World Trade Report 2007

Sixty Years of the Multilateral Trading System : Achievements and Challenges

On 1 January 2008 the multilateral trading system celebrated its 60th anniversary. The World Trade Report 2007 celebrates this landmark anniversary with an in-depth look at the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and its successor the World Trade Organization — their origins, achievements, the challenges they have faced and what the future holds.

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The story is one of remarkable change and adaptation, of a system that has contributed significantly to post-war prosperity, but which has not delivered all it could and which still faces formidable challenges.

The Report looks at the circumstances in which the GATT was born and goes on to explain why governments believe it is in their interests to cooperate on trade matters. This is followed by a discussion of how the GATT/WTO as an institution can foster greater international cooperation. Finally, the Report reviews what the multilateral trading system has achieved in six decades and what remains to be done.

The Report also provides brief analytical commentaries on certain topical trade issues. The 2007 Report looks at “10 years of the Information Technology Agreement” and “global imbalances and world trade”.

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World Trade Report 2006

Exploring the links between subsidies, trade and the WTO

The core topic of the World Trade Report 2006 is “subsidies”. The Report explores this area of policy in terms of how subsidies are defined, what economic theory can tell us about subsidies, why governments use subsidies, the most prominent sectors in which subsidies are applied and the role of the WTO Agreement in regulating subsidies in the context of international trade.

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The Report also provides brief analytical commentaries on certain topical trade issues. The 2006 Report covers “recent trends in textiles and clothing”, an “examination of the evolution of international royalty and fee payments”, “developments in the trade of least-developed countries” and an “analysis of the effects of natural disasters and terrorism on international trade flows”.

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World Trade Report 2005

Trade, standards and the WTO

The attention given to the trade impact of standards has sometimes obscured the important role that standards play in increasing economic efficiency and dealing with market failures. It is in performing these functions that they create societal benefits. The World Trade Report 2005 seeks to shed light on the various functions and consequences of standards.

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An important point to emerge from economic theory is that there is no monotonic relationship between welfare and trade volumes. Changes in trade flows do not always bear a matching relationship to changes in welfare. The empirical evidence also suggests that standards can have both positive and negative effects on trade flows.

An important and recurring theme in the Report concerns the role of international cooperation in managing trade and the public policy challenges facing standards regimes, whether these emanate from the trade rules or from rules and processes involved in the setting and administration of standards.

The Report focuses on three key areas: (i) the economics of standards in relation to international trade; (ii) the institutional setting in which standard-setting and conformity assessment occurs; and (iii) the role of WTO agreements in reconciling the legitimate policy uses of standards with an open, non-discriminatory trading system. While much of the analysis deals with product standards, a large number of the issues discussed also apply in the field of services.

The 2005 Report includes analytical essays on “offshoring services”, “air transport services” and “the use of quantitative economic analysis in dispute settlement”.

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World Trade Report 2004

Coherence

The World Trade Report 2004 starts with a brief discussion of how the notion of coherence is deployed in the analysis of interdependent policies across a wide range of issues and economic activities.

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The analysis then goes on to consider the interaction between trade and macroeconomic policy. This is followed by an examination of the role of infrastructure in trade and economic development, with a particular focus on transport, telecommunications, finance and business services.

Next comes a consideration of domestic market structures and what role governments might play in securing well functioning markets. The fourth issue covered is governance and institutions, which looks at the nature of institutions and how they influence economic outcomes. Finally, the Report closes with a discussion of the role of international cooperation in promoting policy coherence.

The Report also contains three essays on topics of particular current interest. The topics selected are “non-reciprocal preferences and the multilateral trading system”, the “liberalization of services trade through the temporary movement of labour” and “geographical indications”. Each of these issues is directly or indirectly implicated in the Doha negotiations. They are subjects in respect of which many members hold strong views. The essays seek to shed light on the underlying policy issues, the policy challenges, and the threats and opportunities embedded in each subject area.

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World Trade Report 2003

Trade and development

The central focus of the World Trade Report 2003 is development. By explaining the origin of this issue and by offering an analytical framework within which to address the question of the relationship between trade and development, the Report aims to contribute to more informed discussion and a better appreciation of the options available to address policy challenges.

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The Report gives extensive examination to the Doha Round of global trade negotiations and states clearly that these talks hold significant potential for raising levels of development in impoverished countries. This is particularly true with respect to negotiations on agriculture and non-agricultural market access.

The Report argues forcefully in favour of an intensified engagement in the global trading system by all member governments. Without this greater commitment and leadership from governments, there will be a tendency to postpone the difficult political decisions that must be taken if we are to have a successful Doha Round and a stronger global trading system.

The Report also focuses on three issues of topical interest: “South-South trade”, “non-oil commodity markets”, and “regional trade agreements”. On each issue, the Report analyses developments over the last few years, highlights their implications, and draws a number of conclusions about the options facing governments.

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WTO Annual Report 2019

The 2019 Annual Report provides a comprehensive account of the WTO's activities in 2018 and early 2019. The Report begins with a message from WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo and a brief overview of the past year. This is followed by in-depth accounts of the WTO's main areas of activity over the past 12 months. Spotlights highlight major WTO events and activities.

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In his opening message, DG Azevêdo says:

“Mounting trade tensions, an increase in trade-restrictive measures and continuing economic uncertainty created real challenges for world trade in 2018. These factors and a deceleration in overall economic activity slowed momentum in global trade, restricting merchandise trade growth to 3 per cent compared with 4.6 per cent in 2017. This downward trend is expected to continue in 2019, with trade projected to grow by just 2.6 per cent. If trade growth is to bounce back in 2020, it is vital we resolve tensions and create an environment where trade can play its full part in driving economic growth and reducing poverty.”

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China and the World Trade Organization

China and the World Trade Organization

The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China

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June 2018

Contents

Foreword

I. China Has Faithfully Fulfilled Its WTO Accession Commitments

II. China Firmly Supports the Multilateral Trading System

III. China’s Significant Contribution to the World After Accession to the WTO

IV. China Is Actively Advancing Opening-Up to a Higher Level

Conclusion

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国务院新闻办公室6月28日发表《中国与世界贸易组织》白皮书。

《中国与世界贸易组织》白皮书（全文）

中国与世界贸易组织

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（2018年6月）

中华人民共和国国务院新闻办公室

　　目录

　　前言

　　一、中国切实履行加入世贸组织承诺

　　二、中国坚定支持多边贸易体制

　　三、中国加入世贸组织后对世界作出重要贡献

　　四、中国积极推动更高水平对外开放

　　结束语

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