World Trade Organisation: An Insight into its Contribution and Challenges

This report provides an insight into the contribution and challenges faced by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in managing international trade and commerce among 164 countries. It reviews the benefits of WTO agreements, criticisms, and challenges faced by WTO in its growth path and the way it treats its member nations equally.

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EXCECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report has been prepared to give its readers an insight about the most popular
global institution, World Trade Organisation (WTO) which has been managing international
trade and commerce in between 164 countries. The institution has been able to bring in
economic development in its member countries by promoting sustainable economic
development and alleviation of poverty. The trade agreements made and signed by member
nations are protected under WTO agreements which help its members make their businesses
conduct in efficient and risk-free manner. The practical examples provided in the report will
give strong evidence to its readers about the affirmation of above statement and benefits
WTO has provided to the world trade. This report has also reviewed criticisms and challenges
faced by WTO in its growth path and the way it treats its member nations equally.

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Table of Contents
EXCECUTIVE SUMMARY.................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................1
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION..........................................................................................2
CONCLUSION......................................................................................................................9
BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................................................................................9
APPENDICES......................................................................................................................12
Appendix A.......................................................................................................................12
Appendix B.......................................................................................................................13

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INTRODUCTION
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is an international organisation that assists
government and nations in facilitating trade of manufactured goods and services that includes
insurance, banking, telecommunication, tourism and many other sectors. WTO is a
replacement of General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and was established in the
year 1995 (World Trade Organization, 2015). The main objective behind formation of WTO
was to provide free flow of trade between countries in a fair manner. The central idea
between its systems promotes settlement of disputes by defining rules and timelines for
settling disputes. Presently there are 164 members of WTO which represents 95% of total
trade worldwide where observers seek getting membership (Howse, 2016).
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Just after the Second World War many countries became economically depressed
when the allied countries, led by government of US, thought of undertaking a promotional
plan to spread liberal capitalism, enhanced world trade and economic-cooperation. These
ideas were based to promote global and international businesses while preventing them from
getting into global conflicts. GATT and WTO always supported easy flow of trade and they
prove to be very are significant for bringing economic development in countries. Three basic
functions provided by WTO are; removing trade obstacles, hosting negotiations among
member nations and resolve disagreement of interest among member nations. The complexity
and number of problems involved in international trade has often resulted in making the
entire trade process slower than anticipated (Panagariya, n.d.). In last few decades, many
issues have been seen arising in major sectors like agriculture, manufacturing and service

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industry. All the developed countries have their individual opinion regarding nature of trade
and thus many issues are caused due to imposition of tariffs through developed countries on
merchandise coming from other developing countries. The agricultural subsidies maintenance
also acts as a trade barrier and has become a serious reason for conflict between US and EU
which even resulted in Banana Trade War between those countries. The dispute was
concluded in 2012 when EU agreed to reduce the tariff after eight-year long time period.
The international trade laws contributed by WTO facilitate globalisation in which
major points followed by organisations have provided world with positive business approach.
Trade without discrimination is provided by WTO as it does not allow making favouritism
among its members (Kim, n.d.). If any WTO member wishes to grant any trade benefit to
other member like provision of products with lower taxes, such advantages will be applicable
to all other fellow members. This kind of treatment is considered to be like that of MFN
treatment in which adhering with such principles contributes in positive international trade by
giving all the members equal opportunities. WTO provides freer trade by maintaining
intensive negotiations among members to minimise trade barriers while encouraging them to
get involved in international trade. Moreover, organisations also do not demand for any harsh
claim or any kind of ultimatums for helping developing nations by implementing changes
gradually. Since developing nation’s posse’s weak economic development, any kind of
pressure from developed country can make negative effects on them along with making them
more fragile on various aspects (Javorcik & Narsico, 2017). Therefore, global trade is
encouraged by WTO by ensuring members getting involved in fairer trade and also
economically weaker nations are supported by developed countries by getting advantaged
from principles and guidelines of WTO.
Transparency and binding maintained by WTO through predictability nature has
brought revolution in providing world with efficient measures for export and import facility.

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WTO guards its member a country from realising loses by predicting future changes or
regulatory modifications that can be made by another member country. As a result, more and
more members get engaged actively in trade between themselves (World Trade
Organization , 2017). However, any associate can initiate changes in tariffs or other trade
legislations that are agreed between trading partners and any compensation realised can be
paid accordingly. This principle of WTO contributes in international trade by encouraging
members work confidently and get engaged in foreign countries without fear of any uncertain
changes in partner country’s legislation and trade agreement. Fair competition provided by
WTO with its undiscriminating policy protects its members from getting abused by other
members. In other term it can be said that rules and guidelines laid in WTO agreements
allows its members to establish basic tariffs and in case it is not, made clear then other
member nation has the right to abandon their commodities within that nation. Fair
competition rule does not permit WTO members protect their economies from commodity
dumping to ensure that no members are disadvantaged from discrimination rule and even
promotes fair trade among member nation organisations.
WTO also encourages economic raise and development of dynamic organisations by
developing countries economic conditions through elimination of poverty (Stewart & Bell,
2015). Some of the members of developing countries have not integrated key elements of free
market financial system in their national economies. Such countries are assisted from the
global institution to provide positive contribution for developing their country economy in
several ways. For example, sixty developing nations have put into practice trade liberalisation
and economy programmes at the time of Uruguay Round which lasted for 8 years. The
economic reforms among developed nations is positively correlated to the level of global
trade as more countries get developed with larger number of imports and exports involving
more countries. Apart from the above-mentioned contribution of WTO, it has supported its

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member nations in many ways by protecting government from getting consternation, raising
governmental incomes, enhancement in variety of goods among countries, and providing help
for bringing new idea in front of the world.
The decision-making system within WTO is also an important topic for discussion as
it is directly related to the outcomes realised by countries who involves WTO in their
international dealings. The system of WTO in making trade agreements and negotiation
contract comprises of two fey features. The first principle states that decision made by
members will be based on voting system which is one vote per nation. This sovereign
principle is based on equality that makes WTO one of the classical global institutions. The
next feature of WTO states using accord as the basis for making major decisions. This
principle is followed since GATT’s time period and was laid in Marrakesh Agreement
Establishing the WTO. Both the aforesaid features prove significant in providing with
democratic theory. In international level, issues among global organisations can happen
between formal members but their conflicts can hamper citizens belonging to organisation’s
countries and member states. Hence, the participation of each member along with civil
society organisations like NGO’s are also encouraged in decision making of WTO to make
contribution to democratic judgement. Democratic theory, if applied to international
institutions, can be supposed by member countries for making individual or corporations get
involved in decision making process by nation’s government. However, it is not necessary
that they will be given access by WTO. Domestic laws and other personal interests can make
national officials negotiate on behalf of their own nation which can affect the legitimacy of
international regulations. Again, if all the representatives do not attend decision making
process equally, the end result of negotiations will not adequately fulfil the needs of
unattended ones. Therefore, national laws do not admit state representatives at global
negotiations act for providing fair procedures.

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The value of WTO to world development always depends on environmental and
political factors. It can be questioned that whether WTO can provide with better international
trade or will global economy become depended on transnational transactions and liberal
economies. If international economy is being dominated by transnational transaction and
liberal economy, then it can be said that WTO is needed severely even if the results are below
expectations. If the achievements are realised by trade agreements, the policy of seeking full
accord from member nations can be abandoned but, this process is very risky and very
difficult to be managed (New Internationalist, 2016). The latest agreement of WTO was made
after recognising elements from wider agenda that was projected to be argued but the result
of it that provided with limited agreement, did not make impression on many people.
Organisations as well as individuals see that global supremacy and liberal economy as a
devastating element for global expansion and thus assumes WTO as a part of issue in
globalisation process. WTO enhances development of wealthy nations by imposing their
policies on underdeveloped and weaker countries. As a result, negotiations are never carried
out between identical partners and favouritism is created for developed nations. Among two
opposing views there are other people who visualises no other alternative institution than
WTO and even believe that its urge to promote development worldwide are depended on
finding new ways that are flexible in nature with less cumbersome and more indulgent with
developing nations.
Developing nations has to face constant challenge while bridging gaps between
themselves and industrialized and developed countries. Due to lack of capital, these countries
always try to implement technological innovation in optimal costs which sometimes makes
impossible for them to achieve technological innovation in cost reductive way (Aaronson &
Abouharb, 2013). Developing countries are constantly facing the challenge of bridging the
technology gap between them and other developed and industrialized counterparts. Another

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disadvantage found in WTO membership is that benefit to one area leads in bringing
disadvantage elsewhere. For example, member’s countries under National Treatment
principles and MFN have an obligation in regards to reciprocity which states that all the
member countries cannot eternally gain access to the markets of other nations without
allowing others entering into their marketplace. This disadvantage is particularly for those
members who lack competitiveness in their market as compared to developed countries
market and thus market remains unfavourable for them which even results in breakdown.
Disadvantage related to WTO rules like invoking numerous prospects provided under
WTO guidelines have also made many countries lost their interest in WTO as these prospects
requires lot of time while the countries need prompt response. On the other hand, WTO even
has to face many challenges that may undermine organisation of global management and
administration process in regulating international trading system (ICTSD, 2012). Since there
are many countries that required being managed simultaneously, the WTO operations
becomes ineffective many times for trying to maintain balance between them. Many of the
member countries do not limit their trading with member countries only and participates with
non-member countries also. This has added challenge while implementing development facet
of WTO as development programme cannot be restricted to member nations only. This makes
WTO require joining hands with other non-members and make them insist to join WTO. The
operational procedure and structure of WTO also poses few issues in decision making,
predecessor and its voting system where one country, whether small or big, is given right to
vote once only. This has even made WTO come under subject of manipulation from political
interests of member nations. It is indispensable that countries protect their national interest
and being a member organisation, political role are bound to come between countries
declination in trading with other members on political and discrimination grounds.

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WTO is also being criticised by a lot of groups with their opposing views towards
world development. Many of the criticiser’s doubt in the efficiency of multilateral approach
of WTO towards trade negotiations, as WTO principles make successful negotiations very
difficult to achieve. Although WTO is recognised as a big force that influences international
operations between its members, the organisation has been able to acquire many criticisms
against it in various aspects (Dudovisky, 2013). WTO has been able to maintain in reduction
of sociological gaps among poor and rich but its policies and practices produces reverse
results many times by widening the gap. The developing nations are the ones who realises the
lowest benefit from WTO for several reasons, especially because of anti-dumping channel
against them. Theses promotes barrier in agricultural production in developed nations and the
WTO gets influenced by developed and richer countries for supporting them. Again, WTO
includes environmental and labour issues also because of inefficient and complex decision
making. The ignorance of environmental and human factors can cause massive problems
along with other ecological imbalances in long run. However, the productive results of WTO
cannot be overlooked and the way it has made all its members depended on each other that
can even avoid in future wars.
The economic and financial growth of Asian countries is one of the finest examples
that prove how member nation benefits from global institutions like WTO. WTO has been
able to eliminate trade issue of 21st century where financially salient Asia has involved itself
in supply chain over past few decades by experimenting with regional trade contacts and
economic regulations to sustain in between fragile economy. The RCEP (Regional
Comprehensive Economic Partnership) of Asia and TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership) of US
are competing to put values for Asian operations and supply chains. In this case, the Asian
countries experience of taking new approach to sustain economic growth with WTO as a
forum for improving global trade governance shows the power of WTO in forming

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international business standards (Elgar, 2014). Asia has been a successful model through
developed trade that had inspired many other countries to join hands with WTO for
enhancing their global trade in expanded form.
Development in African economic sector is also being observed that shows promising
nature of WTO. As world trade slowed down in recent years, Africa was the only nation who
showed double digit growth expansion in terms of export and import. Although trade plays a
significant part in making Africa the most rapidly growing nation worldwide, trading has
became even more powerful for enhancing prosperity in the country and alleviating poverty,
especially in developing regions (Chemutai & Low, 2017). WTO provides all the necessary
elements for fulfilling global tasks unless African nations are not legally bound to open their
markets not only for production but even for technical assistance. The capacity required for
building expansion of exports and import leads shows that they have recently gained many
benefits from WTO (Business Report, 2015). Although WTO is an expert in forming
international trade, the prolonged deadlock in Doha round threatened the trustworthiness of
the institution. The Doha development criteria negotiations should have been delivered as an
important push to economic development of Africa by opening its market to export interest of
African countries (Baldwin, 2016). Here WTO needs to convey on Doha development agenda
failing which the member countries may divert their effort and energy.

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CONCLUSION
The above discussion and analysis made on WTO shows the way global institutions
help manufacturers and traders in dealing with cross border transactions. The global
institutions are highly responsible for bringing economic development in many countries
while making a way to eliminate poverty in countries. Although many challenges and
criticisms came in the pathway, but with strategic decisions, WTO had been able to sustain
the global trend in effective manner. The increase in foreign exchange and diversification of
organisations businesses has paved way for generating sustainable business developments in
which WTO plays a significant role by protecting international trade contracts and other
specified goals. Therefore, it can be said that every country must participate in world trade
through a mutual agreement that can be managed in unbiased way through a global institution
like WTO.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Aaronson, S.A. & Abouharb, M.R., 2013. Is More Trade Always Better? The WTO and
Human Rights in Conflict Zones. Journal of WorldTrade, 47(05), pp.1091-128.
Baldwin, R., 2016. The World Trade Organization and the Future of Multilateralism. Journal
of Economic Perspectives, 30(01), pp.95-116.
Business Report, 2015. The WTO is key for Africa’s prosperity. [Online] Available at:
https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/opinion/the-wto-is-key-for-africas-prosperity-1511971
[Accessed 01 June 2018].
Chemutai, V. & Low, P., 2017. African perspectives on trade and the WTO. Great Insights,
05(06).
Dudovisky, J., 2013. World Trade Organisation (WTO): Scope, Contribution and Criticism.
[Online] Available at: https://research-methodology.net/world-trade-organisation-wto-scope-
contribution-and-criticism/ [Accessed 01 June 2018].
Elgar, E., 2014. A World Trade Organization for the 21st Century: The Asian Perspective.
Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
Howse, R., 2016. The World Trade Organization 20 Years On: Global Governance by
Judiciary. European Journal of International Law, 27(01), pp.9-77.
ICTSD, 2012. The Future and the WTO: Confronting the Challenges: A Collection of Short
Essays. Geneva: Ricardo Meléndez-Ortiz.
Javorcik, B.S. & Narsico, G., 2017. WTO accession and tariff evasion. Journal of
Development Economics, 125, pp.59-71.

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Kim, S.Y., n.d. The Old and the New: The Effects of the WTO on International Trade.
[Online] Available at: https://www.princeton.edu/~pcglobal/conferences/institutions/papers/
kim_gowa_F1045.pdf [Accessed 01 June 2018].
Narnia, N., 2015. World Trade Organisation-World Trade Bank. [Online] Available at:
http://best-of-the-bank.blogspot.com/2015/08/world-trade-organization-world-trade.html
[Accessed 01 June 2018].
New Internationalist, 2016. World Development case study: World Trade Organization.
[Online] Available at: https://newint.org/books/reference/world-development/case-studies/
wto/ [Accessed 01 June 2018].
Panagariya, A., n.d. Core WTO Agreements: Trade in Goods and Services and Intellectual
Property. [Online] Available at: http://www.columbia.edu/~ap2231/Courses/wto-
overview.pdf [Accessed 01 June 2018].
Stewart, T.P. & Bell, S.M., 2015. Global Hunger and the World Trade Organization: How the
International Trade Rules Address Food Security. Penn State Journal of Law & International
Affairs, 03(02), pp.113-55.
World Trade Organization , 2017. Understanding the WTO. Annual Report 2017. WTO.
World Trade Organization, 2015. Understanding the WTO. Geneva: WTO Publications.
World Trade Organization, 2018. World Trade Statistical Review 2017. [Online] Available
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June 2018].

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APPENDICES
Appendix A
Figure: Subsidiary bodies of WTO (Narnia, 2015)

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Appendix B
Figure: Trade facilitation approved by WTO: A timeline (World Trade Organization, 2018)