The World Trade Organization (WTO), established on January 1, 1995, aims to facilitate global trade by reducing trade barriers and providing a platform for negotiations and dispute resolution among its 160 member countries. Key agreements under the WTO include the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), among others, addressing issues related to trade policies, agriculture, and technical standards. While free trade promotes economic benefits, potential disadvantages include increased dependency on global markets and challenges for new industries in competitive environments.

1. WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Export Agriculture
Uva Wellassa University

2. INTRODUCTION
• Location: Geneva, Switzerland
• Established: 1 January 1995
• Created by: Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-94)
• Membership: 160 countries (on 6 June 2014)

3. Need for formation of WTO

4. Objectives
• Remove or reduce international trade barriers
with the member countries
• Achieve global economic development through
optimum utilization of world resources
• Increase market shares of developing countries
through assistance in their development efforts
• Follow a non discriminatory policy for all member
countries
• Act as dispute settle machinery

5. Who benefits from WTO

6. Functions of WTO
• Administering WTO trade agreements
• Forum for trade negotiations
• Handling trade disputes
• Reviewing national trade policies
• Assisting developing countries in trade policy issues,
through technical assistance and training programme
• Monitoring national trade policies
• Cooperation with other international organizations

7. WTO Agreements
• Cover goods, services and intellectual property
• Clarify about
– the principles of liberalization
– the permitted allowances
• To lower customs tariffs and other trade barriers
• To open and keep open services markets
• Procedures for settling disagreements
• Suggest special treatment for developing
countries

8. WTO Agreements
• General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade (GATT)
• General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
• Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property
rights(TRIPS)
• Trade Related Investment Measures(TRIMS)
• Agreement On Agriculture(AOA)
• Agreement on Technical Barriers Trade(TBT)
• Sanitary & Phyto Sanitary (SPS) Agreement

9. General Agreement on Tariffs &
Trade (GATT)
• GATT was 1 st signed in 1947
• Was designed
– To provide an international opportunity
– To encouraged free trade between member states
– To regulate and reduce tariffs on traded goods
– To provide a common mechanism for resolving
trade arguments

10. • Main Objective
Reduction of barriers to international trade
• This was achieved through the reduction of
–Tariff barriers
–Quantitative restrictions
–Subsidies on trade through a series of agreements

12. General Agreement on Trade in
Services (GATS)
The most development-friendly of WTO Agreements
because of its great flexibility:
Objectives
•Expansion of services trade
•Progressive liberalization through successive rounds
of negotiations
•Transparency of rules and regulations
•Increasing participation of developing countries

13. • Sectorial Coverage
- Business Services
- Communication
- Construction
- Distribution
- Education
- Environmental Services
- Health-Related Services
- Financial Services
- Tourism
- Culture

14. Trade Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights
Agreements (TRIPS)
• It was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay round of
the general agreement on tariffs and trade (GATT) in
1994
• This agreement concern about research, designs,
sciences and other fields along growth in industrial
sector

15. • Objectives
• Protection & enforcement of intellectual property
– to the promotion of technological innovation
– to the transfer dissemination technology
• To resolves disputes in trade related issues

17. Agreement on Trade Related
Investment Measures(TRIMs)
• Refers to certain restrictions imposed but
governments in respect of foreign investment in the
country
• Provides that no contracting party shall apply any
TRIM which is inconsistent with the WTO articles

18. Agreement on Agriculture(AOA)
• A part of the final act of the Uruguay round
• Implications differ to country to country
• Contain provisions in 3 broad areas of agriculture
and trade policy
– Market access
– Domestic support
– Export support

19. Agreement on Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT)
Objectives
Allows members to apply standards, technical
regulations, conformity assessment procedures for
- Protection of human safety or health
e.g:- sockets, seat belts, labeling cigarettes
- Protection of animal & plant life or health
e.g:-pollution, extinct egg turtle extruder device)
- Protection of environment
e.g:-level of vehicle emissions

20. - Prevention of deceptive practices
e.g :- labeling, size
- Quality-size of fruits & vegetable
•However need to ensure that these do not create
obstacles to international trade

21. Sanitary and Phyto sanitary
(SPS) Agreement
• All countries have rights to take Sanitary and Phyto
sanitary (SPS) Measures for protection of human,
animal and plant life and health
The right to
protect
human,
animal
or plant life or
health
Avoiding
unnecess
ary
barriers
to trade

23. Economic Influence
3 main advantages
•Free trade can be done with the countries which has
no economic sanctions
•Can bond to free trade agreements
•Trade & Tariffs can be controlled as per the country’s
economical situation

24. Disadvantages
•Increased domestic economic instability from
international trade cycles, as economies become
dependent on global markets
•Developing or new industries may find it difficult to
become established in a competitive environment

25. Political influence
If Human Right Resolutions are accepted, trade
cannot be done

26. On our point of view…
• As a WTO member, we are bond with internationally
recognized rules
• So, the independence of the Srilankan economy has
been reduced
• We also have to act on globally accepted quality
standards
• We could go on to regional trade agreements
e.g: Indu Lanka
SAPTA

27. THANK YOU!