1. The World Trade Organization
Global Trade and Finance
Prof. Bryson, Marriott School

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
To improve 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 Chart

7. The Organization Committees Committees Committees on
Trade and Environment
Trade and Development…
Textiles Monitoring Body
Working parties on
Working parties on Accessions
Working groups

8. 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. .

9. Major WTO Functions Administering WTO trade agreements
Forum for trade negotiations

10. Major WTO Functions Handling trade disputes
Monitoring national trade policies

11. Major WTO Functions
Technical assistance and training for developing countries
Cooperation with other international organizations 

12. The Quad
Some of the most difficult negotiations have needed an initial breakthrough in talks among the four largest members
Canada  European union  Japan  United States

13. 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.”

14. Criticisms of the WTO The WTO undermines state sovereignty
It undermines representative democracy
Member nations are prevented from protecting the environment
Members are unable to uphold laws guaranteeing workers’ rights
The WTO is controlled by the larger nations
The WTO represents the interests of large corporations and wealthy citizens

15. Some protesters have arguments fully worthy of consideration
Some protesters have arguments fully worthy of consideration. They deserve a better venue for hearing than the streets.
Nihilistic anarchists usually capture the legal protest, along with
lugubrious labor Luddites
trade terrorists, and
the clueless

16. 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.

17. 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.