UNDERSTANDING THE °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
What we do
The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the membership as a whole, either by ministers (who usually meet at least once every two years) or by their ambassadors or delegates (who meet regularly in Geneva).
While the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ is driven by its member states, it could not function without its Secretariat to coordinate the activities. The Secretariat employs over 600 staff, and its experts — lawyers, economists, statisticians and communications experts — assist °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ members on a daily basis to ensure, among other things, that negotiations progress smoothly, and that the rules of international trade are correctly applied and enforced.
Trade negotiations
The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ 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 °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ trade ministers in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001.
Implementation and monitoring
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ agreements require governments to make their trade policies transparent by notifying the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ about laws in force and measures adopted. Various °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ councils and committees seek to ensure that these requirements are being followed and that °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ agreements are being properly implemented. All °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ members must undergo periodic scrutiny of their trade policies and practices, each review containing reports by the country concerned and the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Secretariat.
Dispute settlement
The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ’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 °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ 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
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ 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 °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ 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 °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ maintains regular dialogue with non-governmental organizations, parliamentarians, other international organizations, the media and the general public on various aspects of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ and the ongoing Doha negotiations, with the aim of enhancing cooperation and increasing awareness of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ activities.