World Trade Organization: Overview and Future Direction

1 World Trade organization : Overview and Future Direction Updated October 18, 2021 Congressional Research Service R45417 Congressional Research Service SUMMARY World Trade organization : Overview and Future Direction Historically, leadership of the global trading system has ensured the United States a seat at the table to shape the international Trade agenda in ways that both advance and defend interests. The evolution of leadership and the global trading system remain of interest to Congress, which holds constitutional authority over foreign commerce and establishes Trade negotiating objectives through legislation.

2 Congress has recognized the World Trade organization (WTO) as the foundation of the global trading system within the latest Trade promotion authority (TPA) and plays a direct legislative and oversight role over WTO agreements. The statutory basis for WTO membership is the Uruguay Round Agreements Act ( 103-465), and priorities and objectives for the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)/WTO have been reflected in various TPA legislation since 1974. Congress also has oversight of the Trade Representative and other agencies that participate in WTO meetings and enforce WTO commitments.

3 The WTO is a 164-member international organization that was created to oversee and administer global Trade rules, serve as a forum for Trade liberalization negotiations, and resolve disputes. The United States was a major force behind the establishment of the WTO in 1995, and the rules and agreements resulting from multilateral Trade negotiations since 1947. The WTO encompassed and succeeded the GATT, established in 1947 among the United States and 22 countries. Through the GATT and WTO, the United States, with other countries, sought to establish a more open, rules-based trading system in the postwar era to foster international economic cooperation and prosperity.

4 Today, 98% of global Trade is among WTO members. The WTO is a consensus and member-driven organization . Its core principles include nondiscrimination (most-favored nation treatment and national treatment), freer Trade , fair competition, transparency, and encouraging development. These are enshrined in WTO agreements covering goods, agriculture, services, intellectual property rights (IPR), and Trade facilitation , among other issues. Many countries have been motivated to join the WTO not just to expand access to foreign markets, but also to spur domestic economic reforms, transition to market economies, and promote the rule of law.

5 The WTO dispute settlement (DS) mechanism provides an enforceable means for members to resolve disputes over WTO commitments and obligations. The WTO has processed more than 600 disputes, and the United States has been an active user of the system. Supporters of the multilateral trading system consider the DS mechanism an important success, and an enforceable DS process was a priority negotiating objective for the United States in establishing the WTO. More recently, some members, notably the United States, contend it has procedural shortcomings and has exceeded its mandate in deciding certain cases.

6 The United States has thus vetoed appointments to the WTO s Appellate Body (AB) and, in December 2019, the terms of remaining jurists expired, leaving the AB unable to function. This action could render the DS system ineffective, as appealed disputes remain pending resolution and members struggle to agree to solutions that address concerns. More broadly, many observers are concerned that the WTO s effectiveness has diminished since the collapse of the Doha Round of multilateral Trade negotiations, which began in 2001, and believe the WTO needs to negotiate new rules and adopt reforms to continue its role as the foundation of the trading system.

7 To date, members have been unable to reach consensus for a new comprehensive agreement on Trade liberalization and rules. While global supply chains and technology have transformed global Trade and investment, WTO rules have not kept up with the pace of change. Many countries have turned to negotiating free Trade agreements outside the WTO and plurilateral agreements involving subsets of WTO members. The WTO s 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) is to be held in November 2021, after being postponed due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

8 The biennial meeting, which usually involves active participation, has been widely anticipated as an action-forcing event for the WTO. At the previous ministerial in December 2017, no major deliverables were announced, leaving the stakes high for MC12. Members have committed to finalize multilateral talks on fisheries subsidies and make progress on ongoing talks, such as e-commerce, while other areas remain largely stalled. Another potential deliverable involves a framework to better equip the WTO to support efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic.

9 In August 2021, the WTO reported a sustained rebound in global merchandise Trade , after a sharp decline in global Trade growth in 2020 in the aftermath of the pandemic. The WTO has committed to work to minimize disruptions to Trade and R45417 October 18, 2021 Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs, Coordinator Analyst in International Trade and Finance Rachel F. Fefer Analyst in International Trade and Finance World Trade organization : Overview and Future Direction Congressional Research Service global supply chains, and encouraged WTO members to notify Trade restrictions and measures taken in response to COVID-19, which surged in the beginning of 2020, causing concern for many observers.

10 Some members have called on the WTO to address the Trade policy challenges that emerged from COVID-19, such as through a dedicated health and Trade initiative. Others are seeking an agreement among members to waive IPR related to vaccines and other medical products. Meanwhile, WTO members continue to explore broader aspects of reform and Future negotiations. Potential reforms concern the administration of the organization , its procedures and practices, dispute settlement, and attempts to address the inability of WTO members to conclude new agreements.