Business Guide to the World Trading System

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• PrefaceAcknowledgementsBoxesNoteIntroductionThe GuideReferences and up-to-date informationOverviewThe WTO system and the evolving global economyMain features of the WTO AgreementsMultilateral Agreements on Trade in GoodsGeneral Agreement on Trade in ServicesAgreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsLiberalization measures taken by countries as a result of commitments assumed in the Uruguay RoundDevelopments since the establishment of WTOBenefits to the business community of the WTO systemAnnex I: Illustrative list of benefits arising from the WTO systemAnnex II: WTO Agreements: provisions on special and differential treatment of developing countries - An analytical summaryPART ONETHE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION: ITS ROLE AND FUNCTIONSCHAPTER 1 WTO: Forum for negotiations, dispute settlement and trade policy reviewsSummaryWTO: Its objectives, functions and structureWTO as a forum for negotiationsWTO system for the settlement of disputesTrade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM)Annex I WTO structureAnnex II WTO membershipPART TWOINTERNATIONAL RULES GOVERNING TRADE IN GOODS (GATT 1994 AND ITS ASSOCIATE AGREEMENTS)CHAPTER 2 Four main rules of GATTSummaryFirst rule: protecting the domestic industry by tariffs onlySecond rule: tariffs should be reduced and bound against further increases Reductions in tariffsThird rule: trade according to the most-favoured-nation clauseFourth rule: national treatmentBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 3 Valuation of goods for customs purposesSummaryTypes of customs dutiesRules of the Agreement on Customs ValuationBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 4 Preshipment inspectionSummaryObjectives for using PSI servicesBackground to the negotiations on the PSI AgreementMain provisions of the AgreementDiffering rules on the verification of prices in the Agreement on PSI and on the valuation of goods in the Agreement on Customs ValuationObligations of exporting countriesConsideration of complaints and settlement of disputesReview of the provisions of the AgreementBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 5 Mandatory and voluntary product standards, and sanitary and phytosanitary regulationsSummaryThe role of standardsInternational rules governing standardsAgreement on Technical Barriers to TradeGeneral principles and rules of the Agreement on TBTCode of Good Practice for voluntary standardizationAgreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary MeasuresOther provisions common to the SPS and TBT AgreementsEnquiry pointsBusiness implications and experience of the operation of the AgreementsAnnex: National enquiry pointsCHAPTER 6 Import licensing proceduresSummaryCommon rulesAutomatic import licensingNon-automatic import licensingBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 7 Rules applicable to exportsSummaryExport incentives providing for the reimbursement of indirect taxesRule governing export control measuresBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 8 Rules governing subsidies on industrial productsSummaryDefinition of subsidies; aim of the Agreement on SCMRemedies available to affected industries and to their governmentsBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 9 Safeguard measures to restrict imports in emergency situationsSummaryCircumventing GATT rules through VERsAgreement on SafeguardsBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 10 Safeguard actions for economic development purposes: special flexibility available to developing countriesSummaryConditions for the invocation of safeguard provisionsBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 11 Response to unfair trade practices: rules on the use of countervailing and anti-dumping dutiesSummaryConcept of dumping as embodied in GATT lawRules and procedures for levying countervailing and anti-dumping dutiesBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 12 Rules of originSummaryPurposes for which rules are applied to determine country of originMain principles on which current national rules are basedProblems posed by differences in the rules for determining originAgreement on Rules of OriginPresent state of play in the technical work on harmonizationBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 13 Trade-related investment measuresSummaryWhat are TRIMs?Agreement on Trade-Related Investment MeasuresBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 14 Agreement on Textiles and ClothingSummaryIntegrating trade in textiles into GATTIntegration of non-MFA restrictionsTransitional safeguard measuresRules of originIncreasing use of anti-dumping actionsBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 15 Agreement on AgricultureSummaryOverviewBorder measuresExport subsidies and governmental support measuresDomestic support subsidiesPeace clause Net food-importing countriesBusiness implications and future negotiationsAnnex:Table 1: Export subsidy reduction commitmentsTable 2: Reductions in domestic support to agricultural producersCHAPTER 16 Results of market access negotiationsSummaryUruguay Round of trade negotiationsPost-Uruguay Round negotiationsAssessment of liberalization gains from the Uruguay RoundBusiness implicationsPART THREEINTERNATIONAL RULES GOVERNING TRADE IN SERVICESCHAPTER 17 General Agreement on Trade in ServicesSummaryModes in which the service trade takes placeGeneral Agreement on Trade in ServicesRules on liberalization of servicesLiberalization commitments under GATSBusiness implicationsAnnex I: WTO classification of service sectorsAnnex II: National enquiry and contact pointsPART FOURGOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AMD STATE TRADINGCHAPTER 18 Government procurementSummaryHistorical background to the evolution of rulesAgreement on Government ProcurementNegotiations for improvements in the AgreementInterim agreement on government procurementWork on government procurement under the provisions of GATSBusiness implicationsCHAPTER 19 State tradingSummaryMain obligationsBusiness implicationsPART FIVETRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTSCHAPTER 20 Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsSummaryIntellectual property rights and their implications for international tradeAgreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property RightsBusiness implications 251PART SIXSUBJECTS ADDED TO THE WTO WORK PROGRAMME FOR STUDY AMD ANALYSISCHAPTER 21 Trade and environmentEvolving global trendsWTO provisionsTrade-related issuesTrade provisions in multilateral environmental agreementsEnvironmental benefits of trade liberalizationFuture workAnnex: Polluter-pays and user-pays principlesCHAPTER 22 Trade and investmentBackground: discussions in GATT/WTO on trade and investmentFDI: its importance and impact; existing agreements and WTO provisionsDescription of the main issues and points raised in the discussions in the WTO Working GroupCHAPTER 23 Trade and competition policyCompetition policy issues in international tradeOverview of the main issues under discussion in the WTO Working GroupCHAPTER 24 Transparency in government procurement practicesAgreement on Government ProcurementWorking Group on Transparency in Government ProcurementElements for ensuring transparency after the procurement contract is awardedTechnical cooperation, and special and differential treatment of developing countriesOngoing workCHAPTER 25 Trade facilitationWork by international organizations other than WTOWTO law on trade facilitationProposals calling for WTO involvement in trade facilitationWork in progressCHAPTER 26 Electronic commerceWhat is electronic commerceBenefits of electronic commerceInternet-based international tradeInternet commerce and developing countriesProblems and issuesWTO work programmeSumming upIndex