About the WTO

There are a number of ways of looking at the World Trade Organization: as an organization for trade-opening, a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements, and a place for them to settle trade disputes. It operates the global system of trade rules and helps developing countries to build their trade capacity. Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.

In the 20 years since the birth of the World Trade Organization, the world has seen huge changes. New centres of economic growth have emerged. New technologies have proliferated. Communication has been revolutionised. In 1995, less than 0.8 per cent of the world’s population used the internet, while in 2015 it was around 44 per cent.

La troisième Conférence ministérielle de l’OMC s’est tenue à Seattle (États-Unis) du 30 novembre au 3 décembre 1999 et a été présidée par Mme Charlene Barshefsky (États-Unis).

This chapter deals with the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement that set out standards for protection of undisclosed information, including test data (Article 39 of Section 7 in Part II of the Agreement) and measures for the control of anti-competitive practices in licences (Article 40 of Part II of the TRIPS Agreement). It also deals with the suppression of unfair competition, a matter which is specifically referred to in Articles 22 (relating to protection of geographical indications) and 39 (relating to protection of undisclosed information), and also arises through the reference in Article 2 of the TRIPS Agreement to the Paris Convention: Article 10bis of that convention sets out general standards for the suppression of unfair competition. As for all sections of Part II, these sections have to be read together with the relevant provisions of pre-existing treaties in the area of international IP law, which are incorporated by reference into the TRIPS Agreement. Reference will be made to these treaties in the sections below. This chapter will also have to be read in conjunction with other relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement explained in other chapters (such as concerning non-discrimination, enforcement of IP rights and the administration of IP). Wherever appropriate, cross-references are made to other chapters.

This chapter deals with the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement that set out standards for protection of industrial designs (Articles 25 and 26 in Section 4 of Part II of the Agreement) and protection of layout-designs or topographies of integrated circuits (Articles 35 to 38 in Section 6 of Part II). As for all sections of Part II, these sections have to be read together with the relevant provisions of pre-existing treaties in the area of international IP law, which are incorporated by reference into the TRIPS Agreement. Reference will be made to these treaties in the sections below. This chapter will also have to be read in conjunction with other relevant provisions of the TRIPS Agreement that are explained in other chapters (such as those concerning non-discrimination, enforcement of IP rights, and the administration of IP). Wherever appropriate, cross-references are made to other chapters.

In 2009, 37 new notifications on regional trade agreements (RTAs) (which include bilateral and inter-regional free trade agreements) were received by the WTO. This is the largest number of RTA notifications in any single year since the WTO’s establishment in 1995. Of the 457 RTAs notified to the WTO as of 31 December 2009, 266 were in force.

En 2011 se presentaron ante el Órgano de Apelación nueve apelaciones de informes de grupos especiales —un aumento con respecto a las tres de 2010-, de un total de 11 informes para los cuales expiró el plazo de 60 días para la adopción o apelación a lo largo del año. Las nueve apelaciones se referían a procedimientos de grupos especiales iniciales. No se formuló ninguna apelación relativa al cumplimiento de resoluciones y recomendaciones anteriores. En diciembre se nombró a dos nuevos Miembros del Órgano de Apelación.

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. It helps developing countries build their trade capacity. Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.

The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) for trade-related assistance to least-developed countries (LDC s), which became effectively operational in 2009, made significant progress in 2010 in relation to project delivery, outreach and institution building. By the end of the year the EI F was working with 46 LDC s and one ‘graduated’ country, and the 22 current donors to the multi-donor trust fund had contributed US$ 120 million.

Le Comité du commerce et du développement de l’OMC a continué à travailler principalement sur le lien entre le commerce et le développement. Il a examiné la mise en oeuvre des dispositions relatives au traitement spécial et différencié pour les pays en développement qui figurent dans les Accords et décisions de l’OMC, ainsi que la participation des économies en développement au commerce mondial. Le Comité a aussi continué à mettre en oeuvre le Programme de travail sur le commerce électronique. Parmi les questions clés examinées par le Sous-Comité des pays les moins avancés (PMA) figuraient les activités de renforcement des capacités, l’accès aux marchés pour les PMA et l’assistance technique.

This chapter is neither an academic article for scholars nor a practical guide for practitioners. This is a chapter in which I express some reflections on the operations and functioning of the Appellate Body based on my experience as a member of this body in its early days. It has been almost fifteen years since I left the Appellate Body and many things must have changed. Also, my memories of the experience are becoming a bit blurred. However, I hope that this chapter is of some relevance today.

En 2015, el Instituto de Formación y Cooperación Técnica (IFCT) de la OMC llevó a cabo 321 actividades de asistencia técnica destinadas a ayudar a los funcionarios públicos a comprender mejor las normas de la OMC y el sistema multilateral de comercio. El número de participantes en estas actividades de formación fue de unos 14.900, frente a 14.700 en 2014. Los países menos adelantados (PMA) se beneficiaron del 52% de las actividades de asistencia técnica. Casi la mitad de los participantes accedió a la formación por medio de los recursos de aprendizaje en línea de la plataforma electrónica de la OMC.

The WTO’s top-level decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference, which usually meets every two years.

En 2012, el Marco Integrado mejorado (MIM) -que es el programa de Ayuda para el Comercio destinado a los países menos adelantados (PMA)- fue calificado por un equipo independiente como “altamente pertinente” para las prioridades comerciales y de desarrollo de los PMA. Por lo tanto, el Comité Directivo del MIM prorrogó el mandato del MIM hasta finales de 2015, con un plazo operativo complementario para la ejecución de proyectos hasta 2017. Hasta el momento, 43 países, frente a 40 a finales de 2011, han recibido asistencia para fortalecer sus instituciones comerciales y hacer frente a las dificultades comerciales. El MIM recibe fondos de donantes que, al 31 de diciembre de 2012, habían prometido contribuciones por valor de 240 millones de dólares EE.UU. y aportado unos 178 millones de dólares EE.UU. (frente a 155 millones de dólares EE.UU. en 2011).

This publication contains the text of the WTO’s founding agreement, the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, and its Annexes, including all amendments and additions since its entry into force until September 2017. These include an amendment to the WTO’s intellectual property agreement (TRIPS Agreement) aimed at improving developing countries’ access to medicines, the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement, which entered into force in February 2017, an amendment adopted in July 2017 to extend the frequency of peer review periods under the Trade Policy Review Mechanism as of 2019, and the amended Government Procurement Agreement. This publication updates and replaces The Legal Texts: The Results of the Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations, which was first printed in 1994.

The Third Global Review of Aid for Trade, held on 18-19 July 2011, showed that traderelated assistance has helped to alleviate poverty by increasing export performance and employment. In 2009, Aid for Trade commitments reached approximately US$ 40 billion, a 60 per cent increase from the 2002-05 baseline period. However, the review also highlighted the need to measure the effectiveness of Aid for Trade and to ensure that it is always compatible with the goals of sustainable development.

The Appellate Body circulated reports in two disputes during 2013, both involving Canadian measures in the renewable energy sector. Canada had appealed the findings of the panel reports in both cases earlier in the year. One arbitration proceeding concerning the reasonable period of time for implementation of Dispute Settlement Body recommendations and rulings was carried out in 2013. Two members of the Appellate Body, Ricardo Ramírez-Hernández and Peter Van den Bossche, completed their first terms and were reappointed. David Unterhalter completed his second and final term. A new member of the Appellate Body will be appointed in 2014.

In 2013, the WTO received 35 new notifications of regional trade agreements (RTAs), down from 37 in 2012. The notifications involved 22 RTAs. Three of these were between developed partners, with another nine involving developed and developing partners. The remaining ten were between developing country partners. The Americas was the region with the highest number of notifications – 12 – followed by Europe with seven.