Multilateral Trade Negotiations and Agreements Under GATT and WTO
Trade Gatt Wto
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Transcript of Trade Gatt Wto
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IAS OUR DREAM
Presents QUICK FACTS on GATT, WTO
GATT General Agreeement on Tariffs and Trade(GATT) forme
in 1947 after WWII
23 non communist nations took part initially
Planned to hav International Trade Org (failed due to
differences)
Came into being in Jan 1948
By 1988, 96 nations joined
Objectives Achieved
Tariff
reduction
Removal of
non-tariff
barriers
through
rounds of
negotiations
Between 1947-86 seven rounds took place
1986-Uruguay rounds (Director General: Arthur Dunkel)
concluded in 1994 decision to form WTO
WTO Came into force on Jan 1,1995 after Dunkel Draft approv
thru Final Act at Marrrakesh,Uruguay.
Incorporated all org. treaties of GATT
New Areas---Services,intellectual property,trade related
investment
Functions of WTO
To make int. trade free as more as possible thru transperancy n
predictability
Forum for trade negotiations
Neutral agency for settlement of trade disputes
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Indias point of view
wrt to WTO
WTO AGREEMENT
provides for review at the
ministerial level at leat once
every two years
Level of tariff reduction n export subsidies agreed to are generally i
consonance with the reforms accepted by us as recommended in
CHELLIAH Committee report
Multi fibre Agreement (MFA) governed the WTOs trade in
textile n clothing imposed many quotas by developed countries.
IT was abolished in Jan 2005 which benefited INDIA
TRIPS caused major concern for developing countries like INDIA
because Indian Patents Act 1970 varied widely with requirements o
TRIPS .
TRIMS (Trade related investment measures)----
not to discriminate against foreign capital,which
shud b given national treatment
this takes away Indias discretion not to allow
certain foreign investments (soft drinks,potato
chips) n this INFRINGES on the nations
ECONOMIC SOVEREIGNITY.
Attempts were made by the US to intro issues lik LABOUR
STANDARDS (imposing dutieson developing countries products
on grounds of CHEAP LABOUR. & environmental protection in
the review meeting held in SEATTLE.
Singapore (1st review meeting1996)
Geneva (2nd 1998)
Seattle,USA (1999 abondoned due to protest by interest
groups belonging to both dev.eloped n developing countir
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TRIPS
Caused major concern for
INDIA(see how--------
The World Trade Organization and intellectual-property law
The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual PropertyRights (commonly known as TRIPS) has contributed greatly to the
expansion of intellectual-property law. Negotiated as part of the
Uruguay Round (198694) of the General Agreement on Tariffs andTrade (GATT), the TRIPS Agreement obligates members of the WorTrade Organization (WTO) to establish and enforce minimum levels
copyright, patent, and trademark protection within their jurisdictions
Countries that fail to do so are subject to various WTO-administeredtrade sanctions.
The leaders of some developing countries contend that the TRIPS
Agreement reflects and perpetuates a form of Western imperialism.
Noting that most owners of intellectual property (e.g., the copyrightson popular movies and music, the patents on pharmaceutical product
and the trademarks of multinational food and clothing companies)reside in developed countries, these officials argue that strengtheningintellectual-property rights unfairly raises the prices paid by consum
in thedeveloping world. Accordingly, developing countries generally
have been slow to implement TRIPS. Some economists, however,maintain that the long-term effect of the agreement will be to benefit
developing countries by stimulating local innovation and encouragin
foreign investment. Despite the existence of TRIPS, global rates of
piracy of software, music, movies, and electronic games remain highin part because many countries in Africa and Latin America have no
met the deadlines imposed by the agreement for revamping their
intellectual-property laws. Other countries, particularly in Asia, haveformally complied with the agreement by passing new laws but have
not effectively enforced them.
Currently whats in NEWS regarding India and WTO
India gives EU another chance to settle drug seizure case
India has decided to hold one last round of consultation with the European Union othe steps it is taking to stop the wrongful
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confiscation of pharmaceutical consignmenfrom India at European ports before askingthe World Trade Organisation (WTO) to seup a dispute settlement panel to resolve thissue.
Preparations for filing a case against the Ehowever, continues as India wants the issuto be settled as soon as possible, agovernment official has said.
DO U KNOW
WTO Currently
WTO rules against China's restrictions
Judges at the World Trade Organisation have handed down alandmark ruling - most of China's curbs on foreign books, filmsand DVDs are illegal.
The ruling, which is now final, affects distribution in China of foreignfilms for theatrical release, DVDs, music, books and journals. China hasaid it "regrets" the WTO's decision.
China allows up to 70 foreign films a year to be shown in local cinemaForeign distributors regarded the process as restrictive. Jonathan Bithreports.
WTO talks: No compromise on Indian interests
India on Tuesday insisted that services must take top priority in world trade talks. W
have our interests and there is no question of agreeing only to those sectors where t
developed countries are interested, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharm
said in Rajya Sabha.
He was replying to a calling-attention motion on the status of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO). Sharma said in the present round of negotiations services will
an integral part.
He assured the House that there is no question of coming under pressure when it
comes to trade policy. India will come under only one pressure, the pressure of its
interest, the pressure of its people and the pressure of its farmers. There is no quest
of we being pro-US.
Developed countries will have to make deep cuts in their subsidies, and this is still
being negotiated, he said, adding there cannot be any agreement while
REPUTATION AT STAKE: Seizuresviolate international patent pact
http://openslideshow%28%27/slideshow/5380082.cms')http://openslideshow%28%27/slideshow/5380082.cms') -
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SUPER 301
Section 310 of the1974 Trade Act (P.L. 93-618, as amended) is commonly
referred to as Super 301.
As enacted, Super 301 required the USTR for 1989 and 1990 to issue a rep
on its trade priorities and to identify priority foreign countries that practiced
unfair trade and priority practices that had the greatest effect on restricting U
exports. The USTR then would initiate a Section 301 investigation against th
priority countries to obtain elimination of the practices that impeded U.S.
exports, in the expectation that doing so would substantially expand U.S.
exports.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_Trade_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_Trade_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_Trade_Act