The International Monetary Fund - The World Trade Organisation - The European Union

The World Trade Organisation

The World Trade Organisation makes and enforces rules about international trade. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.

Brief history

The World Trade Organisation was formed in 1994 to replace the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was signed in 1948. More than 140 countries belong to the WTO.

Advantages and disadvantages

		Advantages – the main advantages of the WTO are seen as ...					Disadvantages – against this, some people think ...
		It helps trade to flow smoothly. It deals with disputes over trade. Decisions in the WTO are made by consensus and the agreements apply to everyone. All countries can appeal against decisions which they feel are unfair. This system has the potential to protect developing countries from harsh measures and unfair rules.					The rules are not fair. The rules are too complex. Poorer countries cannot afford to pay specialists, lawyers and other support staff to help them to interpret or challenge them. Poorer countries cannot afford to attend meetings. The WTO has too much power compared with other international organisations. The decisions that it makes take precedence over agreements on the environment and international law, for example.

How it works

The World Trade Organisation makes rules about international trade.

Decisions, decisions ... How are decisions taken? Are all member countries given an       equal say? Do ordinary people have a voice? Can you have a say?

Click on the diagram below to find out more.