Acerca de la OMC

El Consejo del Comercio de Mercancías de la OMC se está convirtiendo cada vez más en un foro en el que se plantean preocupaciones comerciales, y en las cuatro reuniones que celebró en 2013 los Miembros plantearon varias preocupaciones de esa índole, algunas de las cuales están siendo objeto de consultas en el marco del Entendimiento sobre Solución de Diferencias de la OMC. El Consejo también aprobó varias solicitudes de exención, individuales y colectivas, como la prórroga de la exención relativa a la aplicación de un régimen preferencial autónomo a Moldova y la armonización en curso de las listas arancelarias.

L’OMC a vu le jour le 1er janvier 1995, succédant à l’Accord général sur les tarifs douaniers et le commerce qui régissait le commerce mondial depuis 1948. Au cours des 25 dernières années, l’OMC a largement contribué à la solidité et à la stabilité de l’économie mondiale, aidant à stimuler la croissance du commerce, à régler de nombreux différends commerciaux et à soutenir l’intégration des pays en développement dans le système commercial.

As a former official within the Secretariat of the GATT/WTO with responsibility for TRIPS matters, my aim in this chapter is to set the scene for the contributions to this book of the negotiators themselves, by outlining the origins and various stages of the negotiations that led to the TRIPS Agreement. I will also make some general observations on the negotiations, in particular on how it proved possible to negotiate an agreement as substantial as the TRIPS Agreement and on why the WTO has been finding it difficult to achieve results comparable to those of the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations. I will, of course, do this from the perspective of a former Secretariat official; other chapters will add additional perspectives. I should add that I left the WTO Secretariat in 2008.

The Committee on Trade and Development continued work on the link between trade and development, as instructed by trade ministers. They considered possible future work for the Committee on electronic commerce and continued discussion of duty-free and quota-free market access for least-developed countries (LDCs). They also discussed the monitoring mechanism for special and differential treatment (S&D) for developing countries in WTO agreements and decisions.

Los Miembros de la OMC se centraron en la aplicación de los resultados de las Conferencias Ministeriales de Nairobi y Bali y en el cumplimiento de las instrucciones impartidas por los Ministros en Nairobi en relación con las negociaciones comerciales. Tras un período de reflexión en el primer semestre del año, se reactivó de manera constructiva la labor en varias esferas de las negociaciones a partir de julio, cuando los Miembros empezaron a poner sus miras en la Undécima Conferencia Ministerial, que se celebrará en Buenos Aires en diciembre de 2017. En respuesta al éxito alcanzado en Bali y en Nairobi, el sector privado instó a la OMC a que lograra nuevos resultados que impulsaran el crecimiento y el desarrollo.

En 2009, la Division de l'information et des relations extérieures a continué d'avoir des contacts réguliers avec les journalistes de Genève et du monde entire. Elle a organisé près de 160 séances d'information à l'OMC auxquelles ont participé près de 4 800 personnes.

En 2009, le Comité du commerce et de l'environnement — réuni en session ordinaire — s'est intéressé principalement à l'effet des mesures environnementales sur l'accès aux marchés, en particulier pour les pays en développement. Il a accordé une attention particulière aux situations gagnantes sur les trois plans, dans lesquelles l'élimination ou la réduction des restrictions et des distorsions des échanges serait bénéfique pour le commerce, l'environnement et le développement. En juin 2009, les Secrétariats de l'OMC et du Programme des Nations Unies pour l'environnement (PNUE ) ont publié un rapport conjoint intitulé Commerce et changement climatique. Au cours de l'année, le Secrétariat de l'OMC a organisé trois ateliers régionaux sur le commerce et l'environnement.

This report was jointly prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Secretariat of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The WTO’s Committee on Trade and Development continued to focus on the link between trade and development. It considered the implementation of special and differential treatment provisions for developing countries in WTO agreements and decisions, and discussed the participation of developing economies in global trade. It also pressed ahead with implementing the work programme on electronic commerce. Key issues for its Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries (LDCs) included capacity-building initiatives, market access for LDCs and technical assistance.

In 2011, the General Council oversaw the progress of the Doha Round negotiations on the basis of reports from the Director-General in his capacity as Chair of the Trade Negotiations Committee. The General Council also heard the Director-General’s annual report on accessions as well as his report on the development assistance aspects of cotton. Ahead of the December Ministerial Conference, the General Council agreed on three broad themes – the ‘Elements for Political Guidance’. These were the importance of the multilateral trading system, trade and development, and the Doha Development Agenda.

El Informe sobre el Comercio Mundial 2007 ha hecho un recorrido a lo largo de los sesenta años de cooperación comercial multilateral transcurridos desde el nacimiento del GATT, el 1º de enero de 1948. El mundo ha cambiado mucho en estas seis décadas, y el sistema multilateral de comercio también. La mundialización ha hecho que la interacción económica entre los países sea más estrecha que nunca, gracias en gran medida a la revolución experimentada por las tecnologías de la información y el transporte y a la creciente apertura de las políticas gubernamentales. La tendencia hacia una mayor interdependencia ha hecho que la cooperación económica internacional sea más compleja y multifacética. La cooperación entre los países es más difícil de gestionar y cada vez influye más en las condiciones de vida de las personas. El sistema tiene un alcance considerablemente mayor, y en la actualidad son muchas más las instancias que contribuyen a darle forma. De los 23 signatarios iniciales del GATT se ha pasado a los 151 Miembros de la OMC.

In 2016, the WTO cooperated with other intergovernmental organizations on many trade-related issues. Director-General Roberto Azevêdo participated in events organized by the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and attended the G20 summit in Hangzhou, China. The WTO continued to publish reports on G20 trade and investment measures, together with UNCTAD and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Facing social turmoil, financial crisis and nationalist conflict, the world in the early 20th century was far from secure. Yet the "Roaring Twenties" were dynamic, optimistic times. From the ashes of the First World War, hope rose for a new era of international cooperation, and new international institutions were envisioned in furtherance of this ideal.

La Ayuda para el Comercio sigue movilizando recursos internacionales. Aunque los compromisos se redujeron en el 14% hasta situarse en 41.500 millones de dólares EE.UU. en 2011, las cifras disponibles más recientes indican que siguen siendo un 57% más elevados que en el período de referencia de 2002-2005. Ese nivel más elevado corresponde a cantidades “adicionales”, es decir, a dinero nuevo y no a fondos de otros compromisos de ayuda. El Cuarto Examen Global de la Ayuda para el Comercio, realizado en julio, se centró en el tema “conectarse a las cadenas de valor”. En diciembre, la Conferencia Ministerial de la OMC reiteró el mandato impartido al Director General de emprender acciones a favor de la Ayuda para el Comercio.

En 2013, el Premio OMC de Ensayo para Jóvenes Economistas recayó en el economista alemán Felix Tintelnot por un artículo sobre las decisiones de las empresas multinacionales sobre su ubicación y su producción. El Jurado concedió una mención de honor a Benjamin Faber, igualmente de nacionalidad alemana, por su trabajo sobre el comercio internacional, el precio de la calidad y la desigualdad.

En 2010, cinq rapports détaillés sur l'évolution du commerce mondial ont été établis par le Secrétariat de l'OMC au nom du Directeur général. Trois d'entre eux, portant sur les mesures en matière de commerce et d'investissement adoptées par les pays du Groupe des 20 (G-20), ont été préparés conjointement avec les secrétariats de l'Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques (OCDE) et de la Conférence des Nations Unies sur le commerce et le développement (CNUCED). Les deux autres rapports, qui analysaient les mesures pertinentes prises par les Membres de l'OMC et les observateurs, ont été examinés aux réunions de l'OEPC. Le Directeur général a souligné, lors de ces réunions, que la crise mondiale et l'exercice de suivi du commerce de l'OMC avaient bien montré l'importance d'une plus grande transparence pour le bon fonctionnement du système commercial multilatéral.

En 2014, la OMC cooperó con diversas organizaciones intergubernamentales, como las Naciones Unidas, la Organización de Cooperación y Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE), el FMI y el Banco Mundial. La OMC publicó, con la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre Comercio y Desarrollo (UNCTAD) y la OCDE, informes conjuntos sobre la evolución del comercio y la inversión en el Grupo de las 20 principales economías desarrolladas y en desarrollo (G-20).

This introductory chapter outlines the development of the role of law and lawyers in the multilateral trading system from its birth in 1948 until today. It recounts the various ways that law and lawyers have been included (and sometimes excluded) first in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and then in the World Trade Organization (WTO) system. It traces the ways in which the GATT and WTO Secretariats have been structured and legal work has been distributed over time. It further seeks to uncover the various and complex historical processes and circumstances that have led the WTO to become one of the most important players in the development of international law and, according to many commentators, a prime example of the possibility and value of the international rule of law.

It was a demanding year for WTO dispute settlement in 2013, with adjudicating bodies examining 28 disputes on issues from green energy production to the banning of seal products. The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), which met 13 times, received 20 requests for consultations, the first stage in the dispute settlement process. Developing countries launched nine of the requests, with Latin America particularly active. The rising workload poses challenges for the WTO Secretariat. On a positive note, the WTO’s Digital Dispute Settlement Registry moved into its testing phase.

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) figured prominently on the agenda of the Council for Trade in Services in 2011. Discussions focused on e-commerce and international mobile roaming. The council concluded the third review of most-favourednation (MFN) exemptions and continued its discussions of specific services sectors and modes of supply, on the basis of background notes produced by the WTO Secretariat.

En 2012, los negociadores siguieron tratando de desbloquear el Programa de Doha para el Desarrollo y realizaron ciertos progresos en varios ámbitos, en particular en la facilitación del comercio, la agricultura y la solución de diferencias.

I admire the achievements of panels and the Appellate Body, and of the unsung heroes who assist them behind the scenes. Over the past decade, they have succeeded in developing a coherent jurisprudence and in maintaining the support of the membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for the dispute settlement system. However, when evaluating the performance of the WTO dispute settlement system, one should not only examine how panels and the Appellate Body handled the complaints that were actually submitted to them. An evaluation of that system is only complete if it comprises also an analysis of the complaints that Members did not bring. The focus of this chapter is on one feature of the WTO dispute settlement system that has prevented Members from resorting to that system to assert their rights in many situations.

During 2010 the Trade Policy Review Body (TPR B) reviewed 19 WTO members: Malaysia, El Salvador, Croatia, Armenia, Albania, the People’s Republic of China, Malawi, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei), The Gambia, Honduras, the United States, Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Sri Lanka, Belize, Papua New Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Hong Kong, China. The Chair’s concluding remarks for these reviews are reproduced below.

In 2012, the General Council agreed that the Ninth Ministerial Conference will be held in Bali, Indonesia. It oversaw the progress of the Doha Round negotiations on the basis of reports from the Director-General in his capacity as Chair of the Trade Negotiations Committee. It heard the Director-General’s annual report on accessions and on the development assistance aspects of cotton. In July, it adopted recommendations on the accession of least-developed countries (LDCs) as mandated by the Eighth Ministerial Conference. It also reviewed progress in the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce.

In 2016, the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) reviewed the trade policies and practices of 23 WTO members. By the end of 2016, the TPRB had conducted 452 reviews since its establishment in 1989, covering 153 of the 164 WTO members. During the year, members agreed further reforms to the trade policy review mechanism, including adjusting the frequency of undertaking trade policy reviews.

Trade monitoring reports showed a slight decrease in the number of new trade-restrictive measures introduced by WTO members. The WTO revised downwards its trade forecasts for 2016, predicting the slowest pace of trade and output growth since the financial crisis of 2009. The monitoring reports underscore the need for WTO members to work together to ensure that the benefits of trade are spread more widely and are better understood.

L’Accord de l’OMC sur les obstacles techniques au commerce (Accord OTC) est entré en vigueur au moment de la création de l’Organisation mondiale du commerce, le 1er janvier 1995. Il vise à faire en sorte que les prescriptions relatives aux produits figurant dans les réglementations et les normes (concernant la sécurité, la qualité, la santé, etc.), ainsi que les procédures d’évaluation de la conformité des produits avec ces prescriptions (essais, inspection, accréditation, etc.), ne soient pas indûment discriminatoires et/ou ne créent pas d’obstacles non nécessaires au commerce.

As Swiss writer Paul Budry observed, George Épitaux's building is extraordinary in its sobriety. The edifice avoids ostentatiousness, rather drawing strength through unity. He describes it as a "disciplined mass" united through the action of those working within its walls. The one notable departure from this moderation is the northern tower, reaching skyward like a lighthouse. The paradox of such a sleek building is that while it may appear simple, it requires an immense amount of forethought to execute such pure lines.

This chapter assesses the trade facilitation performance of the countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and determines the welfare and sectoral effects of trade facilitation improvements within the context of regional trade integration. It shows that introducing a trade facilitation provision in the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA) will lead to a significant welfare increase for all MENA sub-regions compared with a scenario of further trade liberalization without trade facilitation. Trade facilitation in the GAFTA would enhance export competitiveness and lead to a significant increase in overall and intra-trade export value for all countries, but particularly for the Mashreq and Maghreb countries. In the analysis, all sub-regions witnessed an export boost in agro-food product exports, particularly those products in which the Mashreq and Maghreb countries have a comparative advantage. The welfare-enhancing results of this analysis indicate that the MENA region has a high stake in implementing the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA), and should begin with areas that contribute the most to trade cost reduction, such as automation and streamlining of trade procedures.

During 2010 the TRIPS Council reviewed intellectual property legislation in individual countries and discussed the relationship between the TRIPS Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity, TRIPS and public health, technical cooperation and capacity building and a number of other matters, in addition to the issues reported in the section on negotiations.

My work in the WTO as a professional educated in law and economics has been principally concerned with policy development and negotiations in less-established areas of WTO work, as opposed to dispute settlement or legal interpretation as such. It has had two main areas of focus: the interaction of trade and competition policy and international government procurement disciplines, although it has also touched on such disparate matters as the nature and determinants of economic development and the relationship of the organisation’s rules to human rights. It has been genuinely interdisciplinary in nature, involving the use of legal tools and analysis, economic insights, and policy improvisation in roughly equal measures. My years in the WTO have, perhaps, not always borne out Holmes’ dictum that ‘[t]he life of the law has not been logic: it has been experience’,1 though I have much sympathy with that viewpoint. They have, in any case, convinced me that empirical evidence is as important as logic in policy formulation; that progress in the formulation of international policies and legal disciplines will often be by fits and starts; and that the WTO and its rules have a noble mission and a huge contribution to make to human welfare, notwithstanding that the organisation’s role is frequently misunderstood and cannot be separated from broader economic, policy and political exigencies.

Building the trade capacity of developing countries through initiatives such as Aid for Trade was one of the major issues discussed by the Committee on Trade and Development in 2008. During the year, Aid for Trade focused on three clear priorities: Improving monitoring; accelerating implementation of projects; and strengthening developing-country ownership of the initiative. A total of 496 training activities were provided for government officials.

En 2011, le Groupe de travail du commerce, de la dette et des finances a aidé à remédier à certaines carences structurelles sur le marché du financement du commerce. En particulier, lors du Sommet de Séoul, le G-20 a demandé à l'OMC d'« évaluer et de surveiller » l'efficacité des programmes gérés par les banques multilatérales de développement afin de faciliter l'accès des pays à faible revenu au financement du commerce. Les travaux entrepris par l'OMC dans le domaine du financement du commerce ont bénéficié de l'interaction positive entre les Membres de l'OMC et le Groupe d'experts sur le financement du commerce convoqué par le Directeur général.

En 2011, le Comité du budget, des finances et de l'administration a examiné les propositions budgétaires pour la période biennale 2012-2013 pour l'OMC et le Centre du commerce international (ITC) et a étudié les questions relatives aux Membres ayant des arriérés de contributions importants, au projet de construction et aux ressources humaines.

The Ministerial Conference of the WTO, composed of representatives of all the Members, is the highest decision-making body of the organization, and is required to meet at least once every two years. Ministerial Conferences review ongoing work, provide political guidance and direction to that work, and set the agenda for further work as necessary.

En 2011, l'OMC a participé activement à la quatrième Conférence des Nations Unies sur les pays les moins avancés et a intensifié sa coopération avec diverses organisations intergouvernementales, dont l'Organisation des Nations Unies, l'Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques (OCDE), l'Organisation internationale du travail (OIT), le Fonds monétaire international (FMI) et la Banque mondiale. L'OMC a publié des rapports sur l'évolution du commerce et de l'investissement dans les pays du Groupe des 20 (G-20), en collaboration avec la Conférence des Nations Unies sur le commerce et le développement (CNUCED) et l'OCDE.

The WTO began life on 1 January 1995 but its trading system is half a century older. Since 1948, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) had provided the rules for the system. Whereas GATT had mainly dealt with trade in goods, the WTO and its agreements now cover trade in services, and in traded inventions, creations and designs (intellectual property).