Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
PURPOSE:
Reduction of tariffs and other barriers to trade
The WTO creates and embodies the ground rules for global trade
among member nations, offering a system for international
commerce.
The WTO aims to create economic peace and stability in the world
through a multilateral system based on consenting member states
(in 2017 there were 164 members) that have ratified the rules of the
WTO in their individual countries as well.
MEMBERS:
The WTO has 164 members and 23 observer governments. Liberia became
the 163rd member on 14 July 2016, and Afghanistan became the 164th
member on 29 July 2016. In addition to states, the European Union, and
each EU country in its own right, is a member. WTO members do not have
to be fully independent states; they need only be a customs territory with
full autonomy in the conduct of their external commercial relations. Thus
Hong Kong has been a member since 1995 (as "Hong Kong, China" since
1997) predating the People's Republic of China, which joined in 2001 after
15 years of negotiations. The Republic of China (Taiwan) acceded to the
WTO in 2002 as "Separate Customs Territory of
China: Taiwan, Penghu, Kinsmen and Matsu" (Chinese Taipei) despite
its disputed status.
Dispute Settlement:
The WTO’s procedure for resolving trade quarrels under the Dispute Settlement
Understanding is vital for enforcing the rules and therefore for ensuring that
trade flows smoothly. Countries bring disputes to the WTO if they think their
rights under the agreements are being infringed
Building Trade Capacity:
PURPOSE:
Promote international monetary co-operation, facilitate international
trade, foster sustainable economic growth, to make resources available to
members experiencing balance of payments difficulties.
The IMF's primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the
international monetary system—the system of exchange rates and
international payments that enables countries (and their citizens)
to transact with each other.
The Fund's mandate was updated in 2012 to include all
macroeconomic and financial sector issues that bear on global
stability.
MEMBER COUNTRIES:
Not all member countries of the IMF are sovereign states, and therefore
not all "member countries" of the IMF are members of the United
Nations. Amidst "member countries" of the IMF that are not member
states of the UN are non-sovereign areas with special jurisdictions that
are officially under the sovereignty of full UN member states, such as
Aruba, Curacao, Hong Kong, and Macau, as well as Kosovo. The
corporate members appoint ex-officio voting members, who are listed
below. All members of the IMF are also International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) members and vice versa.
Former members are Cuba (which left in 1964),and the Republic of China
(Taiwan), which was ejected from the UN in 1980 after losing the support
of than United States President Jimmy Carter and was replaced by the
People's Republic of China. However, "Taiwan Province of China" is still
listed in the official IMF indices.
APPLICATIONS:
The IMF’s fundamental mission is to ensure the stability of the
international monetary system. It does so in three ways: keeping track of
the global economy and the economies of member countries; lending to
countries with balance of payments difficulties; and giving practical
help to members.
Economic Surveillance:
The IMF oversees the international monetary system and monitors the
economic and financial policies of its 189 member countries. As part of
this process, which takes place both at the global level and in individual
countries, the IMF highlights possible risks to stability and advises on
needed policy adjustments.
Lending:
The IMF provides loans to member countries experiencing actual or
potential balance of payments problems to help them rebuild their
international reserves, stabilize their currencies, continue paying for
imports, and restore conditions for strong economic growth, while
correcting underlying problems.
Capacity Development:
The IMF works with governments around the world to modernize their
economic policies and institutions, and train their people. This helps
countries strengthen their economy, improve growth and create jobs.
THE WORLD BANK
DEFINITION:
The World Bank is an international organization dedicated to providing
financing, advice and research to developing nations to aid their economic
advancement.
PURPOSE:
The Bank's stated purpose is to "bridge the economic divide between poor
and rich countries." It does this by turning "rich country resources into
poor country growth." It has a long-term vision to "achieve sustainable
poverty reduction."
To achieve this goal, the Bank focuses on six areas:
Overcome poverty by spurring growth, especially in Africa.
Help reconstruct countries emerging from war, the biggest cause of
extreme poverty.
Provide a customized solution to help middle-income countries
remain out of poverty.
Spur governments to prevent climate change. It helps them control
communicable diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, and malaria. It
also manages international financial crises and promotes free
trade.
Work with the Arab League on three goals. They are to
improve education, build infrastructure, and provide micro-loans
to small businesses.
Share its expertise with developing countries. Publicize its
knowledge via reports and its interactive online database.
APPLICATIONS:
The World Bank Group works in every major area of development. We
provide a wide array of financial products and technical assistance, and
we help countries share and apply innovative knowledge and solutions to
the challenges they face.
Three priorities guide our work with countries to end poverty and boost
prosperity for the poorest people. Helping create sustainable economic
growth, investing in people and building resilience to shocks and threats
that can roll back decades of progress.
We can end extreme poverty and create more inclusive societies by
developing human capital. This requires investing in people through
nutrition, health care, quality education, jobs and skills.
We offer support to developing countries through policy advice, research
and analysis, and technical assistance. Our analytical work often
underpins World Bank financing and helps inform developing countries'
own investments.
MEMBER COUNTRIES:
189 members
All of the 193 UN members and Kosovo that are WBG members
participate at a minimum in the IBRD. As of May 2016, all of them
also participate in some of the other four organizations: IDA, IFC,
MIGA, and ICSID.
WBG members by the number of organizations which they participate
in: only in IBRD: None.
IBRD and one other organization: San Marino, Nauru, Tuvalu, Brunei
PURPOSE:
Its purpose is the “substantial reduction of tariffs and other trade
barriers and the elimination of preferences, on a reciprocal and
mutually advantageous basis.
The purpose of GATT was to eliminate harmful trade protectionism.
That had sent global trade down 65 percent during the Great Depression.
GATT restored economic health to the world after the devastation of the
depression and World War II.
MEMBER COUNTRIES:
The original 23 GATT members were Australia; Belgium; Brazil; Burma,
now called Myanmar; Canada; Ceylon, now Sri Lanka; Chile; China; Cuba;
Czechoslovakia, now Czech Republic and Slovakia; France; India;
Lebanon; Luxembourg; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Pakistan;
Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe; Syria; South Africa; the United
Kingdom and the United States. The membership increased to more than
100 countries by 1993.
APPLICATIONS:
GATT was signed by 23 nations in Geneva on 30 October 1947, and took
effect on 1 January 1948. It remained in effect until the signature by 123
nations in Marrakesh on 14 April 1994, of the Uruguay Round
Agreements, which established the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 1
January 1995. The WTO is a successor to GATT, and the original GATT
text (GATT 1947) is still in effect under the WTO framework, subject to the
modifications of GATT 1994.
GATT, and its successor WTO, have successfully reduced tariffs. The
average tariff levels for the major GATT participants were about 22% in
1947, but were 5% after the Uruguay Round in 1999. Experts attribute part
of these tariff changes to GATT and the WTO.
MEMBER COUNTRIES
On 1 January 1948, GATT entered into force. The 23
founding members were: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Burma, Canada,
Ceylon, Chile, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, France, India, Lebanon,
Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Southern
Rhodesia, Syria, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States.