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The World Trade Organization 's Agenda And Implementation Of Its Agreements

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INTRODUCTION Dating back to 1949, the World Trade Organization was preceded by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The primary purpose of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was to reduce tariffs and other barriers to trade, as well as to eliminate preferences in order for trade to be mutually advantageous. Currently, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade is still in effect under the World Trade Organization, which was established to facilitate international trade, economic growth and development. However, the goals of the World Trade Organization have been called into question. Although the intergovernmental organization was established in order to aid developing states to succeed into developed states, the World Trade Organization has been criticized for widening the social gap between the Global North and South. The World Trade Organization’s agenda and implementation of its agreements have all served to advance the interests of developed states, sidelining the interests of developing states. What is increasingly more alarming is the fact that three-fourths of the members within the World Trade Organization compromise of developing states. This paper will aim to analyze the various ways in which the World Trade Organization has marginalized and allowed for the exploitation of developing states. Through examining the consequences of foreign direct investment, the dispute settlement process, tariff escalation and the TRIPS agreement, this paper will

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