WTO

The Role of Trade in Ending Poverty looks at the complex relationships between economic growth, poverty reduction and trade, and examines the challenges that poor people face in benefiting from trade opportunities. Written jointly by the World Bank Group and the WTO, the publication examines how trade could make a greater contribution to ending poverty by increasing efforts to lower trade costs, improve the enabling environment, implement trade policy in conjunction with other areas of policy, better manage risks faced by the poor, and improve data used for policy-making.

This publication contains the text of the WTO’s founding agreement, the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, and its Annexes, including all amendments and additions since its entry into force up to and including September 2025. These include an amendment to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement), which entered into force in January 2017. Other amendments or additions include the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which entered into force in February 2017, an amendment to the Trade Policy Review Mechanism in July 2017, and the amended Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), which entered into force in April 2014. The amended GPA replaced the 1994 GPA for all of the parties to the latter Agreement as of January 2021. This publication also includes the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which entered into force in September 2025.

The WTO Building provides a fascinating insight into the artwork and architecture of the Centre William Rappard (CWR), home of the World Trade Organization. The book describes the origins and evolution of the CWR, highlighting the many works of art created and donated to adorn the building over the years. It covers the extension of the CWR, the transformation of an inner courtyard into an atrium, and the latest steps taken to preserve the building’s historic artworks.

The third edition of The WTO Dispute Settlement Procedures collects together the treaty texts, decisions and agreed practices relating to the procedures that apply in the settlement of WTO disputes. It affords ready answers to technical questions relating to matters such as: how disputes are initiated and conducted, including at the appellate stage; what deadlines apply and how to calculate them; what rules of conduct bind individuals involved in WTO dispute settlement; and what rules of procedure apply to meetings of the Dispute Settlement Body. This highly practical work, which includes cross-references and a subject index, will prove invaluable to anyone working in WTO dispute settlement, including lawyers, civil servants working in the field of trade, economists, academics and students. This edition has been fully updated to take account of revised rules and procedures.

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.

A new report issued by the WTO on 8 May seeks to help least developed countries (LDCs) better understand the trade-related implications of graduation from LDC status. The product of a joint effort between the WTO and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), “Trade Impacts of LDC Graduation” looks at how graduation may affect LDCs’ participation in world trade, including their access to export markets, and implications for their WTO commitments.

Trade multilateralism in the twenty-first-century century faces a serious test as weakness in the global economy and fast-paced technological changes create a challenging environment for world trade. This book examines how an updated and robust, rules-based multilateral framework, anchored in the WTO, remains indispensable to maximizing the benefits of global economic integration and to reviving world trade. By examining recent accessions to the WTO, it reveals how the growing membership of the WTO has helped to support domestic reforms and to strengthen the rules-based framework of the WTO. It argues that the new realities of the twenty-first century require an upgrade to the architecture of the multilateral trading system. By erecting its 'upper floors' on the foundation of existing trade rules, the WTO can continue to adapt to a fast-changing environment and to maximize the benefits brought about by its ever-expanding membership.

“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 Angola.

“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 Australia.

“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 Barbados.

The fourth review of the trade policies and practices of Brunei Darussalam takes place on 27 and 29 November 2024. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of Brunei Darussalam.

“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 members major exports/imports, main export destinations, origins for its imports and other key data. This edition looks into the trade practices of Cambodia.

“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 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 Colombia.

The fourth review of the trade policies and practices of The Gambia takes place on 4 and 6 February 2026. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of The Gambia.

“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.