Trade monitoring
Public information activities
In 2011, the WTO continued to have regular contact with journalists, in Geneva and around the world, and hosted 39 information briefings in Geneva. The WTO organized a number of training activities for journalists, and made increased use of social media to communicate news and promote events. During 2011, the WTO website was revamped to give a stronger sense of what the WTO does and to make it easier for visitors to the site to find information. The WTO further expanded its publications programme, in particular its co-publications with other international organizations.
Report by the WTO Secretariat
The openness and transparency of the U.S. trade regime have been key contributing factors to the efficiency that characterizes the U.S. economy as a whole. Since its last Review in 2006, the United States has taken further steps to liberalize its trade regime, although mostly on a preferential basis. In the face of the economic uncertainty prevalent in early 2008, U.S. welfare would be best promoted by exploiting the adjustment capacity of the U.S. economy and continuing to reduce barriers to market access and other distorting measures, including those that result from high levels of assistance in agriculture and energy. Moreover, ongoing efforts to incorporate additional security considerations into U.S. trade and investment policies should be pursued within the framework of the risk-based approach that seems to have served the United States well. Further reforms undertaken on a MFN basis would also lessen distortions in global markets and strengthen the multilateral trading system, as the United States is both the world’s largest single economy and trader.
Composition of geographical and economic groupings
WTO members are frequently referred to as “country”, although some members are not countries in the usual sense of the word but are officially “customs territories”. The definition of geographical and other groupings in this report does not imply an expression of opinion by the Secretariat concerning the status of any country or territory, the delimitation of its frontiers, nor on the rights and obligations of any WTO Member in respect of WTO Agreements. The colours, boundaries, denominations, and classifications in the maps of this publication do not imply, on the part of the WTO, any judgement on the legal or other status of any territory, or any endorsement or acceptance of any boundary.
Solución de diferencias
En 2008 el Órgano de Solución de Diferencias (OSD) recibió 19 notificaciones de Miembros de la OMC en las que se solicitaba formalmente la celebración de consultas en el marco del Entendimiento sobre Solución de Diferencias. Durante este período, el OSD estableció 3 grupos especiales para pronunciarse sobre 5 casos nuevos, el número más bajo de grupos especiales establecidos en un año desde la creación de la OMC. En 2008 se presentaron ante el Órgano de Apelación 13 apelaciones contra informes de grupos especiales.
Comercio de mercancías
China, los Estados Unidos, Alemania y el Japón siguieron siendo los cuatro principales exportadores e importadores de mercancías en 2015. China, con exportaciones por un valor total de 2,27 billones de dólares EE.UU. y una participación del 14% en las exportaciones mundiales, fue el principal exportador, seguida de los Estados Unidos (1,50 billones de dólares EE.UU. y el 9% de las exportaciones mundiales), Alemania (1,33 billones de dólares EE.UU. y el 8%) y el Japón (624.000 millones de dólares EE.UU. y el 4%). Los Países Bajos fueron el quinto exportador más importante, con exportaciones por un valor total de 567.000 millones de dólares EE.UU. y el 3% de las exportaciones mundiales (véase el cuadro A6).
Preface
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.