World Trade Organization
WTO Background
Information & Communications Technology Agreements
WTO Background
The World Trade Organization is an international organization established on January 1, 1995, which is the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was founded in 1948. The WTO is designed to foster open, fair and nondiscriminatory trade practices for goods and services. Member nations negotiate agreements and commitments that serve as the legal ground rules for international commerce and for trade policy. These rules are codified in agreements the member countries sign.
The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions are made by the membership as a whole, either by ministers (who meet every two years) or by officials (who meet regularly in Geneva). Decisions are normally taken by consensus. The highest authority is the ministerial conference, which meets at least once every two years. More routine work is supervised by the General Council. Numerous other councils, committees, working parties and negotiating groups cover the wide range of WTO issues.
In order to accede to the WTO, prospective member countries must make commitments to open their markets and abide by WTO trade practices. New members enjoy the privileges other member countries give to them on a non-discriminatory ("most favored nation") basis, and they enjoy the security the trading rules provide.
Information & Communications Technology Agreements: