Home > Campaigns > Global Trade > The World Trade Organisation - WTO
Women demonstrating outside WTO meeting, Mexico
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is an international body which negotiates and polices agreements between countries.
There are many problems with the WTO:
Undemocratic
Big countries power and wealth means the concerns of smaller nations are pushed aside.
Sets destructive agenda
Other trade agreements often use WTO rules as a
starting point (eg the EU's EPAs (PDF†)).
Own judge and jury
Disputes are judged by a closed internal "court". The cost of raising complaints means developing countries cannot defend themselves.
Did you know
Half of the poorest countries in the WTO can't afford a single negotiator to defend their interests. The US has around 250 negotiators.
CAFOD/People and Planet
The WTO now wants to extend its power even further. Current proposals would threaten to:
The UK is represented in the WTO by the EU. UK Government policy is strongly in favour of "free" trade.
As a leading player in the EU the UK could take a positive lead reshaping global trade.
Next: Time for an alternative approach>
Image © www.nadir.org
†To view PDF files you will need to download
Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these
documents from access.adobe.com.
