INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Presentation

By Rimel Khan
MDDS 2
 Introduction
The World Trade Organization is an
intergovernmental organization.
The WTO officially commenced on 1 st
January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement.
The agreement was signed by 123 nations on 15 th
April 1994.
WTO replaced General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
which was founded in 1948.
The purpose of WTO is to regulate international
trade between the participating countries.
Only global organization which deals with the rules
of trade between nations.
 It was founded on certain principles like non-
discrimination, free trade, open, fair and
undistorted competition, etc
The headquarters of WTO are located in Geneva,
Switzerland.
The current director general
of WTO is Roberto Azevêdo
since 2013.
 Structure
WTO is a permanent
international organization.
It currently has 164 states as its
members.
Accounts for more than 97% of World trade.
It is required to meet every 2 years.
The WTO secretariat in Geneva has a permanent staff
of 625 people.
WTO secretariat is headed by a director general.
Its annual budget is roughly 160 million Swiss Francs.
Decisions are taken by the members themselves.
The secretariat does not have the decision making the
role that other international bureaucracies are given.
 Objectives
To improve the standard of living of people in the
member countries.
To ensure full employment and broad increase in
effective demand.
To enlarge production and trade of goods.
To increase the trade of services.
To ensure optimum utilization of world resources.
To protect the environment.
To accept the concept of sustainable development.
 Analysis
Failure?
General view is that the WTO has failed to meet its
objectives.
The developing countries do not believe that the WTO
works for their benefit. 
 General perception is that dominant economic powers like
the United States and Europe have hijacked the system.
WTO activities seem like wastage of taxpayer’s money. 
No outcome from WTO conferences.
WTO has simply failed the interests of developing nations.
Lastly, WTO has become a forum which is used by nations
to further their hidden agendas.
Governments use it as a forum to bestow economic benefits
on their political allies.