What is the WTO?

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the worlds trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.

Who we are
There are a number of ways of looking at the World Trade Organization. It is an organization for trade opening. It is a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements. It is a place for them to settle trade disputes. It operates a system of trade rules. Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other.
The WTO was born out of negotiations, and everything the WTO does is the result of negotiations. The bulk of the WTOs current work comes from the 198694 negotiations called the Uruguay Round and earlier negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The WTO is currently the host to new negotiations, under the Doha Development Agenda launched in 2001. Where countries have faced trade barriers and wanted them lowered, the negotiations have helped to open markets for trade. But the WTO is not just about opening markets, and in some circumstances its rules support maintaining trade barriers for example, to protect consumers or prevent the spread of disease. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the worlds trading nations. These documents provide the legal ground rules for international commerce. They are essentially contracts, binding governments to keep their trade policies within agreed limits. Although negotiated and signed by governments, the goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business, while allowing governments to meet social and environmental objectives. The systems overriding purpose is to help trade flow as freely as possible so long as there are no undesirable side effects because this is important for economic development and well-being. That partly means removing obstacles. It also means ensuring that individuals, companies and governments know what the trade rules are around the world, and giving them the confidence that there will be no sudden changes of policy. In other words, the rules have to be transparent and predictable. Trade relations often involve conflicting interests. Agreements, including those painstakingly negotiated in the WTO system, often need interpreting. The most harmonious way to settle these differences is through some neutral procedure based on an agreed legal foundation. That is the purpose behind the dispute settlement process written into the WTO agreements

What we do

Trade negotiations The WTO agreements cover goods, services and intellectual property. They spell out the principles of liberalization, and the permitted exceptions. They include individual countries commitments to lower customs tariffs and other trade barriers, and to open and keep open services markets. They set procedures for settling disputes. These agreements are not static; they are renegotiated from time to time and new agreements can be added to the package. Many are now being negotiated under the Doha Development Agenda, launched by WTO trade ministers in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001. Implementation and monitoring WTO agreements require governments to make their trade policies transparent by notifying the WTO about laws in force and measures adopted. Various WTO councils and committees seek to ensure that these requirements are being followed and that WTO agreements are being properly implemented. All WTO members must undergo periodic scrutiny of their trade policies and practices, each review containing reports by the country concerned and the WTO Secretariat. Dispute settlement The WTOs 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. Judgements by specially appointed independent experts are based on interpretations of the agreements and individual countries commitments. Building trade capacity WTO agreements contain special provision for developing countries, including longer time periods to implement agreements and commitments, measures to increase their trading opportunities, and support to help them build their trade capacity, to handle disputes and to implement technical standards. The WTO organizes hundreds of technical cooperation missions to developing countries annually. It also holds numerous courses each year in Geneva for government officials. Aid for Trade aims to help developing countries develop the skills and infrastructure needed to expand their trade. Outreach The WTO maintains regular dialogue with non-governmental organizations, parliamentarians, other international organizations, the media and the general public on various aspects of the WTO and the ongoing Doha negotiations, with the aim of enhancing cooperation and increasing awareness of WTO activities.

Members and Observers 153 members on 23 July 2008

Albania 8 September 2000 Angola 23 November 1996 Antigua and Barbuda 1 January 1995 Argentina 1 January 1995 Armenia 5 February 2003 Australia 1 January 1995 Austria 1 January 1995 Bahrain, Kingdom of 1 January 1995 Bangladesh 1 January 1995 Barbados 1 January 1995 Belgium 1 January 1995 Belize 1 January 1995 Benin 22 February 1996 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 12 September 1995 Botswana 31 May 1995 Brazil 1 January 1995 Brunei Darussalam 1 January 1995 Bulgaria 1 December 1996 Burkina Faso 3 June 1995 Burundi 23 July 1995 Cambodia 13 October 2004 Cameroon 13 December 1995 Canada 1 January 1995 Cape Verde 23 July 2008 Central African Republic 31 May 1995 Chad 19 October 1996 Chile 1 January 1995 China 11 December 2001 Colombia 30 April 1995 Congo 27 March 1997 Costa Rica 1 January 1995 Cte d'Ivoire 1 January 1995 Croatia 30 November 2000 Cuba 20 April 1995 Cyprus 30 July 1995 Czech Republic 1 January 1995 Democratic Republic of the Congo 1 January 1997 Denmark 1 January 1995 Djibouti 31 May 1995 Dominica 1 January 1995 Dominican Republic 9 March 1995 Ecuador 21 January 1996 Egypt 30 June 1995 El Salvador 7 May 1995 Estonia 13 November 1999 European Union (formerly European Communities) 1 January 1995 Fiji 14 January 1996

Finland 1 January 1995 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) 4 April 2003 France 1 January 1995 Gabon 1 January 1995 The Gambia 23 October 1996 Georgia 14 June 2000 Germany 1 January 1995 Ghana 1 January 1995 Greece 1 January 1995 Grenada 22 February 1996 Guatemala 21 July 1995 Guinea 25 October 1995 Guinea Bissau 31 May 1995 Guyana 1 January 1995 Haiti 30 January 1996 Honduras 1 January 1995 Hong Kong, China 1 January 1995 Hungary 1 January 1995 Iceland 1 January 1995 India 1 January 1995 Indonesia 1 January 1995 Ireland 1 January 1995 Israel 21 April 1995 Italy 1 January 1995 Jamaica 9 March 1995 Japan 1 January 1995 Jordan 11 April 2000 Kenya 1 January 1995 Korea, Republic of 1 January 1995 Kuwait 1 January 1995 Kyrgyz Republic 20 December 1998 Latvia 10 February 1999 Lesotho 31 May 1995 Liechtenstein 1 September 1995 Lithuania 31 May 2001 Luxembourg 1 January 1995 Macao, China 1 January 1995 Madagascar 17 November 1995 Malawi 31 May 1995 Malaysia 1 January 1995 Maldives 31 May 1995 Mali 31 May 1995 Malta 1 January 1995 Mauritania 31 May 1995 Mauritius 1 January 1995 Mexico 1 January 1995 Moldova 26 July 2001 Mongolia 29 January 1997 Morocco 1 January 1995 Mozambique 26 August 1995 Myanmar 1 January 1995 Namibia 1 January 1995 Nepal 23 April 2004

Netherlands For the Kingdom in Europe and for the Netherlands Antilles 1 January 1995 New Zealand 1 January 1995 Nicaragua 3 September 1995 Niger 13 December 1996 Nigeria 1 January 1995 Norway 1 January 1995 Oman 9 November 2000 Pakistan 1 January 1995 Panama 6 September 1997 Papua New Guinea 9 June 1996 Paraguay 1 January 1995 Peru 1 January 1995 Philippines 1 January 1995 Poland 1 July 1995 Portugal 1 January 1995 Qatar 13 January 1996 Romania 1 January 1995 Rwanda 22 May 1996 Saint Kitts and Nevis 21 February 1996 Saint Lucia 1 January 1995 Saint Vincent & the Grenadines 1 January 1995 Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of 11 December 2005 Senegal 1 January 1995 Sierra Leone 23 July 1995 Singapore 1 January 1995 Slovak Republic 1 January 1995 Slovenia 30 July 1995 Solomon Islands 26 July 1996 South Africa 1 January 1995 Spain 1 January 1995 Sri Lanka 1 January 1995 Suriname 1 January 1995 Swaziland 1 January 1995 Sweden 1 January 1995 Switzerland 1 July 1995 Chinese Taipei 1 January 2002 Tanzania 1 January 1995 Thailand 1 January 1995 Togo 31 May 1995 Tonga 27 July 2007 Trinidad and Tobago 1 March 1995 Tunisia 29 March 1995 Turkey 26 March 1995 Uganda 1 January 1995 Ukraine 16 May 2008 United Arab Emirates 10 April 1996 United Kingdom 1 January 1995 United States of America 1 January 1995 Uruguay 1 January 1995 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 1 January 1995 Viet Nam 11 January 2007 Zambia 1 January 1995 Zimbabwe 5 March 1995

Observer governments

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Afghanistan Algeria Andorra Azerbaijan Bahamas Belarus Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Comoros Equatorial Guinea Ethiopia Holy See (Vatican) Iran Iraq Kazakhstan Lao People's Democratic Republic Lebanese Republic Liberia, Republic of Libya Montenegro Russian Federation Samoa Sao Tom and Principe Serbia Seychelles Sudan Syrian Arab Republic Tajikistan Uzbekistan Vanuatu Yemen Note: With the exception of the Holy See, observers must start accession negotiations within five years of becoming observers.

Accessions
Any state or customs territory having full autonomy in the conduct of its trade policies may become a member (accede to) the WTO, but all WTO members must agree on the terms. This is done through the establishment of a working party of WTO members and through a process of negotiations.

DISPUTE SETTLEMENT: THE DISPUTES

Chronological list of disputes cases

DS426 Canada Measures Relating to the Feed-in Tariff Program (Complainant: European Union) DS425 China Definitive Anti-Dumping Duties on X-Ray Security Inspection Equipment from the European Union (Complainant: European Union) DS424 United States Anti-Dumping Measures on Imports of Stainless Steel Sheet and Strip in Coils from Italy (Complainant: European Union) DS423 Ukraine Taxes on Distilled spirits (Complainant: Moldova) DS422 United States Anti-Dumping Measures on Shrimp and Diamond Sawblades from China (Complainant: China) DS421 Moldova Measures Affecting the Importation and Internal Sale of Goods (Environmental Charge)(Complainant: Ukraine) DS420 United States Anti-dumping measures on corrosion-resistant carbon steel flat products from Korea(Complainant: Korea, Republic of) DS419 China Measures concerning wind power equipment (Complainant: United States) DS418 Dominican Republic Safeguard Measures on Imports of Polypropylene Bags and Tubular Fabric(Complainant: El Salvador) DS417 Dominican Republic Safeguard Measures on Imports of Polypropylene Bags and Tubular Fabric(Complainant: Honduras) DS416 Dominican Republic Safeguard Measures on Imports of Polypropylene Bags and Tubular Fabric(Complainant: Guatemala) DS415 Dominican Republic Safeguard Measures on Imports of Polypropylene Bags and Tubular Fabric(Complainant: Costa Rica) DS414 China Countervailing and Anti-Dumping Duties on Grain Oriented Flat-rolled Electrical Steel from the United States (Complainant: United States) DS413 China Certain Measures Affecting Electronic Payment Services (Complainant: United States) DS412 Canada Certain Measures Affecting the Renewable Energy Generation Sector (Complainant: Japan) DS411 Armenia Measures Affecting the Importation and Internal Sale of Cigarettes and Alcoholic Beverages (Complainant: Ukraine) DS410 Argentina Anti-Dumping Duties on Fasteners and Chains from Peru (Complainant: Peru) DS409 European Union and a Member State Seizure of Generic Drugs in Transit (Complainant: Brazil) DS408 European Union and a Member State Seizure of Generic Drugs in Transit (Complainant: India) DS407 China Provisional Anti-Dumping Duties on Certain Iron and Steel Fasteners from the European Union(Complainant: European Union) DS406 United States Measures Affecting the Production and Sale of Clove Cigarettes (Complainant: Indonesia) DS405 European Union Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Footwear from China (Complainant: China) 11 August 2011 25 July 2011 1 April 2011 3 March 2011 28 February 2011 17 February 2011 31 January 2011 22 December 2010 19 October 2010 18 October 2010 15 October 2010 15 October 2010 15 September 2010 15 September 2010 13 September 2010 20 July 2010 19 May 2010 12 May 2010 11 May 2010 7 May 2010 7 April 2010 4 February 2010

DS404 United States Anti-dumping Measures on Certain Shrimp from Viet Nam (Complainant: Viet Nam) DS403 Philippines Taxes on Distilled Spirits (Complainant: United States) DS402 United States Use of Zeroing in Anti-Dumping Measures Involving Products from Korea(Complainant: Korea, Republic of) DS401 European Communities Measures Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Seal Products(Complainant: Norway) DS400 European Communities Measures Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Seal Products(Complainant: Canada) DS399 United States Measures Affecting Imports of Certain Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tyres from China (Complainant: China) DS398 China Measures Related to the Exportation of Various Raw Materials (Complainant: Mexico) DS397 European Communities Definitive Anti-Dumping Measures on Certain Iron or Steel Fasteners from China (Complainant: China) DS396 Philippines Taxes on Distilled Spirits (Complainant: European Communities) DS395 China Measures Related to the Exportation of Various Raw Materials (Complainant: European Communities) DS394 China Measures Related to the Exportation of Various Raw Materials (Complainant: United States) DS393 Chile Anti-Dumping Measures on Imports of Wheat Flour from Argentina (Complainant: Argentina) DS392 United States Certain Measures Affecting Imports of Poultry from China (Complainant: China) DS391 Korea, Republic of Measures Affecting the Importation of Bovine Meat and Meat Products from Canada (Complainant: Canada) DS390 China Grants, Loans and Other Incentives (Complainant: Guatemala) DS389 European Communities Certain Measures Affecting Poultry Meat and Poultry Meat Products from the United States (Complainant: United States) DS388 China Grants, Loans and Other Incentives (Complainant: Mexico) DS387 China Grants, Loans and Other Incentives (Complainant: United States) DS386 United States Certain Country of Origin Labelling Requirements (Complainant: Mexico) DS385 European Communities Expiry Reviews of Anti-dumping and Countervailing Duties Imposed on Imports of PET from India (Complainant: India) DS384 United States Certain Country of Origin Labelling (Cool) Requirements (Complainant: Canada) DS383 United States Anti-Dumping Measures on Polyethylene Retail Carrier Bags from Thailand(Complainant: Thailand) DS382 United States Anti-Dumping Administrative Reviews and Other Measures Related to Imports of Certain Orange Juice from Brazil (Complainant: Brazil) DS381 United States Measures Concerning the Importation, Marketing and Sale of Tuna and Tuna Products(Complainant: Mexico) DS380 India Certain Taxes and Other Measures on Imported Wines and Spirits (Complainant: European Communities)

1 February 2010 14 January 2010 24 November 2009 5 November 2009 2 November 2009 14 September 2009 21 August 2009 31 July 2009 29 July 2009 23 June 2009 23 June 2009 14 May 2009 17 April 2009 9 April 2009 19 January 2009 16 January 2009 19 December 2008 19 December 2008 17 December 2008 4 December 2008 1 December 2008 26 November 2008 27 November 2008 24 October 2008 22 September 2008

DS379 United States Definitive Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties on Certain Products from China(Complainant: China) DS378 China Measures Affecting Financial Information Services and Foreign Financial Information Suppliers (Complainant: Canada) DS377 European Communities Tariff Treatment of Certain Information Technology Products (Complainant: Chinese Taipei) DS376 European Communities Tariff Treatment of Certain Information Technology Products (Complainant: Japan) DS375 European Communities Tariff Treatment of Certain Information Technology Products (Complainant: United States) DS374 South Africa Anti-Dumping Measures on Uncoated Woodfree Paper (Complainant: Indonesia) DS373 China Measures Affecting Financial Information Services and Foreign Financial Information Suppliers (Complainant: United States) DS372 China Measures Affecting Financial Information Services and Foreign Financial Information Suppliers (Complainant: European Communities) DS371 Thailand Customs and Fiscal Measures on Cigarettes from the Philippines (Complainant: Philippines) DS370 Thailand Customs Valuation of Certain Products from the European Communities (Complainant: European Communities) DS369 European Communities Certain Measures Prohibiting the Importation and Marketing of Seal Products (Complainant: Canada) DS368 United States Preliminary Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty Determinations on Coated Free Sheet Paper from China (Complainant: China) DS367 Australia Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples from New Zealand (Complainant: New Zealand) DS366 Colombia Indicative Prices and Restrictions on Ports of Entry (Complainant: Panama) DS365 United States Domestic Support and Export Credit Guarantees for Agricultural Products(Complainant: Brazil) DS364 European Communities Regime for the Importation of Bananas (Complainant: Panama) DS363 China Measures Affecting Trading Rights and Distribution Services for Certain Publications and Audiovisual Entertainment Products (Complainant: United States) DS362 China Measures Affecting the Protection and Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights(Complainant: United States) DS361 European Communities Regime for the Importation of Bananas (Complainant: Colombia) DS360 India Additional and Extra-Additional Duties on Imports from the United States (Complainant: United States) DS359 China Certain Measures Granting Refunds, Reductions or Exemptions from Taxes and Other Payments (Complainant: Mexico) DS358 China Certain Measures Granting Refunds, Reductions or Exemptions from Taxes and Other Payments (Complainant: United States) DS357 United States Subsidies and Other Domestic Support for Corn and Other

19 September 2008 20 June 2008 12 June 2008 28 May 2008 28 May 2008 9 May 2008 3 March 2008 3 March 2008 7 February 2008 25 January 2008 25 September 2007 14 September 2007 31 August 2007 12 July 2007 11 July 2007 22 June 2007 10 April 2007 10 April 2007 21 March 2007 6 March 2007 26 February 2007 2 February 2007 8 January 2007

Agricultural Products(Complainant: Canada) DS356 Chile Definitive Safeguard Measures on Certain Milk Products (Complainant: Argentina) DS355 Brazil Anti-dumping Measures on Imports of Certain Resins from Argentina (Complainant: Argentina) DS354 Canada Tax Exemptions and Reductions for Wine and Beer (Complainant: European Communities) DS353 United States Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft Second Complaint (Complainant: European Communities) DS352 India Measures Affecting the Importation and Sale of Wines and Spirits from the European Communities (Complainant: European Communities) DS351 Chile Provisional Safeguard Measure on Certain Milk Products (Complainant: Argentina) DS350 United States Continued Existence and Application of Zeroing Methodology (Complainant: European Communities) DS349 European Communities Measures Affecting the Tariff Quota for Fresh or Chilled Garlic(Complainant: Argentina) DS348 Colombia Customs Measures on Importation of Certain Goods from Panama (Complainant: Panama) DS347 European Communities and Certain Member States Measures Affecting Trade in Large Civil Aircraft (Second Complaint) (Complainant: United States) DS346 United States Anti-Dumping Administrative Review on Oil Country Tubular Goods from Argentina(Complainant: Argentina) DS345 United States Customs Bond Directive for Merchandise Subject to AntiDumping/Countervailing Duties (Complainant: India) DS344 United States Final Anti-dumping Measures on Stainless Steel from Mexico (Complainant: Mexico) DS343 United States Measures Relating to Shrimp from Thailand (Complainant: Thailand) DS342 China Measures Affecting Imports of Automobile Parts (Complainant: Canada) DS341 Mexico Definitive Countervailing Measures on Olive Oil from the European Communities(Complainant: European Communities) DS340 China Measures Affecting Imports of Automobile Parts (Complainant: United States) DS339 China Measures Affecting Imports of Automobile Parts (Complainant: European Communities) DS338 Canada Provisional Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties on Grain Corn from the United States(Complainant: United States) DS337 European Communities Anti-Dumping Measure on Farmed Salmon from Norway (Complainant: Norway) DS336 Japan Countervailing Duties on Dynamic Random Access Memories from Korea (Complainant: Korea, Republic of) 28 December 2006 26 December 2006 29 November 2006 27 June 2005 20 November 2006 25 October 2006 2 October 2006 6 September 2006 20 July 2006 31 January 2006 20 June 2006 6 June 2006 26 May 2006 24 April 2006 13 April 2006 31 March 2006 30 March 2006 30 March 2006 17 March 2006 17 March 2006 14 March 2006

Reference: www.wto.org