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1.17. The WTO

♤ Formed in 1995 after the Uruguay Round to replace the replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which commenced in 1948.

 

♤ Its secretariat is in Geneva. WTO Director General is Roberto Azevedo♤ The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the only global international organisation dealing with the rules of trade between nations.♤ The WTO's top decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference (MC).launched in 2001.1.17.3. The Doha Round1.17.4. Key Issues and Challenges: Developed Versus Developing Countries♤ The WTO's efforts have increased global trade expansion, but a side effect has been a negative impact on local communities and human rights.♤ The Doha Development round remains incomplete and multiple issues are pending.1.17.5. TRIPS♤ "Intellectual property" refers to creations of the mind. These creations can take many different forms, such as artistic expressions, signs, symbols and names used in commerce, designs and inventions. Governments grant creators the right to prevent others from using their inventions, designs or other creations — and to use that right to negotiate payment in return for others using them. These are “intellectual property rights”.♤ It is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. The issues dealt with by the WTO and UNCITRAL are different.

  

 

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