Você está na página 1de 18

Understanding WTO

Introduction Pre-war depression cured by WWII unlikely to be a regular economic policy option. Depression caused by protectionism. Depressions causes political instability. Political instability causes war

Need to end protectionism

Introduction Since WWII, trade barriers have fallen


Avoid trade wars and depression Trade has expanded rapidly

Commercial disputes have arisen


Typically focused on specific policies Have influenced trade laws
US & other nations

From ITO to GATT


The Bretton Woods Conference of 1944 recognized the need for a comparable international institution for trade to complement the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Probably because Bretton Woods was attended only by representatives of finance ministries and not by representatives of trade ministries, an agreement covering trade was not negotiated there.

In early December 1945, the United States invited its wartime allies to enter into negotiations to conclude a multilateral agreement for the reciprocal reduction of tariffs on trade in goods.

From ITO to GATT


The United States Congress had granted President Harry S. Truman the authority to negotiate and conclude such an agreement. At the proposal of the United States, the United Nations Economic and Social Committee adopted a resolution, in February 1946, calling for a conference to draft a charter for an International Trade Organization (ITO). A Preparatory Committee was established in February 1946, and met for the first time in London in October 1946 to work on the charter of an international organization for

trade; the work was continued from April to November 1947.

Harry S. Truman, US President

From ITO to GATT


At the same time, the negotiations on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in Geneva advanced well and by October 1947 an agreement was reached: on October 30, 1947 eight of the twenty-three countries that had negotiated the GATT signed the "Protocol of Provisional Application of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade". In March 1948, the negotiations on the ITO Charter were successfully completed in Havana. The Charter provided for the establishment of the ITO, and set out the basic rules for international trade and other international economic matters.

From ITO to GATT


The ITO Charter, however, never entered into force; while repeatedly submitted to the US Congress, it was never approved. The most usual argument against the new organization was that it would be involved into internal economic issues. On December 6, 1950 President Truman announced that he would no longer seek Congressional approval of the ITO Charter. In the absence of an international organization for trade, countries turned, from the early fifties, to the only existing multilateral international institution for trade, the "GATT 1947" to handle problems concerning their trade relations. Therefore, the GATT would over the years "transform itself" into a de facto international organization.

Summary of GATT Creation GATT: 1947-1994 Initial idea: International Trade Organization (ITO discussed at Bretton Woods) But the ITO failed
Charter drafted 1948 United States Congress failed to approve it

Meantime, on 1 January, 1948 the GATT was signed by 23 countries

Initial members (1/1/1948)


Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Ceylon, Chile, China, Cuba, the Czechoslovak Republic, France, India, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Southern Rhodesia, Syria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States

GATT Trade Rounds


Seven rounds of negotiations occurred under GATT before the eighth round - the Uruguay Round - concluded in 1994 with the establishment of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as the GATT's replacement. The GATT principles and agreements were adopted by the WTO, which was charged with administering and extending them.

GATT Trade Rounds


Year 1947 1949 1951 1956 19601961 19641967 19731979 19861994 Place/name Geneva Annecy Torquay Geneva Geneva Dillon Round Geneva Kennedy Round Geneva Tokyo Round Geneva Uruguay Round Subjects covered Tariffs Tariffs Tariffs Tariffs Tariffs Countries 23 13 38 26 26

Tariffs and anti-dumping measures

62

Tariffs, non-tariff measures, framework agreements Tariffs, non-tariff measures, rules, services, intellectual property, dispute settlement, textiles, agriculture, creation of WTO, etc

102

123

Rounds of GATT Negotiations The GATT and WTO Negotiations


Name Geneva Annecy Years 1947 1949 Subjects Covered Tariffs Tariffs Countries Participating 23 13

Torquay
Geneva Dillon Kennedy

1951
1956 1960-1961 1964-1967

Tariffs
Tariffs Tariffs Tariffs and antidumping measures

38
26 26 62

Tokyo
Uruguay

1973-1979
1986-1993

Tariffs, nontariff measures, plurilateral agreements


Tariffs, nontariff measures, rules, services, intellectual property, dispute settlement, trade-related investment, textiles, agriculture, creation of WTO Agriculture, services, tariffs, nontariff measures, intellectual property, dispute settlement

102
123

Doha (WTO)

1999-

149

9.7. The Uruguay round, Outstanding Trade Problems, and the Doha Round
9.7A. Uruguay Round (1986-1993)

Tariffs: Tariffs on industrial products (34 percent) were to be reduced or removed.


Quotas: Quotas on agricultural products and textiles were to be replaced with tariffs. Antidumping: More clarified. Subsidies: Subsidies on agricultural exports were to be reduced. Safeguards: More clarified. Intellectual property: More clarified. Services: Partially open to freer trade. World Trade Organization: GATT is to be replaced with the WTO.

9.6B. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)/WTO


Three Basic Principles
1) Nondiscrimination.(exception: economic integration)

2) Free trade. (exception: agricultural products and services)


3) Dispute settlement through negotiations

9.7. The Uruguay round, Outstanding Trade Problems, and the Doha Round
(1) Outstanding Trade Problems:

Continuing disputes over nontariff barriers. Protection on agricultural products remain very high. Rising regionalism. Labor and environmental issues.

9.7B. Outstanding Trade Problems and the Doha Round

(2) Doha Round (2001 - )


Agendas: Further liberalization of trade in agriculture, industrial products, and services; Further tightening of rules for antidumping measures and safeguards, as well as investment and competition policies. Was supposed to be concluded by the end of 2004, but collapsed in July 2006 over disagreements over agricultural subsidies.

The ten benefits of WTO


1. The system helps promote peace 2. Disputes are handled constructively 3. Rules make life easier for all 4. Freer trade cuts the costs of living 5. It provides more choice of products and qualities 6. Trade raises incomes 7. Trade stimulates economic growth 8. The basic principles make life more efficient 9. Governments are shielded from lobbying 10. The system encourages good government

The ten misunderstandings about WTO


1. The WTO dictates policy 2. The WTO is for free trade at any cost 3. Commercial interests take priority over development 4. and over the environment 5. and over health and safety 6. The WTO destroys jobs, worsens poverty 7. Small countries are powerless in the WTO 8. The WTO is the tool of powerful lobbies 9. Weaker countries are forced to join the WTO 10. The WTO is undemocratic

Você também pode gostar