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GATT/WTOintheProcessofReductiontheInternationalTradeBarriers
23
andexclusionsfromtheGATTrules,theprotectionistactionsincluded(Martin
andWinters,1995).
TheGeneralAgreementonTariffsandTrade(GATT)hasbeenreplaced
bytheWorldTradeOrganisation,establishedonJanuary1st,1995,asachief
globaltradeorganisation.UnlikeGATT,WTOisanorganisationformedon
theprinciplessimilartothoseofInternationalMonetaryFundorWorldBank
(Cohn,2000,p.214).Firstofall,itisalegalentity.Mostdecisionsarereached
unanimously,andtherestbythemajorityrule.ThemaintaskoftheWTOis
supervisingtheimplementationoftheUruguayRounddecisionsbytheparticular
countries(MartinandWinters,1995).Theorganisationisalsoaforumforthe
negotiationsonfurtherliberalisationoftheinternationalexchangeofgoodsand
services(Gray,1983),onforeigninvestmentsrelatedtotheexchangeofgoods
andonthelawspertainingtotheintellectualpropertyrights.Thebasicprinciple
oftheorganisationisnon-discriminationofmemberstates,manifestingitself
throughtheapplicationofthemostfavourednationclause.Thisisaccompanied
bytheruleofmutualbenefits,freeaccesstonationalmarketsandtheruleof
honestcompetition.Governmentsmayinterveneonlywhenthereisanecessity
toprotectthebalanceofpayments,nationalproduction,healthofcitizensand
safetyofthestate.TheWTOprovidesalsofortheprocedureofconflictsolving,
farmoreeffectivethanthepreviousonesand,atthesametime,theprocedure
thatisuniformforalltheareasunderregulations.ThecompetenceofWTOis
muchbroaderthanthatofGATT.
TheagreementfromMarrakechonestablishingtheWorldTradeOrganisation
consistsofapreamble,16articlesand4annexes.Annex1coverstheMultilateral
AgreementsonGoodsTrading,Annex2includestheAgreementonRulesand
ProceduresofConflictSolving,Annex3presentstheMechanismforSurveying
theTradePolicy,Annex4-theso-calledPluralisticAgreementencompassing,the
AgreementonCivilianAircraftTrading,AgreementonGovernmentPurchases,
theInternationalDairyAgreementandtheBeefAgreement.GATTdidnot
disappear;itreturnedtoitsoriginalstatusoftheagreementongoodstrading
(Cohn,2000,p.214).ThetraderulesofWTOareconfinedtoanumberof
agreements,alongwiththerulesofGATTandotherarrangementsnegotiated
intheUruguayRound,suchas:theGeneralAgreementonTradeinServices
(GATS),theAgreementonTrade-RelatedIntellectualPropertyRights(called
alsotheTRIPSAgreement),andtheAgreementonTrade-RelatedInvestment
Measures(calledalsotheTRIMSAgreement).Tradeingoodsinvolvesthe
broadestaspectsoftheinternationaltradeandthatiswhyGATT-1994remains
themostimportanttradeagreementwithinWTO(Cohn,2000,p.214).
AllWTOagreementsareobligatoryforitsmembers.Thismeansthatthe
countriesjoiningWTOareobligedtoacceptthoseagreementsintheform
workedoutduringtheUruguayRound,withoutanychoiceinthatmatter
