WTO

Bringing together articles by some of the leading policy-makers, including previous WTO Director-Generals, practitioners, scholars of international trade law, government officials, international civil servants, Members of the WTO Appellate Body, and judges from a number of international tribunals, this volume assesses the dispute settlement system during the first ten years of the World Trade Organization. It examines the relationship and balance between political governance and dispute settlement; the functioning of the dispute settlement procedures and various reform proposals; the contribution of the Appellate Body to the development of international trade law; and treaty interpretation in a number of international dispute settlement fora such as the WTO, the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Justice, and the Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. The book has its origins in a series of events commemorating the tenth anniversary of the creation of the WTO dispute settlement system and the Appellate Body.

Trois questions importantes seront déterminantes pour l'avenir de l'OMC: le règlement des différends, les négociations et l'intégration régionale. Le règlement des différends est généralement considéré comme l'un des succès majeurs de l'OMC durant ses dix premières années d'existence. La conclusion des négociations du Cycle de Doha est l'un de ses principaux défis. L'intégration régionale est désormais au premier plan du débat alors que les accords régionaux prolifèrent et que les décideurs et les universitaires prennent la mesure de leur incidence sur le système commercial multilatéral. Ces questions, et leur interaction, sont traitées par d'éminents spécialistes et professionnels du droit commercial international originaires d'Amérique du Nord, d'Europe et de la région Asie Pacifique. En outre, des sections spécifiques sont consacrées à la région Asie Pacifique, à sa participation au règlement des différends et aux négociations dans le cadre de l'OMC, et aux tendances récentes à une plus grande intégration régionale.AE1:AE10

La pandémie de COVID-19 (coronavirus) a mis en lumière les avantages et les inconvénients du commerce international des produits et services médicaux. Un commerce ouvert peut favoriser l’accès mondial aux produits et services médicaux – ainsi qu’aux intrants essentiels nécessaires à leur production –, améliorer la qualité et la variété de ces produits et services, et réduire les coûts. Toutefois, une concentration excessive de la production, des politiques commerciales restrictives, des perturbations des chaînes d’approvisionnement et des divergences réglementaires peuvent compromettre la capacité des systèmes de santé publique à se préparer et à répondre aux pandémies et autres crises sanitaires. La publication Thérapie par le commerce : Approfondir la coopération pour renforcer les moyens de lutter contre les pandémies, coordonnée par Nadia Rocha et Michele Ruta à la Banque mondiale, et par Marc Bacchetta et Joscelyn Magdeleine à l’Organisation mondiale du commerce, contient de nouvelles données sur le commerce des produits et services médicaux et les chaînes de valeur de produits médicaux, examine l’évolution du panorama des politiques avant et pendant la pandémie, et propose un plan d’action visant à améliorer les politiques commerciales et à approfondir la coopération internationale pour faire face aux futures pandémies. Alors que la pandémie de COVID-19 perdure, l’action politique se concentre sur la réponse, qui inclut des mesures visant à promouvoir l’équité vaccinale grâce aux aides publiques et à supprimer les obstacles en la matière. Une fois l’urgence passée, l’accent devrait être mis sur la prévention et la préparation. La priorité devrait être d’adopter des mesures pour combler les lacunes d’information, s’appuyant sur les travaux de l’Équipe spéciale multilatérale des dirigeants chargée des vaccins, des traitements et des produits de diagnostic contre la COVID-19 et de l’Accélérateur ACT, et d’encourager l’ouverture des marchés, notamment par la négociation de réductions de droits de douane pour les produits médicaux et l’amélioration de l’accès aux marchés pour les services. Il convient également de prendre des mesures pour accroître l’efficacité des marchés, notamment l’harmonisation des réglementations grâce à la reconnaissance mutuelle ou l’équivalence des normes, et l’établissement de normes internationales applicables aux produits et intrants médicaux essentiels et aux processus de production. Un accord sur un ensemble de règles de crise à appliquer en cas d’urgence, qui comprendrait des limites claires et convenues concernant la flexibilité de la politique d’exportation ainsi que des règles communes sur les flexibilités relatives à la propriété intellectuelle, constituerait une base politique plus solide pour relever les défis futurs.

Asia’s economic success over the past four decades has been built on a strategy of export promotion coupled with trade opening. Poverty rates throughout the region have fallen dramatically, especially in countries that have succeeded in integrating into regional or global value chains. However, this economic success has been accompanied by structural changes, such as the need for workers to change roles, sectors, and sometimes regions. Faced with increased foreign competition, firms have been forced to reorganize and quickly adopt new technologies. Despite the importance of this adjustment process, relatively little empirical evidence exists. This volume aims to close this gap by providing new insights into how Asia’s labor markets and firms have adjusted to trade opening. Written by leading trade economists with expertise in the region, the publication shows that trade opening has led to a more efficient allocation of capital and labor, but this has been accompanied by significant adjustment costs. The book sheds light on the effects of trade on workers and firms, with the aim of improving understanding of the adjustment process and contributing to the debate on how to make globalization work for all.

Trade finance plays a key role in helping developing countries participate in global trade. Easing the supply of credit in regions where trade potential is the greatest could have a big impact in helping small businesses grow and in supporting the development of the poorest countries. This publication takes a detailed look at trade finance and emphasises the importance of multilateral agencies working together.

Graduation from the status of least-developed country (LDC) marks an important milestone in the development path of each LDC. At the same time, the phasing-out of international support measures associated with LDC status, including trade preferences and special treatment in the WTO, could present challenges for graduating LDCs in their efforts to continue integration into the global economy. A quarter of LDCs were on track to graduate from LDC status prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Trade impacts of LDC graduation: Insights from countryspecific market access analyses” complements the report “Trade impacts of LDC graduation” issued in May 2020, and examines in greater detail the impact of graduation on preferential market access for each of the 12 graduating LDCs. The report looks at the export structure of graduating LDCs, the likely increase of tariffs on their exported products and projected changes in trade flows employing a partial equilibrium model. It sheds light on products and destination markets that require specific attention from graduating LDCs as they prepare for graduation.

The increasing internationalization of supply chains is challenging our interpretation of conventional trade statistics, as traditional concepts like country of origin, or the distinction between goods and services, become blurred. This publication, jointly produced by the WTO and the Institute of Developing Economies — Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO), focuses on the factors that have helped to shape global production.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Argentina.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Bahrain, Kingdom of.

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Brazil.

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Cabo Verde.

The twelfth review of the trade policies and practices of Canada takes place on 19 and 21 June 2024. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Canada.

The ninth review of the trade policies and practices of China takes place on 17 and 19 July 2024. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of China.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Djibouti.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Ghana.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Guyana.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of India.

The fifth review of the trade policies and practices of Jamaica takes place on 10 and 12 July 2024. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Jamaica.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Kyrgyz Republic.

The fourth review of the trade policies and practices of Malawi takes place on 9 and 11 October 2024. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Malawi.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Mauritus.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Moldova.

The sixth review of the trade policies and practices of Morocco takes place on 22 and 24 April 2024. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Morocco.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Myanmar.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of New Zealand.

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Norway.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Pakistan.

The fifth review of the trade policies and practices of Paraguay takes place on 20 and 22 November 2024. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Paraguay.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Russian Federation.

“Trade Policy Reviews” analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - “key trade facts” - provides a visual overview of the WTO member’s major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Sierra Leone.

The fourth review of the trade policies and practices of the Solomon Islands takes place on 11 and 13 December 2024. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of the Solomon Islands.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The ninth review of the trade policies and practices of Thailand takes place on 1 and 3 December 2025. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Thailand.

The fourth review of the trade policies and practices of Tunisia takes place on 25 and 27 November 2025. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Tunisia.

The First review of the trade policies and practices of the United Kingdom takes place on 28 and 30 October 2025. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of the United Kingdom.

“Trade Policy Reviews" analyse the trade policies and practices of each member of the WTO. The reviews consist of three parts: an independent report by the WTO Secretariat, a report by the government, and the concluding remarks by the Chair of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Body. The opening section - "key trade facts" - provides a visual overview of the WTO member's major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Viet Nam.

Monitoring of national trade policies is a fundamentally important activity running throughout the work of the WTO. At the centre of this work is the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). All WTO members are reviewed, the frequency of each member’s review varying according to its share of world trade. For each review, two documents are prepared: a policy statement by the government under review, and a detailed report written independently by the WTO Secretariat. These two reports, together with the conclusions of the Chair of the Trade Policy Review Body, are published shortly after the meeting.

"Trade Profiles" provides two-pages snapshots of the most relevant indicators on merchandise trade, services and intellectual property for over 200 economies, including all WTO members.

Trade Profiles 2021 provides a series of key indicators on trade in goods and services for 197 economies. For merchandise trade, major exports and imports are listed for both agricultural and non-agricultural products as well as major origins and destinations for total merchandise trade. For trade in services, a detailed breakdown is provided for transport, travel and other commercial services. Statistics on intellectual property are also provided. The information is available for all WTO members and observers and for other selected economies. For each economy, the data is presented in a handy two-page format, providing a concise overview of global trade. The publication is an invaluable reference tool for anyone looking for essential trade statistics.

Trade Profiles 2023 provides a series of key indicators on trade in goods and services for 197 economies. For merchandise trade, major exports and imports are listed for both agricultural and non-agricultural products as well as major origins and destinations for total merchandise trade. For trade in services, a detailed breakdown is provided for transport, travel and other commercial services. Statistics on intellectual property are also provided. The information is available for all WTO members and observers and for other selected economies. For each economy, the data is presented in a handy two page format, providing a concise overview of global trade. The publication is an invaluable reference tool for anyone looking for essential trade statistics.

On the basis of an overview of the existing academic economic literature, the study provides an impartial view of what can be said, and with what degree of confidence, on the relationship between trade and employment, an often contentious issue of public debate. Its focus is on the connections between trade policies, and labour and social policies and it will be useful to all those who are interested in this debate: academics and policy-makers, workers and employers, trade and labour specialists.

Co-published by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

This book explores the complex relationship between international trade and poverty reduction through a combination of research papers and contemporary case studies. Written mainly by developing-country authors in consultation with local businesses and communities, the case studies contribute to our understanding of the ways in which low-income communities are dealing with trade as a practical challenge, especially in the Asia-Pacific region where approximately two-thirds of the world’s poor live. While making it clear that there is no ‘one size fits all’ formula, the research and stories highlight a number of necessary preconditions, such as political commitment and cooperation at all levels, if trade is to successfully reduce poverty. Openness to trade, serious commitment to domestic reform, trade-related capacity building, a robust and responsible private sector and access to the markets of developed countries are all identified as powerful tools for building trade-related sustainable development.

A joint publication on “Trade Finance in West Africa” was launched by Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Managing Director Makhtar Diop on 12 October in Washington DC. Using the results of a survey of banks in the four largest economies of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) — Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal — the publication assesses the shortfall in trade finance in these countries. It also outlines ways of removing obstacles to credit facilities and of unleashing the trade potential of the region.

Can the flow of goods, services, and ideas build bridges where conflict once prevailed? If so, under whatcircumstances? The World Trade Organization (WTO) stands for a predictable, rules-based system based on the principle of non-discrimination. When the predecessor to the WTO – the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade – was established some 70 years ago, conflict among nations was at an historic low, following World War II. In the changed global political landscape of today, geopolitical tensions, disruptions to trade and increasing concerns about economic inequality have come to the fore, challenging the foundations of multilateral trade relationships, and trade cooperation more generally. Pathways to Sustainable Trade and Peace is the first WTO publication dedicated to an in-depth exploration of the complex relationship between trade and peace. The publication examines a number of critical questions. How do trade and peace interact? Can trade be leveraged to foster economic development and stability? What can governments and other stakeholders do to foster positive interaction between trade and peace? The volume focuses specifically but not exclusively on fragile and conflict-affected economies, including case studies and analyses from various policy angles.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the integral role of international trade in responding to the global health crisis. All communities depended to some extent on trade for medical products, related services and vaccines. In particular, the pandemic accentuated the mutual benefit from the core principles of the multilateral trading system, especially the benefits of open and well-functioning international production and supply chains, and non-discriminatory measures. This publication looks into the WTO’s response to the pandemic in terms of four key areas: monitoring the flow of goods related to COVID-19, working towards a coordinated and effective international response to the pandemic, conducting policy and statistical analysis with other intergovernmental organizations, and analysing the lessons learned from the pandemic to shape a blueprint for future international cooperation. The publication examines how WTO members negotiated a framework to guide and consolidate the WTO’s response to the pandemic, to enhance the flow of practical knowledge, and to help render the multilateral trading system better prepared for future crises. Negotiations resulted in the Ministerial Declaration on the WTO Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Preparedness for Future Pandemics adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022. The importance of this work was confirmed in the Ministerial Declaration issued in March 2024 at MC13, which encouraged relevant WTO bodies to continue their work on reviewing the lessons learned from the pandemic and on building effective solutions in case of future pandemics.

Open global trade, supported by a well-functioning “quality infrastructure”, has been an important factor in the rapid deployment of solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies around the world. Keeping markets open is critically important to ensure that all countries can benefit from solar PV, a pillar of the low-carbon, sustainable energy system needed to help achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and fulfil the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This report by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) looks at how open, transparent and inclusive trade policies can support cost reductions, deployment of components and job creation in the solar PV sector, strengthening the critical infrastructure needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and supporting efforts to rebuild the world economy. The report examines the need for countries to develop a robust quality infrastructure to promote safe trade in solar PV goods and services. This would reduce the risks of unreliable products entering the value chain, and ensure stability for investors and other participants in the value chain. The report also looks at the need to strengthen international cooperation, and demonstrates how IRENA and the WTO can support efforts to promote a secure and inclusive global solar PV market through the effective use of quality infrastructure.

20 Years of the WTO: A retrospective provides an overview of the first two decades of the arbiter of the multilateral trading system. A selection of compelling images and excerpts guides the reader through the history of the organization. Readers will uncover the origins, mission, composition, functioning and key figures of the organization, all the while exploring the challenges it has faced, and how it has worked to meet these challenges.

La pandémie de maladie à coronavirus 2019 (COVID 19) constitue une crise de santé publique mondiale extraordinaire. Elle a rendu nécessaire l'intensification de la coopération au niveau planétaire. Dès le début, elle a soulevé des questions à l'intersection entre la politique de santé publique, la politique commerciale ainsi que le cadre et la gestion de l'innovation, y compris pour ce qui est des droits de propriété intellectuelle. La deuxième édition de l'étude conjointe de l'OMS, de l'OMPI et de l'OMC intitulée "Promouvoir l'accès aux technologies médicales et l'innovation: Intersections entre la santé publique et la propriété intellectuelle et le commerce", publiée en 2020, contenait un encart spécial présentant les défis posés par la pandémie de COVID 19 par rapport au cadre intégré de politiques en matière de santé, de commerce et de PI établi dans l'étude. Cette mise à jour révise les renseignements figurant dans la dernière version, lancée en octobre 2021, à la lumière de la situation au 17 mai 2023.