Single institutional framework

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is a single institutional framework encompassing the GATT and all the agreements and legal instruments negotiated in the Uruguay Round.

This Guide contains detailed information on the provisions of the WTO Agreements as they apply to developing countries.

• the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or GATT 1994 and other agreements covering trade in goods
• the General Agreement on Trade in Services or GATS
• the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Protection or TRIPs
• the Understanding on the Dispute Settlement System (DSU); and
• the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM).

In addition, there are a number of Ministerial Decisions and Declarations that supplement the agreements reached. The WTO also encompasses the plurilateral arrangements, which are not part of the single undertaking including the Agreements on Trade in Civil Aircraft and Government Procurement.

Structure

The WTO is a member-driven organization. The highest policy-making body is the Ministerial Conference, attended by member countries’ trade ministers and held at least biennially.

The General Council oversees the operations of the WTO between Ministerial Conferences. This includes acting as a Dispute Settlement Body and administering the Trade Policy Review Mechanism. The General Council has three principal subsidiary bodies:

• the Goods Council
• the Services Council
• the TRIPs Council




Unless otherwise provided for, decisions are taken by consensus, continuing the GATT practice.

Interests of developing countries

The particular trade interests of developing countries are recognized in the WTO. The preamble of the Agreement Establishing the WTO states that "there is" a need for positive efforts designed to ensure that developing countries, and especially the least developed among them, secure a share in the growth of international trade commensurate with the needs of their economic development".

Many of the WTO agreements contain provisions for developing countries and least-developed countries that consist of longer transition periods for the full implementation of some obligations and various exemptions from obligations - particularly for the least-developed countries.

• Under the provisions of the Generalized System of Tariff Preferences, the exports of developing countries may benefit from more favourable treatment by other WTO Members.
• Least-developed countries benefit from a number of provisions that provide more favourable treatment such as lower levels of obligations.
• The Decision on Measures in Favour of Least-Developed Countries provides for special assistance measures, including technical assistance.
• The Committee on Trade and Development - a subsidiary body of the General Council - will periodically review the special provisions in favour of least-developed countries.