This document summarizes key aspects of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It describes the WTO's founding in 1995 with 127 initial member countries. The objectives of the WTO are to raise living standards, ensure full employment, achieve sustainable development, and ensure fair deals for rich and poor countries. The document traces the evolution of international trade agreements from the end of World War II to the establishment of the WTO. It also outlines the major issues addressed in successive rounds of trade negotiations.

1. Economic Diplomacy
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2. 1. Topics:
 Description;
 Objectives;
 Story;
 Principles;
 Evolution;
 Rounds;
 “Why WTO is important?”
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3. 2. Description:
 Founded January 1, 1995;
 Rules established by the GATT;
 127 countries;
 153 members;
 Decisions are taken unanimously;
 WTO headquarters is at Geneva, Switzerland.
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4. 3. Objectives:
 To raise the levels of life;
 To improve full employment;
 To attain the objectives with sustainable development and
environmental protection;
 To ensure the rich and poor countries benefit from fair deals
for both.
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5. 4. Story:
 End of World War II;
 International Trade Organization and the Havana’s letter;
 ITO - Havana’s letter) were introduced into the GATT ;
 After the Uruguay Round (1995) was established WTO ;
 WTO came into January 1, 1995 ;
 Slovenia joined the WTO on 30 July 1995;
 Pascal Lamy ;
 The Ministerial Conference ;
 The General Council;
 The Secretariat and Director General.
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6. 5. Principles:
 Non-Discrimination:
– Most favored nation (MFN);
– National treatment.
 Reciprocity;
 Binding and enforceable commitments;
 Transparency;
 Safety valves.
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7. 6. Evolution:
 Build an organization for economic cooperation;
 IMF, GATT;
 US allies at war do business with low Tariffs - ITO
(International Trade Organization);
 ITO (Havana’s letter) uncessufull;
 October 30 of 1947, 23 Countries have signed (Final Act
authentic of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade);
 After the Uruguay round of GATT was transformed to the
WTO.
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8. 7. Rounds:

Year Name Number of countries Issues
1947 Genebra (1947); 23 countries Tariffs
1949 Annecy (1949); 13 countries Tariffs
1950/51 Torquay (1950/51); 38 countries Tariffs
1955/1956 Genebra (1955/56); 26 countries Tariffs
1960/61 Dillon (1960/61); 26 countries Tariffs
1964/67 Kennedy (1964/67); 62 countries Tariffs, Antidumping measures.
Tariffs, Non-tariff measures, Export
1973/79 Tokyo (1973/79); 102 countries restrictions, Measures for
controlling the Proliferation.
Tariffs, Agriculture, Services,
1986/93 Uruguai (1986/93); 123 countries
Intellectual property, Textiles.
Industrial tariffs and Non-tariff
2001/… Doha (2001/…). 149 countries barriers, Trade remedies,
Agriculture, Services.
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9. 8. Importance of WTO:
 Important for international relations;
 WTO is also target of criticism;
 WTO is not an independent organization;
 Less developed countries do not have much
influence;
 Trade was faced with a restriction products (less
variety);
 Product prices would be more expensive;
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10. 9. Questions:
“You have to be very rich or very poor to live without a trade. “
Albert Camus
Thank you for watching.
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