture, subsides, textiles, clothing, technical barriers to trade, trade related investment measures, and rules of origin.”

        Though there were 50 decisions made at this meeting, there were 5 main topics which were discussed. These 5 topics were: agriculture, trade and environment, the relationship between trade and investment, market access to non-agricultural products, and regional trade agreements.

        As stated above one of the main issues which was discussed was agriculture, these negotiations began in 2000 and many negotiating proposals were submitted by November 2001. The WTO’s objectives have always been “to establish a fair and market orientated trading system through a programme of fundamental reform. The programme encompasses strengthened rules, and specific commitments on government support and protection for agriculture. The purpose is to correct and present restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets. These negotiations were aimed at the reductions of market access, the reduction of and phasing out of export subsidies, and the substantial reduction for domestic supports that distort trade.” These decisions made by the WTO are very important to developing countries, as these less developed countries will eventually be able to meet the requirements of their population, especially rural developments and food security.        

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        The second main negotiations was on Trade and Environment, this topic is on how the members of the WTO should comply with the environmental regulations which have been set by other bodies, it is also about the ways products are made to make the processes more “eco-friendly”. The ministers at the Doha round of trade negotiations “agreed to launch negotiations on the relationship between existing WTO rules and specific trade obligations set out in multilateral environmental agreements.” The members discussed the ways in which out of 200 environmental agreements only 20 have trade provisions and how these maybe increased, the ...

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