member at WTO FLOW OF CONTENT Introduction Information Formation of the WTO Objectives of the WTO Functions of the WTO The WTO agreements and policies Pros and Cons of the WTO The WTO policies for India and its impact on the Indian economy Conclusion
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. The WTO is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations.
At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of worlds trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters and importers conduct their business.
The WTO superseded and replaced the GATT which was a provisional, multilateral agreement governing international trade from 1947 until Jan 1, 1995.
The WTO has larger membership than GATT, the number of members stand at 153. India is one the founding members of the WTO.
INTRODUCTION INFORMATION Established: 1st January 1995.
Created By: Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-1994)
Headquarter: Geneva, Switzerland
Membership: 153 member states (till 2008)
Secretariat Staff: 625
Head: Pascal Lamy (Director-General)
Budget: 196 million Swiss francs (approx)
Mr. Pascal Lamy WTO headquarters: Geneva FORMATION OF THE WTO The GATT was the only multilateral instrument governing international trade from 1948 until the WTO was established in 1995. The GATT managed to operate for almost half a century as a semi institutionalized multilateral treaty regime on a provisional basis.
Seven rounds of negotiations occurred under the GATT
The Tokyo round during the 70s was the first major attempt to tackle trade barriers that do not take the form of tariffs and to improve the system but the agreements were not accepted by all the member nations of GATT.
These agreements and policies were amended in URUGUAY ROUND leading to acceptance by the member nations and formation of WTO.
This final act concluding the Uruguay round and officially establishing the WTO regime was signed in 1994 at Marrakesh, Morroco and hence known as Marrakesh Agreement. OBJECTIVE OF THE WTO To implement the new world trade system as visualized in the agreement
To promote world trade in a manner that benefits every country
To ensure developing countries secure a better balance in sharing of the advantages resulting from the expansion of international trade corresponding to their developmental needs
To enhance competitiveness among all trading nations as to benefit customers
To increase the level of production and productivity with a view of ensuring level of employment in the world
To demolish all hurdles in to an open world trading system and usher in international economic renaissance
FUNCTIONS OF WTO The main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. Administering trade agreements- WTO agreements cover goods, services, intellectual property. Acting as a forum for trade negotiations Settling trade disputes-Importantly WTO set procedures to settle disputes Reviewing national trade policies Assisting developing countries in trade policy issues, through technical assistance and training programmes. FUNCTIONS OF WTO Negotiating the reduction or elimination of obstacles to trade (import tariffs, other barriers to trade) and agreeing on rules governing the conduct of international trade. Assisting the process of accession of some 30 countries who are not yet members of the organization. Co-operating with other international organizations- IMF and The World Bank. World Trade Organization coordinates with its secretariat, which employees 500 + staff including Economists, Statisticians, Lawyers and other experts in related area of concern. WTO: AGREEMENTS & POLICIES The WTOs agreements are the result of negotiations between the members. The current set were the outcome of the 198694 Uruguay Round negotiations which included a major revision of the original General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
The WTO oversees about 60 different agreements which have the status of international legal texts. They deal with: agriculture, textiles and clothing, banking, telecommunications, government purchases, industrial standards, product safety and more.
WTO: AGREEMENTS & POLICIES Goods It all began with trade in goods. From 1947 to 1994, GATT was the forum for negotiating lower customs duty rates and other trade barriers Services These principles appear in the new General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). Intellectual property The WTOs intellectual property agreement amounts to rules for trade and investment in ideas and creativity. Dispute settlement The system encourages countries to settle their differences through consultation. WTO AGREEMENTS: GATS General Agreement on Trade in Services, is the first and the only comprehensive multilateral discipline covering international trade in Services.
WTO services are divided into 12 areas and sub divided into 164 areas: Business Services, Communication Services, Construction and Engineering Services, Distribution Services, Education Services, Environmental Services, Financial Services, Health Services, Tourism and travel Services, Recreation, cultural and sporting Services, Transport Services. Modes of supply of services Consumption Abroad Cross - Border Supply Commercial Presence Movement of Natural persons The important principles falling in this category are: Most Favoured Nation principle (MFN) Domestic Regulations Transparency. WTO AGREEMENTS: TRIPS It is the GATT Uruguay Round Agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property. It deals with the protection & enforcement of Trade-Related intellectual property rights".
DEALS IN : How to give adequate protection to intellectual property rights How countries should enforce those rights adequately in their own territories How to settle disputes on intellectual property between members of the WTO Special transitional arrangements during the period when the new system is being introduced. Intellectual property comprises 2 distinct forms: Literary & Artistic Works- Books, paintings, musical compositions, plays, operas, movies, radio/ TV programs, performances, & other artistic works Industrial Property- Patented objects, trade secrets, geographical indications. WTO AGREEMENTS: TRIMS Trade related Investment Measures does not provide any new language , but It concentrates on 2 major articles. Article III & Article IX which talks about National Treatment and Trade Restrictions respectively.
DEALS IN :
ARTICLE III
National treatment of imported
product, unless specified in other agreements.
Subjects the purchase or use by an enterprise of imported products to less favorable conditions than the purchase or use of domestic products. ARTICLE XI
Prohibition of quantitative restrictions on imports and exports.
Part of the general trend in textiles and agriculture to phase out the use of quantitative restrictions. WTO AGREEMENTS: SANITARY AND PHYTO-SANITARY (SPS) AGREEMENT SPS agreement was negotiated during the Uruguay Round, and entered into force with the establishment of the WTO in1995.
The WTO sets constraints on member- states policies relating to food safety (bacterial contaminants, pesticides, inspection and labeling) as well as animal and plant health (imported pests and diseases). WTO AGREEMENTS: AOA The most important agreement follows. The Agreement on Agriculture came into effect with the establishment of the WTO at the beginning of 1995 The AoA has three central concepts, or "PILLARS": Domestic support Market access Export subsidies
Objective: To reform trade in agriculture and to make policies more market oriented A product is considered to be dumped if the export price is less than the price charged for the same product in the exporting country, or it is sold for less than its cost of production.
The WTO agreement on anti-dumping allows governments to act against dumping where there is genuine (material) injury to the competing domestic industry.
WTO AGREEMENTS: ANTI-DUMPING PRACTICES (ADP) WTO AGREEMENTS: ANTI-DUMPING PRACTICES (ADP) ANTI DUMPING: INCREASE OVER THE YEARS.
After Marrakesh Agreement, India joined WTO since inception in 1995. Developing countries like India availed of greater trade opportunities and also challenged a certain policies of developed countries. For India, exposure to volatile international market would affect not only domestic prices but also incomes of poor. Aim to participate in WTO rule based system with greater stability, transparency and predictability in governance of international trade. THE WTO AND INDIA ARTICLES IN INDIAN EXPRESS: IMPACT OF WTO ON INDIA POSITIVE IMPACT ON INDIAN ECONOMY Increase in export earnings Agricultural exports Export of textile and clothing Multilateral rules and discipline Growth to service exports Foreign investment PROS Promotes free-trade Raises world output levels via specialization Establishes a standard rule by law and terms of trade for greater efficiency Updates all participating countries and banks to international standards and efficiency in terms of trade and commerce. CONS Industrialized countries benefit more than poor countries Dont allow the participation of developing countries CONCLUSION Although the stated aim of the WTO is to promote free trade and stimulate economic growth, some believe that globally free trade results in rich (both people and countries) becoming richer awhile the poor getting poorer. It will be able to help weak and poor countries if it frames rules accordingly