A propos de l’OMC
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Introduction
Provisional application of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1947) began 70 years ago in 1948 and the same year the first GATT dispute was initiated. In total 316 disputes were brought under the GATT 1947 and related agreements in its almost 50 years of provisional application.
Disclaimer
In the interest of accuracy this publication uses the historical names of GATT contracting parties as they were used at the time of each dispute e.g. Ceylon Czechoslovakia Hong Kong the Federal Republic of Germany Yugoslavia or the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Likewise this publication makes reference to EEC-6 EEC-9 EEC-10 or EEC-12 to reflect different stages of enlargement of the European Economic Communities. It also refers to individual EEC member States (e.g. France Italy etc.) for cases when these countries acted in their own capacity.
Overview
The year 2018 marked the 70th anniversary of the provisional application of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT 1947). Although it was intended to be applied on a provisional basis the GATT 1947 governed international trade for almost half a century. Its principles rules and procedures evolved over this period to respond to the changing needs and challenges of GATT contracting parties providing the basis for today’s strengthened international trade rules under the GATT’s successor the World Trade Organization (WTO).
GATT Disputes: 1948-1995 - Overview and One-Page Case Summaries (Vol. 1)
GATT disputes: 1948-1995 (Volume 1) provides verified and factual information on disputes brought by contracting parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) from 1948 to 1995 when the GATT was superseded by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The publication provides a comprehensive overview of dispute settlement activities under the GATT 1947 and a one-page case summary for each of the 316 GATT disputes brought by contracting parties during this period. Volume 2 of this publication covers GATT dispute settlement procedures. The two volumes offer insights into the evolution of dispute settlement under the GATT 1947 which served as the foundation for the Dispute Settlement Understanding created by the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO.
GATT Disputes: 1948-1995 - Dispute Settlement Procedures (Vol. 2)
GATT disputes: 1948-1995 (Volume 2) compiles documents regarding dispute settlement procedures under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1947 and other selected documents. It complements Volume 1 which provides a comprehensive overview of dispute settlement activities under the GATT 1947 and a one-page case summary for each of the 316 disputes brought by GATT contracting parties from 1948 to 1995 when the GATT was superseded by the World Trade Organization (WTO). The two volumes offer insights into the evolution of dispute settlement under the GATT 1947 which served as the foundation for the Dispute Settlement Understanding created by the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO.
United States - Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products - Recourse 2
On 14 December 2018 the Appellate Body issued its report in the cases brought by Mexico and the United States in “United States - Measures Concerning the Importation Marketing and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products — Second Recourse to Article 21.5 of the DSU by Mexico” (DS381).
Brazil - Certain Measures Concerning Taxation and Charges
On 13 December 2018 the Appellate Body issued its report in the cases by the European Union and Japan in “Brazil - Certain Measures Concerning Taxation and Charges” (DS472 and DS497).
E-commerce and Developing Country-SME Participation in Global Value Chains
Two far-reaching developments have increased the trade opportunities for SMEs in developing countries. Firstly the rise of the internet and advances in ICT have reduced trade-related information and communication costs. Secondly the international fragmentation of production has increased the opportunities for SMEs to specialize in narrow activities at various stages along the production chain.
India - Certain Measures on Imports of Iron and Steel Products
On 6 November 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Japan in “India - Certain Measures on Imports of Iron and Steel Products” (DS518).
Addressing Tensions and Avoiding Disputes
Most specific trade concerns (STCs) which are raised before the WTO Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Committee) disappear from the TBT Committee’s meeting agendas without escalating into formal disputes. At the same time a relatively small number of TBT-related disputes have been subject to the WTO dispute settlement procedures. By examining the practice of raising STCs and the relationship between STCs and disputes the paper emphasises the role of STCs as a trade tension resolution mechanism.
Competition policy, trade and the global economy: Existing WTO elements, commitments in regional trade agreements, current challenges and issues for reflection
Competition policy today is an essential element of the legal and institutional framework for the global economy. Whereas decades ago anti-competitive practices tended to be viewed mainly as a domestic phenomenon most facets of competition law enforcement now have an important international dimension. Examples include: the investigation and prosecution of price fixing and market sharing arrangements that often spill across national borders and in important instances encircle the globe; multiple recent prominent cases of abuses of a dominant position in high-tech network industries; important current cases involving transnational energy markets; and major corporate mergers that often need to be simultaneously reviewed by multiple jurisdictions.
Morocco - Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Steel from Turkey
On 31 October 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Turkey in “Morocco - Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Hot-Rolled Steel from Turkey” (DS513).
The “China Shock” Revisited
We exploit a decomposition of gross trade flows into their value added components to reassess the relationship between increased imports from China and manufacturing jobs in US local labour markets following the seminal paper of Autor Dorn and Hanson (2013 ADH).
How Regional Trade Agreements Deal with Disputes Concerning their TBT Provisions?
This paper investigates how RTAs treat disputes concerning their TBT provisions in particular whether they treat them differently from other types of dispute and how they deal with any potential overlap with the WTO when the substantive obligations of the RTA and the WTO TBT Agreement are the same (or similar).
European Union and its Member States - Certain Measures Relating to the Energy Sector
On 10 August 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by the Russian Federation in “European Union and its Member States — Certain Measures Relating to the Energy Sector.
Russia - Measures Affecting the Importation of Railway Equipment and Parts thereof
On 30 July 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Ukraine in “Russia - Measures affecting the importation of railway equipment and parts thereof.
Ukraine - Anti-Dumping Measures on Ammonium Nitrate
On 20 July 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Russia in “Ukraine — Anti-Dumping Measures on Ammonium Nitrate.
United States - Countervailing Measures on Supercalendered Paper from Canada
On 5 July 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Canada in “United States - Countervailing Measures on Supercalendered Paper from Canada.
Australia - Certain Measures Concerning Trademarks, Geographical Indications and Other Plain Packaging Requirements Applicable to Tobacco Products and Packaging
On 28 June 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the cases brought by Honduras the Dominican Republic Cuba and Indonesia in “Australia — Certain Measures Concerning Trademarks Geographical Indications and Other Plain Packaging Requirements Applicable to Tobacco Products and Packaging.
Digital Connectivity & E-Commerce
Digital networks are an increasingly critical component of global trade. In 2017 the Global Review of Aid for Trade highlighted the importance of accessible and affordable connections for trade connectivity. Drawing extensively on information harvested in the Monitoring and Evaluation exercise in preparation for the Review this paper analyses aid for trade for digital connectivity and e-commerce.
Supporting development and building trade capacity
The WTO aims to help developing countries build their trade capacity and allows them a longer time to implement trade agreements. Hundreds of training courses are organized each year for officials from developing countries.
Trade negotiations
WTO members worked hard to advance trade negotiations ahead of the 11th Ministerial Conference (MC11) held on 10-13 December 2017 in Buenos Aires.
Outreach
The WTO maintains regular dialogue with the business community non-governmental organizations parliamentarians other international organizations the media and the general public to enhance cooperation and raise awareness of trade issues.
Implementation and monitoring
The General Council reappointed Director-General Roberto Azevêdo to second four-year term.
How the WTO is structured
The WTO’s top-level decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference which usually meets every two years.
Dispute settlement
WTO members bring disputes to the WTO if they think their rights under trade agreements are being infringed. Settling disputes is the responsibility of the Dispute Settlement Body.
Secretariat and budget
The WTO Secretariat has over 600 regular staff who coordinate the activities of the WTO. Most of the WTO’s annual budget consists of contributions by its members.
Annual Report 2018
The WTO’s Annual Report 2018 provides a comprehensive account of the organization’s activities in 2017 and early 2018. The Report opens with a message from Director-General Roberto Azevêdo and a brief overview of the year. This is followed by more in-depth accounts of the WTO’s various areas of activity over the past 12 months. The Report also includes “spotlights” highlighting major WTO events and activities including the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference held in Buenos Aires.
European Union - Countervailing Measures on Certain Polyethylene Terephthalate from Pakistan
On 16 May 2018 the WTO Appellate Body issued its report in the case “European Union — Countervailing Duties on Certain Polyethylene Terephthalate from Pakistan.
How Does the Regular Work of WTO Influence Regional Trade Agreements?
This paper illustrates how the work of the WTO's standing committees is fuelling regulatory cooperation between WTO members and inspiring RTA negotiators.
WTO Trade Monitoring Ten Years on Lessons Learned and Challenges Ahead
A decade has passed since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008. Less than a month after the collapse of the investment bank Lehman Brothers an internal Secretariat Task Force was established by the WTO Director-General to monitor the trade related developments associated with the global financial crisis.
European Communities and Certain Member States - Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft (Boeing - Airbus) - Recourse 1
On 6 October 2004 the United States requested consultations with the Governments of Germany France the United Kingdom and Spain (the “member States”) and with the European Communities (“EC”) concerning measures affecting trade in large civil aircraft.
Specialization Within Global Value Chains
This paper studies the factors of comparative advantage within global value chains relying on a framework where comparative advantage is measured through the interaction of country and industry characteristics.
Korea - Anti-Dumping Duties on Pneumatic Valves from Japan
On 12 April 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Japan in “Korea - Anti-Dumping Duties on Pneumatic Valves from Japan".
Recent Trade Dynamics in Asia
This paper looks at the extent to which the shift in the lower value added production to countries in the following development "tier" is actually becoming a reality.
Russia - Anti-dumping Duties on Light Commercial Vehicles from Germany and Italy
On 22 March 2018 the WTO Appellate Body issued its report in the case “Russia — Anti-Dumping Duties on Light Commercial Vehicles from Germany and Italy.
United States - Countervailing Duty Measures on Certain Products from China - Recourse 1
On 25 May 2012 China requested consultations with the United States concerning the imposition of countervailing duty measures by the United States on certain products from China. China challenges various aspects of certain identified countervailing duty investigations including their opening conduct and the preliminary and final determinations that led to the imposition of countervailing duties. China also challenges the “rebuttable presumption” allegedly established and applied by the US Department of Commerce that majority government ownership is sufficient to treat an enterprise as a “public body”.
Can Economic Sanctions be Effective?
While economic sanctions may be attractive policy tools for governments wanting to express discontent with a country's behaviour it is arguable if from an economic perspective sanctions can achieve the change that is often envisaged through the punitive measures taken. In fact the literature does not present conclusive evidence that economic sanctions are an effective policy instrument. Nevertheless the number of sanction episodes is on the rise and have increasingly gained in popularity in recent years. What can explain that?
Competition Agency Guidelines and Policy Initiatives Regarding the Application of Competition Law Vis-À-Vis Intellectual Property
Competition agency guidelines policy statements and related advocacy are an important vehicle for policy expression and the guidance of firms across the full spectrum of anti-competitive practices and market conduct.
Least-Developed Countries, Transfer of Technology and the Trips Agreement
This paper examines the background of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement the nature of this obligation on developed country Members that pertains to the promotion of technology transfer to LDC Members and how it is being implemented and how such implementation is being monitored in the TRIPS Council.
Korea - Import Bans, and Testing and Certification Requirements for Radionuclides
On 22 February 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Japan in “Korea - Import Bans and Testing and Certification Requirements for Radionuclides".
Appellate Body annual report for 2017
Annual reports on the work of the Appellate Body and its Secretariat have been issued since 2003. These reports contain information about the composition of the Appellate Body the appeals filed and the Appellate Body reports circulated during the period covered as well as technical assistance and other developments. The annual reports also provide up-to-date information on a range of topics relating to appellate proceedings including the subject matter of disputes and procedural issues raised in appeals as well as statistics on the WTO agreements addressed the percentage of panel reports appealed and the participation of WTO Members in appeals. It also contains key speeches delivered by AB Members during the covered period.
European Union - Anti-Dumping Measures on Biodiesel from Indonesia
On 25 January 2018 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Indonesia in “European Union - Anti-Dumping Measures on Biodiesel from Indonesia”
China - Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty Measures on Broiler Products from the United States - Recourse 1
On 20 September 2011 the United States requested consultations with China concerning China's measures imposing anti-dumping and countervailing duties on broiler products from the United States.
United States - Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures on Certain Coated Paper from Indonesia
On 6 December 2017 the WTO circulated the panel report in the dispute brought by Indonesia in “United States — Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Measures On Certain Coated Paper From Indonesia
United States - Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from Korea
On 14 November 2017 the WTO circulated the panel report in the case brought by Korea in “United States - Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Oil Country Tubular Goods from Korea”
Trade, Technology, and Prosperity
Trade and technological change continually alter the workplace and labor-market outcomes with consequences for economy-wide welfare and the distribution of real incomes.