WTO And International Trade

Since the publication of the first edition of this book, much activity has gone holding the Millennium Round of Trade Negotiations. The Fourth Ministerial Meeting on Multilateral Trade Negotiations ultimately took place during 9-14 November 2001 at Doha. There were wide divergences between the developed and developing countries on the agenda and these groups tried to push through their agenda—the developed countries trying to rope in the ‘Singapore issues,’ while the developing countries resisting the same, laying emphasis on the ‘implementation issues’ arising out of the Uruguay Round Agreements. Even amongst the developed countries, there were divergences in approach—the U.S. wanted to include labor standards and retention of the existing IPR regime, while the E.U. vehemently opposing the phasing out of subsidies in agriculture. Ultimately, after fierce discussions, the Ministerial Meeting issued the Doha Declaration containing a compromise on issues widely debated. There was also a Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and public health which are of immense importance to the developing countries. Then there was the Doha Ministerial Declaration and Decisions on the ‘Implementation related issues and concerns’—addressing the various issues arising out of the Uruguay Round Multilateral Trade Agreements.

Part-I:

1. Principles of Private International Trade

2. State Controls of Private International Trade

3. Evolution of GATT

4. GATT Provisions-Its Working

5. GATT 1994-Uruguay Round Protocol to The Gatt 1994

Part-II:

6. Agreement Establishing The WTO

7. Agreement on Agriculture

8. Agreement on Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures

9. Agreement on Textiles and Clothing

10. Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade

11. Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures (Trims)

12. Articles VI and XVI of GATT 1994

13. Agreement on Implementation of Article VII of GATT 1994

14. Agreement on Preshipment Inspection

15. Agreement on Rules of Origin

16. Agreements on Import Licensing Procedures

17. Agreement on Safeguards

Part-III:

18. General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)

19. Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

20. Trade Policy Review Mechanism

Part-IV:

21. Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing Settlement of Disputes

Part-V:

22. Understanding on Interpretation of Article II: 1(B) of GATT 1994

23. Understanding on Interpretation of Article XVIII of GATT 1994

24. Understanding on Balance of Payments Provisions of GATT 1994

25. Understanding on Interpretation of Article XXIV of GATT 1994

26. Understanding on Interpretation of Article XXVIII of GATT 1994

27. Understanding on Interpretation of Article XXXV of GATT

Part-VI:

28. Decision on Measures in Favour of Least Developed Countries

29. Decision on Notification Procedures

30. WTO and Developing Countries

31. Seattle Ministerial Conference

32. Conclusions

Epilogue

Index