The world trade organization (World Trade Organization, English World trade Organization; OMC, French organization mondiale you commerce), is an international organization with seat in Geneva, which concerns itself with the regulation of handels and trade relations.

Establishment and goals

The World Trade Organization was created on 16 April 1994 in Marrakesch, Morocco (into force stepped on 1 January 1995); it is the controlling body of the contracts HOLE, GATS and TRIPS. A goal the World Trade Organization is to be increased the dismantling of barriers to trade and thus the liberalisation of the international trade with the resuming goal of the international free trade by thus the welfare of the participating national economies. The World Trade Organization contracts, which were prepared and signed by the most important trading nations, form the core of these efforts. The present contracts are the result of the Uruguay round in such a way specified, in which the hole contract was revised. Politicoly-economic the World Trade Organization pursues a neoliberale foreign trade policy, which goes with Deregulierung and privatisation.

Members

The World Trade Organization has 149 members (source: ) Member states, among other things Germany, the European communities, Austria and Switzerland (conditions: 17. December 2005).

European communities

Also the EEC is member the World Trade Organization. It represents the co-ordinated interests of all 25 member states. In the press and generally linguistic usage however frequently the European Union is called World Trade Organization member, what legally however not is correct. Negotiator is a commissioner for the foreign trade. However it the countries cannot be taken to send in each case own diplomats to negotiations. Resolutions are usually seized with the World Trade Organization in the consent. During a majority decision the EEC exercises the right to vote for all their members, that are also member the World Trade Organization. There this for all EEC-MEMBERs applies has the EEC 25 voices. The voice of the EEC as an independent World Trade Organization member is void in this case.

Developing countries

About two thirds of the World Trade Organization members are developing countries. To it partly separated regulations (e.g. HOLE part of IV to trade and development) apply and they receive the support of the World Trade Organization secretariat with some questions. There is no definition for the status as developing country in the World Trade Organization right. Categorization is based therefore on an explanation of the state, which can be doubted however by other states. With new members the future status will apply for the World Trade Organization during the negotiations of accession of members according to definition of the UN as if Developed Countries (to few developed countries) leases, whose status cannot be denied.

The different developing countries have frequently very different problems or interests. Meanwhile however different informal exist themselves, partially overlapping unions of developing countries in the World Trade Organization. So for example the G90, a coalition of the African union (OUTER ONE), the states of Africa, the Karibik and Pacific (AKP) and the LDC. Lately probably the most important alliance is the group of the twenty, under the guidance of the economically strongest developing countries China, lifted before the World Trade Organization conference of ministers in in Mexico (September 2003) from the baptism, India, Brazil and South Africa.

Many critics the World Trade Organization doubt that the granted special rights are sufficient, in order to adjust disadvantages of the developing countries in relation to the industrialized countries. For example the World Trade Organization offers advanced training programs for the coworkers of developing countries, but some countries are not even able, sufficient delegated to pay, in order to participate in all negotiations.

Alliances

There are different political or (regional) economic alliances between the World Trade Organization members, that are partially long continuing, partially also at short notice or with changing members. Within a marketing area like the European Union, NAFTA, ASEAN or Mercosur special rules apply to the most-favored nation treatment principle.

The so-called Cairns Group is a political alliance and occurs for liberalisation in the agrarian sector. For this count 17 countries from four continents, which are differently far developed.

The four large economic powers (European Union, Japan, Canada, the USA) are called "The Quad" or "Quadrilaterals".

Almost universal organization

The World Trade Organization members gain more than 90% of the Welthandelsvolumens. Substantial non-members are Russia and other former states of the Soviet Union and several states of the Near East. At present it gives 33 governments with observer status, that (with exception of the Vatikan) must begin within five years negotiations of accession. The entry is in kind. XII the World Trade Organization convention regulated. Upon the entry or after certain transition periods the conditions of the individual World Trade Organization agreements must be fulfilled. The entry resolutions are seized by the conference of ministers with two-thirds majority.

Articles in category "World trade organization"

We found here 7 articles.