Page 278 - DMGT401Business Environment

Unit 13: World Trade Organization

procurement through various councils and committees. It enforces the multilateral trade rules. Notes
In a nutshell, WTO performs the following functions:

Helping Developing and Transition Economies

Developing countries make up about three quarters of the total WTO membership. The role of
WTO increases as most of these developing countries are in transition phase as they are shifting
from planned economic system to market based economic system.
The WTO Secretariat's Training and Technical Cooperation Institute organizes a number of
programmes to train government officials and negotiators. Besides Geneva these programmes
also take place in the country concerned. Various number of programmes are organized jointly
with other international organizations.
WTO provides data of tariff and trade to developing nations to help them in their export.

Specialised Help for Export

In 1964 the WTO established the International Trade Centre to help develop countries in their
exports. It is jointly operated by the WTO and the United Nations. It provides information and
advice on export markets and marketing techniques. It assists in establishing export promotion
and marketing services, and in training personnel required for these services.
The WTO in Global Economic Policy Making

WTO cooperates with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other multilateral
institutions to achieve greater coherence in global economic policy-making. A separate ministerial
declaration was adopted at the Marrakesh Ministerial Meeting in April 1994 to underscore this
objective.

Taking Information

WTO takes regular information from the member countries regarding their policies and tariffs.
According to many agreements, the government has to notify the WTO about the modified
trade measures like safety standards, technical standards, anti - dumping and countervailing
duties, etc. In this way it keeps itself updated regarding developments but also it disseminates
information to the member countries, which help them in increasing their exports.

Giving Information to Public

It also disseminates information to the public about the developments in WTO through its
publication and its websites.
Encouraging Development and Economic Reform

GATT allows for special assistance and trade concessions for developing countries. WTO
agreements give them transition periods to adjust to the more unfamiliar and, perhaps, difficult
framework. A ministerial decision adopted at the end of the round says better-off countries
should accelerate implementing market access commitments on goods exported by the least-
developed countries, and it seeks increased technical assistance for them.

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