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Introduction
This book examines three issues that are central to the future of the World Trade Organization (WTO): dispute settlement; the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations; and the relationship between regional integration and the multilateral trading system. Dispute settlement is often described as one of the most successful functions of the WTO. Some commentators have expressed concern about the imbalance between the effectiveness of the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism, on the one hand, and the difficulties facing the WTO as a negotiating forum, on the other hand. Some of these concerns may have been put to rest with the successful launch of the DDA in 2001. At the time this book was edited, intense negotiations were taking place in the context of the DDA, but much remained to be negotiated. It has long been recognized that regional integration could support the aims of the multilateral trading system. Today, however, several observers are expressing concern about the proliferation of regional trade agreements (RTAs). These observers fear that, unless the DDA is concluded successfully, there will be greater pressure on WTO Members to pursue bilateral and regional avenues for trade liberalization, which could undermine the multilateral trading system. Thus, these three issues – dispute settlement, multilateral negotiations, and regional trade agreements – are closely inter-related and the future of the WTO in many ways may depend on how these three issues are addressed in the coming years.
Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization
Recognizing that their relations in the field of trade and economic endeavour should be conducted with a view to raising standards of living, ensuring full employment and a large and steadily growing volume of real income and effective demand, and expanding the production of and trade in goods and services, while allowing for the optimal use of the world’s resources in accordance with the objective of sustainable development, seeking both to protect and preserve the environment and to enhance the means for doing so in a manner consistent with their respective needs and concerns at different levels of economic development
L’OMC célèbre son 20e anniversaire
En 2015, l’OMC a célébré son 20e anniversaire avec une série d’événements – lancements de publications, expositions et autres activités spéciales – destinés à rappeler aux Membres de l’OMC et au public ce que l’OMC a réalisé au cours des 20 dernières années.
Our year
WTO work focused on implementing the decisions taken at the 2013 Bali Ministerial Conference and on advancing the remaining Doha Round issues. After a mid-year setback, WTO members succeeded in getting trade negotiations back on track by approving at the end of the year a number of important decisions relating to public stockholding for food security purposes, trade facilitation and the post-Bali work programme.
A History of Law and Lawyers in the GATT/WTO
How did a treaty that emerged in the aftermath of the Second World War, and barely survived its early years evolve into one of the most influential organisations in international law? This unique book brings together original contributions from an unprecedented number of eminent current and former GATT and WTO staff members, including many current and former Appellate Body members, to trace the history of law and lawyers in the GATT/WTO and explore how the nature of legal work has evolved over the institution’s sixty-year history. In doing so, it paints a fascinating portrait of the development of the rule of law in the multilateral trading system, and allows some of the most important personalities in GATT and WTO history to share their stories and reflect on the WTO’s remarkable journey from a ‘provisionally applied treaty’ to an international organisation defined by its commitment to the rule of law.
Activités d'information du public
En 2011, l'OMC a continué à avoir des contacts réguliers avec les journalistes, à Genève et ailleurs dans le monde. Elle a organisé 39 séances d'information à Genève. Elle a aussi organisé plusieurs activités de formation à l'intention des journalistes et a utilisé plus largement les médias sociaux pour diffuser des informations et promouvoir des événements. Au cours de l'année 2011, le site Web de l'OMC a été remanié pour mieux faire ressortir les activités de l'Organisation et faciliter la recherche de renseignements sur le site. L'OMC a encore étoffé son programme de publications, en particulier par ses copublications avec d'autres organisations internationales.
Órgano de Apelación
En 2010 se presentaron ante el Órgano de Apelación tres apelaciones de informes de grupos especiales, de un total de nueve informes, para los cuales expiró el plazo de 60 días para la adopción o apelación a lo largo del año. Las tres apelaciones se referían a procedimientos de grupos especiales iniciales. No se formuló ninguna apelación relativa al cumplimiento de resoluciones y recomendaciones anteriores.
‘Made in the World’
In 2011, the WTO was instrumental in a number of initiatives and activities to help policy-makers base their decisions on economically meaningful trade data. It co-organized a forum on measuring global trade, took part in other seminars and launched a book on changes in trade patterns in cooperation with the Japanese research institution IDE-JETRO. It is also working with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on developing best practice for measuring trade flows in value added.
Actividades de la OMC
La Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC) es el pilar jurídico e institucional del sistema multilateral de comercio. Establece las principales obligaciones contractuales que determinan cómo los gobiernos dan forma a las leyes y reglamentos nacionales en materia de comercio y los aplican. Además sirve de plataforma para el desarrollo de las relaciones comerciales entre los países mediante debates, negociaciones y decisiones colectivos.
Enhanced Integrated Framework
In 2015, work began on designing Phase Two of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) programme, which aims to help least-developed countries (LDCs) use trade as a tool for growth, development and poverty reduction. Phase Two, which runs from 2016 to 2022, was officially launched at the Fifth Global Review of Aid for Trade in July. An EIF pledging conference was held in December in Nairobi, when approximately US$ 90 million was promised. The EIF programme was incorporated into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Acknowledgements/Disclaimer
This publication was prepared by Arti Gobind Daswani, Roy Santana and János Volkai of the WTO Secretariat with the support of WTO Deputy Director-General Karl Brauner, Valerie Hughes (former Director of the WTO’s Legal Affairs Division), Suja Rishikesh Mavroidis (Director of the WTO Market Access Division) and John Adank (Director of the Legal Affairs Division). Special acknowledgment is owed to WTO staff members Jesse Kreier and Olga Falgueras Alamo, from the Rules Division, for their contribution to the compilation of relevant documents.
Fondo para la Aplicación de Normas y el Fomento del Comercio
El Fondo para la Aplicación de Normas y el Fomento del Comercio (STDF) siguió contribuyendo a elaborar y poner en práctica proyectos destinados a promover el cumplimiento de las normas internacionales en materia de inocuidad de los alimentos, salud de los animales y preservación de los vegetales y facilitar el acceso a los mercados. En 2015 los cinco organismos que gestionan el STDF, incluida la OMC, acordaron una nueva estrategia quinquenal. Además, el STDF concluyó un estudio sobre la mejora de la aplicación de los controles sanitarios y fitosanitarios.
Les négociations commerciales en 2015
2015, le Comité des négociations commerciales et ses organes subsidiaires se sont efforcés en priorité de produire des résultats significatifs pour la dixième Conférence ministérielle qui allait se tenir à Nairobi en décembre. Au premier semestre, les Membres de l’OMC se sont concentrés sur l’élaboration d’un programme de travail de l’après-Bali. Bien qu’ils n’aient pas réussi finalement à établir ce programme, ils ont redoublé d’efforts au second semestre pour produire des résultats substantiels à Nairobi. Les négociations pendant la Conférence ont abouti à l’adoption de six décisions ministérielles sur l’agriculture, le coton et les questions concernant les pays les moins avancés, qui constituent ensemble le « paquet de Nairobi ». Les Ministres ont également fait une déclaration sur l’avenir de l’OMC et sur les divergences de vues des Membres au sujet du Cycle de Doha.
Ayuda para el Comercio
La financiación de la ayuda para el comercio mantuvo su tendencia al alza; las cifras más recientes de que se dispone -correspondientes a 2013- muestran un aumento de los compromisos de 1.800 millones de dólares EE.UU. en comparación con el año anterior. Del 30 de junio al 2 de julio tuvo lugar el Quinto Examen Global de la Ayuda para el Comercio, cuyo tema era: “Reducir los costos del comercio con miras a un crecimiento inclusivo y sostenible”. En diciembre, la Décima Conferencia Ministerial reconoció que la iniciativa de Ayuda para el Comercio impulsada por la OMC seguía siendo necesaria y que se debía dar prioridad a los PMA.
Actividades de divulgación para parlamentarios
En 2010, la Secretaría de la OMC siguió distribuyendo su boletín mensual a un número cada vez mayor de parlamentarios. También organizó dos talleres regionales para parlamentarios en cooperación con asociados regionales.
Aide pour le commerce
Le troisième Examen global de l'Aide pour le commerce (18-19 juillet 2011) a montré que l'assistance liée au commerce avait aidé à réduire la pauvreté en améliorant les résultats à l'exportation et l'emploi. En 2009, les engagements au titre de l'Aide pour le commerce se sont élevés à environ 40 milliards de dollars EU, soit une augmentation de 60 pour cent par rapport à la période de référence 2002-2005. Toutefois, l'examen a aussi montré qu'il était nécessaire de mesurer l'efficacité de l'Aide pour le commerce et de veiller à ce qu'elle soit toujours compatible avec les objectifs de développement durable.
Launching the Appellate Body
In terms of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU), the creation of the Appellate Body can be considered a major departure from what had existed in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) before it was absorbed by the WTO. Certainly, the Uruguay Round yielded extremely significant changes from past practice, such as Article 23 forbidding the taking of unilateral action by any member of the WTO, or the provision on consensus, which eliminated the possibility that previously existed in the GATT whereby any contracting party could block any stage in the dispute settlement process. These two decisions transformed the system radically, resolving past uncertainties and ensuring an orderly and prompt adjudication of all cases submitted to panels and the Appellate Body.
WTO Members
Currently, the WTO has 164 Members. They are listed in the table below according to their designated full names as of the date of membership, or according to the names as subsequently submitted to the WTO Secretariat. In line with the practice of the WTO Secretariat, the remaining sections of this publication use the short names of Members as listed in the latest revision to document WT/INF/43/Rev.22, except in the titles of relevant accession protocols.