Trade monitoring
Regional trade agreements
In 2009, 37 new notifications on regional trade agreements (RTAs) (which include bilateral and inter-regional free trade agreements) were received by the WTO. This is the largest number of RTA notifications in any single year since the WTO’s establishment in 1995. Of the 457 RTAs notified to the WTO as of 31 December 2009, 266 were in force.
Composición, definiciones y metodología
El término “países” se utiliza con frecuencia para hacer referencia a los Miembros de la OMC, a pesar de que algunos Miembros no son países en el sentido usual del término, sino que se trata oficialmente de “territorios aduaneros”. La definición de grupos geográficos y de otro tipo empleada en el presente informe no implica la expresión de opinión alguna por parte de la Secretaría sobre la condición jurídica de ningún país o territorio, sobre la delimitación de sus fronteras ni sobre los derechos y obligaciones de ningún Miembro de la OMC respecto de los Acuerdos de la OMC. Los colores, fronteras, denominaciones y clasificaciones que figuran en los mapas de la presente publicación no implican, por parte de la OMC, ningún juicio sobre la condición jurídica o de otra índole de ningún territorio, ni constituyen una aprobación o aceptación de ninguna frontera.
Concluding Remarks by the Chairperson of the Trade Policy Review Body, H.E. Mr Eduardo Muñoz Gómez at the Trade Policy Review of Nicaragua 4 and 6 December 2012
This third Trade Policy Review of Nicaragua has improved our understanding of the trade and investment policies and practices of Nicaragua, of how they have evolved since the previous Review in 2006 and of their outlook. Areas have been highlighted where significant progress has been made, as well as those where there is room for improvement. We are grateful for the active participation of the Nicaraguan delegation, led by H.E. Mr Orlando Solórzano, Minister of Development, Industry and Trade. We also thank Ambassador Carlos Robelo Raffone, Permanent Representative of Nicaragua to the WTO, and the other members of the Nicaraguan delegation. Our discussions have been equally enriched by the insightful comments of the discussant, Ambassador Mario Matus, and by the numerous statements of Members. The timely and detailed answers provided by the Nicaraguan authorities to the questions submitted in advance were appreciated by Members.
Órgano de Apelación
En 2011 se presentaron ante el Órgano de Apelación nueve apelaciones de informes de grupos especiales —un aumento con respecto a las tres de 2010-, de un total de 11 informes para los cuales expiró el plazo de 60 días para la adopción o apelación a lo largo del año. Las nueve apelaciones se referían a procedimientos de grupos especiales iniciales. No se formuló ninguna apelación relativa al cumplimiento de resoluciones y recomendaciones anteriores. En diciembre se nombró a dos nuevos Miembros del Órgano de Apelación.
Report by the WTO Secretariat
Uruguay has an open trade and investment regime, with few border restrictions and limited use of non-tariff measures. Its trade strategy consists essentially of continuing to liberalize trade and investment both at the multilateral and regional levels. As a small and open economy, Uruguay depends on markets that are free of trade restrictions and distortions, particularly in the agricultural sector which accounts for the bulk of its exports. In the investment area, Uruguay is actively seeking to improve its business environment in order to continue attracting foreign direct investment as a means of supporting economic growth and employment and promoting technology transfer.
Understanding the WTO
There are a number of ways of looking at the World Trade Organization. It is an organization for trade opening. It is a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements. It is a place for them to settle trade disputes. It operates a system of trade rules. It helps developing countries build their trade capacity. Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.
How the WTO is structured
The WTO’s top-level decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference, which usually meets every two years.