14. Oktober 2021
It all started with the trade in goods. From 1947 to 1994, GATT was the forum for negotiating lower tariffs and other barriers to trade; The GATT text contains important rules, in particular non-discrimination. Since 1995, the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO and its Annexes (including the updated GATT) has been part of the WTO Framework Agreement. It contains annexes dealing with certain product-related sectors such as agriculture and specific issues such as product standards, subsidies and anti-dumping measures. An important recent addition was the Trade Facilitation Agreement, which entered into force in 2017. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization of 164 members that deals with the rules of trade between nations. With Russia`s accession in August 2012, the WTO covers all major trading economies. The WTO works to ensure a smooth, predictable and free flow of international trade and provides countries with a constructive and fair outlet for resolving disputes on trade issues. The WTO was established in 1995 and replaced the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) established in 1947. The IMF and the WTO work together at many levels to ensure greater coherence in global economic policy. Shortly after the establishment of the WTO, a cooperation agreement was signed between the two organizations covering various aspects of their relations. High-level coordination: The Managing Director of the IMF and the Managing Director of the WTO consult regularly on a number of trade-related issues. The Managing Director of the IMF and the Managing Director of the WTO, as well as the President of the World Bank Group, participated in an expert group on „Leveraging Trade to Reduce Poverty“ at the IMF-World Bank Group Spring Meetings in April 2019 and chaired a seminar on „How Global Trade Can Promote Growth for All“ at the Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group in October 2018, and published a joint Commission staff document on „W W“ in September 2018.
a revival of trade and inclusive growth.“ The Executive Director also participated in the WTO Public Forum in September 2017. Finally, the management of both institutions often participates in the annual joint trade workshops of the IMF, the World Bank and the WTO. Through these agreements, WTO members apply a non-discriminatory trading system that defines their rights and obligations. Each Member shall be guaranteed that its exports are treated fairly and consistently in the markets of other Members. Everyone promises to do the same for imports into their own market. The system also gives developing countries flexibility in implementing their commitments. Regular consultation: The IMF has observer status with certain WTO bodies and may participate in meetings of certain WTO committees and working groups. The WTO Secretariat participates in meetings of the IMF Executive Board or the Liaison Committee with the World Bank and other international organizations on issues of common interest. Macrocritical trade issues may be part of the IMF`s surveillance activities and may be addressed as necessary under IMF-supported programs to achieve program objectives […].