WTO general

The World Trade Organisation
- established 1995
- current membership 164

general council as general council:
- day to day decisions, slight amendments, new member states etc...
- as dispute settlement body: oversee disputes between members
- as trade review body: review all member state policy re: trade and economy, purpose is to see if they are adhering to rules

DECISION MAKING IN THE WTO
- consensus approach with majority voting when necessary
- if one says no, not happening
- proposals offered by issue specific committees for voting
- very slow, frustrating processes, so on some important issues they use majority instead

THE POLITICS OF AGRICULTURE:
- stickiest area in WTO negotiations...
- the "AGREEMENT ON AGRICULTURE" deals explicitly with agriculture
- it covers market access, domestic support, subsides to agriculture...

The Agreement on Agriculture 1992 states...
- a 21% reduction in export subsidies
- and an agreement to reduce "overall" support for agricultural sector
- sounds good?
- needs to be strengthened

Global South already knew of damages of liberalising their agriculture
- not the first time developing countries have been screwed over
- NAFTA
- Mexico: massive dependency on agriculture
- Mexico agreed to liberalise trade and agriculture in certain industries *without* negotiating US farming subsidies
- Mexico lost money, mostly felt by corn farmers