Page 156 - DMGT545_INTERNATIONAL_BUSINESS

Unit 8: World Trade Organization

developing countries and transition economies were much more active and influential in the notes
Uruguay Round negotiations than in any previous round, and they are even more so in the
current Doha Development Agenda.
At the end of the Uruguay Round, developing countries were prepared to take on most of the
obligations that are required of developed countries. But the agreements gave them transition
periods to adjust to the more unfamiliar and, perhaps, difficult WTO provisions — particularly
so for the poorest, “least-developed” countries. 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. More recently, developed countries have started to allow duty-free and quota-free imports
for almost all products from least-developed countries. On all of this, the WTO and its members
are still going through a learning process. The current Doha Development Agenda includes
developing countries’ concerns about the difficulties they face in implementing the Uruguay
Round agreements.

8.1.2 formal structure

According to WTO rules, all WTO members may participate in all councils, committees, etc.,
except Appellate Body, Dispute Settlement panels, and plurilateral committees.

Highest level: ministerial conference

The topmost decision-making body of the WTO is the Ministerial Conference, which has to meet
at least every two years. It brings together all members of the WTO, all of which are countries or
separate customs territories. The Ministerial Conference can make decisions on all matters under
any of the multilateral trade agreements.

second level: General council

The daily work of the Ministerial Conference is handled by three groups: the General Council,
the Dispute Settlement Body, and the Trade Policy Review Body. All three consist of the same
membership – representatives of all WTO members – but each meets under different rules.

1. The General Council, the WTO’s highest-level decision-making body in Geneva, meets
regularly to carry out the functions of the WTO. It has representatives (usually ambassadors
or equivalent) from all member governments and has the authority to act on behalf of
the Ministerial Conference which only meets about every two years. The council acts on
behalf on the Ministerial Council on all of the WTO affairs. The current chairman is Amb.
Muhamad Noor Yacob (Malaysia).
2. The Dispute Settlement Body is made up of all member governments, usually represented by
ambassadors or equivalent. The current chairperson is H.E. Mr. Bruce Gosper (Australia).

3. The WTO General Council meets as the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) to undertake
trade policy reviews of Members under the TRPM. The TPRB is thus open to all WTO
Members. The current chairperson is H.E. Ms. Claudia Uribe (Colombia).

third level: councils for trade

The Councils for Trade work under the General Council. There are three councils – Council for
Trade in Goods, Council for Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, and Council
for Trade in Services – each council works in different fields. Apart from these three councils, six
other bodies report to the General Council reporting on issues such as trade and development,
the environment, regional trading arrangements and administrative issues.

lovely Professional university 151