Features of the WTO (World Trade Organization):
a. It governs trade in goods, services and intellectual property rights among the member countries.
b. It is a body created by an international treaty with the approval of the governments and legislatures of the member states.
c. The decisions of the WTO are made by the governments of the member nations on the basis of consensus.
d. Unlike the GATT, it is a legal entity.
e. Unlike the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), it is not an agent of the United Nations.
Structure of the WTO:
1. Ministerial Conference: The topmost decision making body WTO is the Ministerial Conference. It meets once in two years.
2. General Council: The second level of WTO is the General Council. It consists of members, ambassadors and heads of delegations. It meets several times a year in Geneva.
3. Other Councils: There are many other types of the council like Goods Council, Services Council, IP Council etc. These councils deal with specific issues.
Objectives of the WTO:
i. Optimum utilization of resources: To facilitate efficient and fuller use of the world's resources for sustainable development.
ii. Durable training system: To provide an integrated, viable and durable trading system.
iii. Reduction of tariffs: To ensure a reduction of tariffs and other trade barriers imposed by different countries.
iv. Helps in improving the standard of living: To encourage activities which result in improving the standards of living, creating employment, growth of income etc.
Functions of the WTO:
i. Reducing trade barriers
ii. Mitigating grievances
iii. Supervising Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights
iv. Settling disputes
v. Following the rules