World Trade Organization

Harry White The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland that regulates and facilitates international trade. Governments use the organization to establish, revise, and enforce the rules that govern international trade in cooperation with the United Nations System. The WTO is the world's largest international economic organization, with 166 members representing over 98% of global trade and global GDP.

The WTO facilitates trade in goods, services and intellectual property among participating countries by providing a framework for negotiating trade agreements, which usually aim to reduce or eliminate tariffs, quotas, and other restrictions; these agreements are signed by representatives of member governments and ratified by their legislatures. It also administers independent dispute resolution for enforcing participants' adherence to trade agreements and resolving trade-related disputes. The organization prohibits discrimination between trading partners, but provides exceptions for environmental protection, national security, and other important goals.

It officially commenced operations on 1 January 1995, pursuant to the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, thus replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that had been established in 1948.

Its top decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference, which is composed of all members and usually convenes biennially; consensus is emphasized in all decisions. Day-to-day functions are handled by the General Council, made up of representatives from all members. A Secretariat of over 600 personnel, led by the Director-General and four deputies, provides administrative, professional, and technical services. The WTO's annual budget is roughly 220 million USD, which is contributed by members based on their proportion of international trade.

Studies show the WTO has increased trade and reduced trade barriers. It has also influenced trade agreement generally; the vast majority of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) explicitly reference the WTO, with substantial portions of text copied from WTO agreements. Goal 10 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals also referenced WTO agreements as instruments of reducing inequality. However, critics contend that the benefits of WTO-facilitated free trade are not shared equally. Provided by Wikipedia
Showing 1 - 14 results of 14 for search 'Organización Mundial del Comercio‏', query time: 0.02s Refine Results
  1. 1

    Cuestiones de política de la OMC para parlamentarios : guía de cuestiones comerciales actuales para legisladores /

    Published 2001
    “…Organización Mundial del Comercio…”
    Book
  2. 2

    Examen de politicas comerciales : Australia.

    “…Organización Mundial del Comercio…”
    Serial
  3. 3

    El comercio internacional.

    “…Organización Mundial del Comercio‏…”
    Serial
  4. 4

    Comercio, finanzas y crisis financieras / by Finger, K. Michael

    Published 1999
    “…Organización Mundial del Comercio…”
    Book
  5. 5

    Market access : unfinished business post-Uruguay round inventory and issues /

    Published 2001
    “…Organización Mundial del Comercio…”
    Book
  6. 6

    Examen de las politicas comerciales : Burkina Fase y Malí.

    “…OMC- Organización Mundial del Comercio…”
    Serial
  7. 7

    Examen de politicas comerciales : Hungria.

    “…OMC. Organización Mundial del Comercio…”
    Serial
  8. 8

    Examen de las politicas comerciales : República de Guinea.

    “…OMC. Organización Mundial del Comercio…”
    Serial
  9. 9

    Examen de las politicas comerciales : Togo.

    “…OMC. Organización Mundial del Comercio…”
    Serial
  10. 10

    Informe Anual de la OMC.

    “…Organización Mundial del Comercio. OMC…”
    Serial
  11. 11

    Mercado mundial de productos lácteos.

    “…Organización Mundial del Comercio. (OMC)…”
    Serial
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    Comercio y medio ambiente.

    “…División de Información y Relacions con la Prensa de la Organización Mundial del Comercio…”
    Serial
  14. 14

    Comunicado de Prensa OMC.

    “…División de Información y Relaciones con la Prensa de la Organización Mundial del Comercio…”
    Serial