Here is the website for the disputes. You can Pick any Dispute
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_status_e.htm
Instructions
INTB101 World Trade Organization Dispute Case
First, you must complete the Preface & Introduction to the WTO dispute settlement system portion within the Dispute Settlement Training module found on the WTO website http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_current_status_e.htm
Pay particular attention to the WTO dispute process. The following links may be useful.
Dispute Map http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_maps_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/dispu_maps_e.htm
WTO Organizational Chart—
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org2_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org2_e.htm
DOHA Declaration—
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dohaexplained_e.htmhttp://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/dohaexplained_e.htm
The panel process—
http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/disp2_e.htm
W.T.O. Handout
World Trade Organization- What is it & why does it exist?
An international organization that provides a forum for negotiating free trade agreements designed to reduce or eliminate impediments to international trade while ensuring a fair playing field for all participants.
How do they go about achieving this? What is their operational function?
*Provides a legal framework for implementation of trade agreements and an institutional structure to monitor adherence to these agreements & settle disputes that may arise from varying interpretations & application of these laws/agreements
* the bulk of these agreements are comprised of 16 multilateral agreements (agreements between many nations at one time)
Where did all of these agreements come from and who came up with this bright idea to make agreements and mediate disputes?
First let’s take a step back in time…1928 Herbert Hoover running for office
Well representatives from farming district sure are. That may be enough support to sponsor a bill, but it was not enough to pass it
What about a representative of Detroit? Perhaps not so interested in protecting farmers? They may sign on if the bill if it includes protection for automakers however. (Often referred to as pork barrel spending)
So how many extra pork items needed to be added to pass the bill (known as Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act)
The Act protected roughly 20,000 U.S. products.
Foreign producers were less pleased with the prospect of the bill’s success and consequently encouraged their respective representatives to act.
Some countries threatened to retaliate with their own protectionist legislation; other countries threatened to boycott U.S. products…..In the end Smoot-Hawley passed in 1929 making it the first shot in a global trade war.
The act worked as intended, it protected domestic producers and reduced trade from $3 billion in trade volume in 1929 to $1 billion in 1932, making it one of the contributing factors to the Great Depression.
Eventually Europe gets tangled in war again with the U.S. soon to follow.
After WWII however, leaders thought maybe trade wars were not the best of ideas, so they met to agree to devise an arrangement to taper the trade restrictions over time.
This agreement is known as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was signed by 23 nations in Geneva in 1947.
GATT has been held in rounds, with each aiming at achieving new goals in reducing tariffs.
A total of nine rounds so far ( Geneva(1947); Annecy(1949); Torquay(1950); Geneva II(1956); Dillon(1960); Kennedy(1964); Tokyo(1973); Uruguay(1986); Seattle (failed)(1999); Doha(2001-present)
The important thing to know is that these rounds succeeded in their objectives—lowering tariffs.
Success Free Trade! …..but wait, not so fast…
Does this stop (usually weak) domestic industry from trying to succeed in finding protection?
Of course not.
Can politicians find a way to abide by international agreements while still protecting their domestic constituents?
Somehow, they can manage.
While tariffs were down to about 2-3% during the Uruguay round in 1993, this came with an increase in quotas.
So then GATT tries to tackle quotas, only for Voluntary Exports Restraints (V.E.R.s) to go on the rise (Along with other Non Tariff Barriers or NTBs)
If you notice the duration of each round, each progressive round gets longer. What causes the delay?
Well, first you have to look harder for places to trim the fat. Second, many industries like agriculture are contentious, so often put on the back burner.
Lastly, the Uruguay round was the first round to attempt to tackle services rather than just goods since services such as engineering, financial, & technical services they were not prominent industries.
So it took the Uruguay round 9 years to finish, but at its end in 1994, it had also established something entirely unique……
The establishment of the World Trade Organization!
So if W.T.O. settles disputes, who is the biggest whiner (complainant) and who is the biggest trade agreement violator (respondent)? While the number of disputes varies, it is often the U.S. for both categories.
W.T.O. has 160 members, 117 developing nations.
W.T.O. led by a Director-General and operational activities supported by a Secretariat (a staff of about 700) and is located in Geneva. (Annual budget $180 million)
WTO decisions made by consensus of the entire membership
Ministerial Conference: Highest institutional body meets about every 2 years
General Council: conducts operational business between Ministerial conferences. Member governments have representatives/ambassadors and are given authority to act on behalf of the Ministerial conference. They also meet (and operate under different rules) as the Trade Review Body & the Dispute Settlement Body
These two bodies comprise all members though there are many specialized Councils, Committees, & Sub-committees.
Secretariat: Their duty is to provide independent technical and professional support for member governments on all WTO activities in an impartial way. They have no decision making power themselves. They may provide legal assistance in dispute cases and provide information to the public.
What do these WTO bodies do all day?
– Negotiate reduction/elimination of hindrances to trade (tariffs, quotas, etc.) and agree on rules of conduct to govern international trade (antidumping, subsidies, etc.)
– Administer/monitor the application of WTO’s agreed upon rules for goods, services, & Intellectual property rights
– Settle disputes among members regarding interpretation/application
– Build capacity of developing country government officials in international trade matters
– Assist process of accession of 30 nations who have yet to become members
– Conduct economic research and collect/disseminate trade data
– Explain/educate to public about WTO, mission, & activities