Trade monitoring
Introduction
The Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) was first established on a trial basis by the GATT contracting parties in April 1989. The Mechanism became a permanent feature of the World Trade Organization under the Marrakesh Agreement which established the WTO in January 1995.
Bref historique
L’OMC a vu le jour le 1er janvier 1995, mais le système commercial a 50 ans de plus qu’elle. En effet, il était régi depuis 1948 par l’Accord général sur les tarifs douaniers et le commerce (GATT), qui portait essentiellement sur le commerce des marchandises, alors que l’OMC et ses accords couvrent aussi le commerce des services et celui des inventions, des créations et des dessins et modèles (propriété intellectuelle).
Definitions and methodology
Two systems of recording merchandise exports and imports are in common use. They are referred to as general trade and special trade and differ mainly in the way warehoused and re-exported goods are treated. General trade figures are larger than the corresponding special trade figures because the latter exclude certain trade flows, such as goods shipped through bonded warehouses.