Trade monitoring
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Trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS)
The TRIPS Council carried out its regular work on promoting transparency and reviewing WTO members’ implementation of the TRIPS Agreement. It gave least-developed country (LDC) members another eight years to comply with the Agreement. The Council continued discussions on access to medicines for the poorest countries, biotechnology and technical cooperation, among other topics. The Council also exchanged information on, and debated, a number of issues raised by individual countries, such as innovation policies for small and medium-sized enterprises, climate change and, for the first time, sports.
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.
Developments in trade policy, 1998-99
Two years ago the “Asian financial crisis” erupted in Thailand, spread rapidly to other countries in the region, and affected general investor sentiment in those and other developing countries and transition economies, notably Russia in mid-1998 and later Brazil. Output and employment contracted sharply in the countries most directly affected, in turn adversely affecting trade of their partners and, together with steep commodity price declines, trade of many other developing countries. In the past, such events could have been invoked as a justification for raising import barriers, in an attempt to contain the domestic consequences and shift the burden onto trading partners, possibly provoking countermeasures, and thereby exacerbating the downturn. However, this very serious crisis unfolded in the framework of the WTO, the strengthened multilateral trading system created by the Uruguay Round Agreements. The system, and the good sense of governments, helped to keep markets open, facilitating adjustment and providing a critical element for recovery from the Asian crisis.
Report by the WTO Secretariat
During the review period, Japan’s economic performance remained sluggish in light of, among others, persistently low inflation and an aging and declining population. The series of natural disasters that hit the country in recent years further hampered the economy and put increased pressure on public finances. The authorities have responded with extensive policy measures with a view to boosting business and consumer confidence and consolidating public finances. The Government’s three-pillar strategy of monetary easing, fiscal stimulus, and structural reforms (in areas such as agriculture, energy, and healthcare) continues to be the main strategy framework for exiting deflation and revitalizing the country’s economy.
World trade in 2010: Introduction
World trade recorded its largest ever annual increase in 2010 as merchandise exports surged 14.5 per cent, buoyed by a 3.6 per cent recovery in global output as measured by gross domestic product (GDP) . Both trade and output grew faster in developing economies than in developed ones. Exports in volume terms (i.e. in real terms, accounting for changes in prices and exchange rates) were up 13 per cent in developed economies while the increase for developing economies was nearly 17 per cent. The difference between trade of developed and developing economies was even greater on the import side, where developed economies’ imports rose by 11 per cent compared with 18 per cent in the rest of the world.
Conferencia Ministerial de Nairobi
En la Décima Conferencia Ministerial de la OMC, celebrada en Nairobi del 15 al 19 de diciembre de 2015, se adoptaron varias decisiones sobre la agricultura, el algodón y las cuestiones relacionadas con los países menos adelantados. Esas decisiones incluyen un compromiso de eliminar las subvenciones a la exportación de productos agropecuarios, que el Director General, Roberto Azevêdo, aclamó como el “resultado más relevante en el ámbito de la agricultura” en los 20 años de historia de la Organización. En la Declaración de Nairobi, los Ministros reconocieron que los Miembros de la OMC “tienen opiniones diferentes” sobre la forma de abordar el futuro de las negociaciones de la Ronda de Doha. En la Conferencia también se aprobó la adhesión de Liberia y el Afganistán y se concluyó un acuerdo histórico sobre tecnología de la información.
Entender la OMC
La Organización Mundial del Comercio puede verse desde distintas perspectivas. Es una Organización para la apertura del comercio. Es un foro para que los gobiernos negocien acuerdos comerciales. Es un lugar en el que pueden resolver sus diferencias comerciales. Aplica un sistema de normas comerciales. Ayuda a los países en desarrollo a crear capacidad comercial. Fundamentalmente, la OMC es un lugar al que los gobiernos Miembros acuden para tratar de resolver los problemas comerciales que tienen unos con otros.
Comment l’OMC est structurée
Lorgane de décision suprême de lOMC est la Conférence ministérielle, qui se réunit généralement tous les deux ans.
Audit interne
En 2010, le BAI a publié deux rapports, l'un sur les activités liées aux états de paie de l'OMC , concernant l'intégrité des données, les contrôles en place et les mécanismes de responsabilité, et l'autre sur les activités d'appui administratif et logistique de l'Institut de formation et de coopération technique (IFCT).
Aplicación y vigilancia
Los consejos y comités de la OMC siguieron vigilando la aplicación de los Acuerdos de la OMC y examinando si los Miembros de la Organización respetaban sus prescripciones. También proporcionaron un foro para el debate sobre varias cuestiones, desde el comercio y el cambio climático hasta la crisis de los precios de los productos alimenticios. En 2008 se efectuaron los exámenes de las políticas comerciales de 17 Miembros de la OMC.
Introduction
Trade Profiles contain detailed information on merchandise trade flows, including top products traded by each economy, an expanded section on trade in commercial services, as well as statistics on intellectual property. The information, available for WTO members, observers, and other selected economies, is derived from multiple domains, such as customs statistics, national accounts, Balance of Payments statistics, Foreign AffiliaTes Statistics (FATS), and industrial property statistics. Data are sourced from WTO Secretariat and external sources and presented in standardized and visualized format for quick reference.
Towards a new digital era
This section describes the rise of digital technologies and identifies the technological forces that have helped propel their growth. It examines how digital technologies are changing the economy by giving rise to new markets, goods and services, and discusses some of the concerns that have arisen in parallel regarding privacy, market concentration, the impact on productivity and the digital divide. The section also discusses the methodological and data challenges involved in trying to measure the value of digital transactions and digital trade, and provides estimates culled from international organizations and national authorities, as well as financial reports from a number of well-known firms.
Recent trends in international trade
The world economy expanded by 3.3 per cent in 2005, less rapidly than in 2004, but still slightly faster than the decade average. Economic growth remained strong in most regions although less buoyant than in the preceding year. Only Europe’s economy continued to record low GDP growth – less than half the rate observed in North America. In contrast to Europe, Japan experienced a strengthening of economic activity. In light of slower economic growth worldwide in 2005 and of oil market developments, merchandise trade growth – like GDP growth – decelerated in real terms, but still exceeded the average for the last decade.
Commerce, dette et finances
En 2012, la communauté internationale s’intéressant beaucoup à la question du commerce et des finances, il y a eu des progrès dans ce domaine. Par exemple, le Groupe de travail du commerce, de la dette et des finances de l’OMC a poursuivi l’examen de la relation entre les taux de change et le commerce en organisant au mois de mars un séminaire qui a réuni des responsables politiques et des universitaires.