World Trade Organization

1947

The Final Act concluding the Uruguay Round and officially establishing the WTO regime was signed 15 April 1994, during the ministerial meeting at Marrakesh, Morocco, and hence is known as the Marrakesh Agreement. The GATT still exists as the WTO's umbrella treaty for trade in goods, updated as a result of the Uruguay Round negotiations (a distinction is made between GATT 1994, the updated parts of GATT, and GATT 1947, the original agreement which is still the heart of GATT 1994).

1948

It officially commenced operations on 1 January 1995, pursuant to the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, thus replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that had been established in 1948.

1960

The first real GATT trade rounds (1947 to 1960) concentrated on further reducing tariffs.

Vietnam has largely succeeded in accelerating economic growth and reducing poverty without immediately removing substantial trade barriers. Economist Ha-Joon Chang himself argues that there is a "paradox" in neo-liberal beliefs regarding free trade because the economic growth of developing countries was higher in the 1960–1980 period compared to the 1980–2000 period even though its trade policies are now far more liberal than before.

1979

and other signatories did not ratify the establishment treaty, and so GATT slowly became a de facto international organization. ===GATT negotiations before Uruguay=== Seven rounds of negotiations occurred under GATT (1949 to 1979).

1980

On the other hand, Vietnam which only began reforming its economy in the late 1980s, saw a great deal of success by deciding to follow the China's economic model and liberalizing slowly along with implementing safeguards for domestic commerce.

Vietnam has largely succeeded in accelerating economic growth and reducing poverty without immediately removing substantial trade barriers. Economist Ha-Joon Chang himself argues that there is a "paradox" in neo-liberal beliefs regarding free trade because the economic growth of developing countries was higher in the 1960–1980 period compared to the 1980–2000 period even though its trade policies are now far more liberal than before.

1986

3), the Uruguay Round has been successful in increasing binding commitments by both developed and developing countries, as may be seen in the percentages of tariffs bound before and after the 1986–1994 talks. ===Ministerial conferences=== The highest decision-making body of the WTO, the Ministerial Conference, usually meets every two years.

1990

In the early 1990s, they removed all quantitative barriers to imports and also cut tariffs.

1993

The shortest accession negotiation was that of the Kyrgyz Republic, while the longest was that of Russia, which, having first applied to join GATT in 1993, was approved for membership in December 2011 and became a WTO member on 22 August 2012.

1994

It officially commenced operations on 1 January 1995, pursuant to the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, thus replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that had been established in 1948.

The Final Act concluding the Uruguay Round and officially establishing the WTO regime was signed 15 April 1994, during the ministerial meeting at Marrakesh, Morocco, and hence is known as the Marrakesh Agreement. The GATT still exists as the WTO's umbrella treaty for trade in goods, updated as a result of the Uruguay Round negotiations (a distinction is made between GATT 1994, the updated parts of GATT, and GATT 1947, the original agreement which is still the heart of GATT 1994).

In 1994, the WTO members agreed on the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU) annexed to the "Final Act" signed in Marrakesh in 1994.

It was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1994. The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures—also known as the SPS Agreement—was negotiated during the Uruguay Round of GATT, and entered into force with the establishment of the WTO at the beginning of 1995.

It was negotiated during the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade and entered into force with the establishment of the WTO at the end of 1994.

1995

It officially commenced operations on 1 January 1995, pursuant to the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement, thus replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that had been established in 1948.

The second longest was that of Vanuatu, whose Working Party on the Accession of Vanuatu was established on 11 July 1995.

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.

A discussion of some of the most important agreements follows. The Agreement on Agriculture came into effect with the establishment of the WTO at the beginning of 1995.

The agreement entered into force in January 1995. The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights sets down minimum standards for many forms of intellectual property (IP) regulation.

It was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1994. The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures—also known as the SPS Agreement—was negotiated during the Uruguay Round of GATT, and entered into force with the establishment of the WTO at the beginning of 1995.

1996

The Working Party on the Accession of Kazakhstan was established in 1996 and was approved for membership in 2015.

1997

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.

1999

Some meetings, such as the inaugural ministerial conference in Singapore and the Cancun conference in 2003 involved arguments between developed and developing economies referred to as the "Singapore issues" such as agricultural subsidies; while others such as the Seattle conference in 1999 provoked large demonstrations.

2001

The fourth ministerial conference in Doha in 2001 approved China's entry to the WTO and launched the Doha Development Round which was supplemented by the sixth WTO ministerial conference (in Hong Kong) which agreed to phase out agricultural export subsidies and to adopt the European Union's Everything but Arms initiative to phase out tariffs for goods from the Least Developed Countries.

After a final meeting of the Working Party in October 2001, Vanuatu requested more time to consider its accession terms.

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.

2002

Taiwan acceded to the WTO in 2002 as the "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu." The WTO Secretariat omits the official titles (such as Counsellor, First Secretary, Second Secretary and Third Secretary) of the members of Taiwan's Permanent Mission to the WTO, except for the titles of the Permanent Representative and the Deputy Permanent Representative. As of 2007, WTO member states represented 96.4% of global trade and 96.7% of global GDP.

2003

Some meetings, such as the inaugural ministerial conference in Singapore and the Cancun conference in 2003 involved arguments between developed and developing economies referred to as the "Singapore issues" such as agricultural subsidies; while others such as the Seattle conference in 1999 provoked large demonstrations.

Chiefly, it adopts the "transaction value" approach. In December 2013, the biggest agreement within the WTO was signed and known as the Bali Package. ==Office of director-general== The procedures for the appointment of the WTO director-general were updated in January 2003, and include quadrennial terms.

2005

Repeated attempts to revive the talks proved unsuccessful, though the adoption of the Bali Ministerial Declaration in 2013 addressed bureaucratic barriers to commerce. , the future of the Doha Round remained uncertain: the work programme lists 21 subjects in which the original deadline of 1 January 2005 was missed, and the round remains incomplete.

Iran, followed by Algeria, are the economies with the largest GDP and trade outside the WTO, using 2005 data.

2007

Some countries may have faced tougher and a much longer accession process due to challenges during negotiations with other WTO members, such as Vietnam, whose negotiations took more than 11 years before it became an official member in January 2007. ===Members and observers=== The WTO has 164 members and 25 observer governments.

Taiwan acceded to the WTO in 2002 as the "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu." The WTO Secretariat omits the official titles (such as Counsellor, First Secretary, Second Secretary and Third Secretary) of the members of Taiwan's Permanent Mission to the WTO, except for the titles of the Permanent Representative and the Deputy Permanent Representative. As of 2007, WTO member states represented 96.4% of global trade and 96.7% of global GDP.

2008

In 2008, it indicated its interest to resume and conclude its WTO accession.

Armenia's economic and trade performance growth was noted since its first review in 2010, especially its revival from the 2008 global financial crisis, with an average annual 4% GDP growth rate, despite some fluctuations.

2010

Armenia's economic and trade performance growth was noted since its first review in 2010, especially its revival from the 2008 global financial crisis, with an average annual 4% GDP growth rate, despite some fluctuations.

2011

The shortest accession negotiation was that of the Kyrgyz Republic, while the longest was that of Russia, which, having first applied to join GATT in 1993, was approved for membership in December 2011 and became a WTO member on 22 August 2012.

The Working Party on the Accession of Vanuatu was reconvened informally on 4 April 2011 to discuss Vanuatu's future WTO membership.

The re-convened Working Party completed its mandate on 2 May 2011.

The General Council formally approved the Accession Package of Vanuatu on 26 October 2011.

2012

The shortest accession negotiation was that of the Kyrgyz Republic, while the longest was that of Russia, which, having first applied to join GATT in 1993, was approved for membership in December 2011 and became a WTO member on 22 August 2012.

On 24 August 2012, the WTO welcomed Vanuatu as its 157th member.

2013

Repeated attempts to revive the talks proved unsuccessful, though the adoption of the Bali Ministerial Declaration in 2013 addressed bureaucratic barriers to commerce. , the future of the Doha Round remained uncertain: the work programme lists 21 subjects in which the original deadline of 1 January 2005 was missed, and the round remains incomplete.

Chiefly, it adopts the "transaction value" approach. In December 2013, the biggest agreement within the WTO was signed and known as the Bali Package. ==Office of director-general== The procedures for the appointment of the WTO director-general were updated in January 2003, and include quadrennial terms.

under director-general Roberto Azevêdo, the four deputy directors-general are: Yi Xiaozhun of China (since 1 October 2017), Karl Brauner of Germany (since 1 October 2013), Yonov Frederick Agah of Nigeria (since 1 October 2013) and Alan W.

2015

The Working Party on the Accession of Kazakhstan was established in 1996 and was approved for membership in 2015.

2016

A 2016 study in International Studies Quarterly challenges that the WTO dispute settlement system leads to greater increases in trade. However, the dispute settlement system cannot be used to resolve trade disputes that arise from political disagreements.

Liberia became the 163rd member on 14 July 2016, and Afghanistan became the 164th member on 29 July 2016.

2017

It has also influenced trade agreement generally; a 2017 analysis found that the vast majority of preferential trade agreements (PTAs) up to that point explicitly reference the WTO, with substantial portions of text copied from WTO agreements.

An offer of accession is only given once consensus is reached among interested parties. A 2017 study argues that "political ties rather than issue-area functional gains determine who joins" and shows "how geopolitical alignment shapes the demand and supply sides of membership".

under director-general Roberto Azevêdo, the four deputy directors-general are: Yi Xiaozhun of China (since 1 October 2017), Karl Brauner of Germany (since 1 October 2013), Yonov Frederick Agah of Nigeria (since 1 October 2013) and Alan W.

Wolff of the United States (since 1 October 2017). ===List of directors-general=== Source: Official website ===2020 Director-General selection=== In May 2020, Director-General Roberto Azevedo announced that he would step down on 31 August 2020.

The dispute settlement mechanism in the WTO is one way in which trade is increased. According to a 2017 study in the Journal of International Economic Law, "nearly all recent [preferential trade agreements (PTAs) reference the WTO explicitly, often dozens of times across multiple chapters.

2018

WTO member nations are obliged to accept the process as exclusive and compulsory. According to a 2018 study in the Journal of Politics, states are less likely and slower to enforce WTO violations when the violations affect states in a diffuse manner.

2019

There are working groups on the following: Trade, debt and finance; and Trade and technology transfer. As of 31 December 2019, the number of WTO staff on a regular budget is 338 women and 285 men. ==Decision-making== The WTO describes itself as "a rules-based, member-driven organization—all decisions are made by the member governments, and the rules are the outcome of negotiations among members".

2020

Wolff of the United States (since 1 October 2017). ===List of directors-general=== Source: Official website ===2020 Director-General selection=== In May 2020, Director-General Roberto Azevedo announced that he would step down on 31 August 2020.

, a nomination and selection process is currently under way with eight candidates and the final selection is expected on 7 November 2020 with the consensus of 164 member countries.

2021

A strong consensus had formed around the candidacy of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala but on 28 October it emerged that the US representative was opposed to her appointment. WTO members made history on 15 February 2021 when the General Council agreed by consensus to select Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria as the organization’s seventh Director-General. Wage takes office on 1 March 2021.




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