The World Trade Organization - Essay Example

The World Trade Organization WTO has played a key role in enhancing international trade. However, it is evident that a section of member states have failed to have consensus on several issues in some instances. This paper will give an account to this fact and give the rationale for WTO as an efficient and effective system to mange global trade. IntroductionDoha development agenda were launched in 2001 and expected to be completed in 2005. However, this was not realized despite efforts to gather urgent dignitaries (Jones, 2010).

Although the G20 endorsed the goal of concluding the talks in 2009, there was no sufficient progress. What went wrong?There were a number of complains from the developing countries concerning their obligation under the last trade round and their difficulties with WTO in regard to its bargaining structure. These countries were concerned about Uruguay Round’s single undertaking, arguing that this could have acted as wheedle of reluctant countries into the consensus (WTO NEWS, 1998). This led to a split between large developed nations particularly the U.

S and Europe and the large developing nations particularly India and china (Levy, 2010). This was also noted to have influenced other 153 members of the WTO in deciding which side to favor. The greatest success of the WTO process was when there was consensus at the WTO’s ministerial conference in Singapore on labor standards. Although either side had held very strong positions, later, there was a clear and strong consensus. The members were committed to adhere to labor standards. The best of it was that it was internationally agreed and that such standards should not question the comparative advantage of countries.

This is an indication that WTO has been successful in multilateral approaches in social fields. Conclusion: WTO efficiency WTO can be argued to be an efficient and effective system global trade. WTO has so far been able to enhance the value and quality of trade (Hoekman, et al. 2009). This should be the primary purpose of such a body. WTO has also eradicated trade and non trade barriers, broadened the trade governance scope, among many other achievements. Therefore, although some challenges comes in the process of making international trade efficient and effective, it is evident that if member states commit themselves to harmoniously work together, WTO can be a vehicle to ride on.

References:Hoekman, B., et al. (2009). Development, trade, and the WTO a handbook. Washington, D.C: World Bank.Jones, K. (2010). The Doha blues: institutional crisis and reform in the WTO. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Levy, P. (2010). 19. Alternatives to consensus at the WTO. Retrieved 18th July 2012 from: http://www.voxeu.org/article/alternatives-consensus-wto.WTO NEWS, 1998 press releases. “The Coming Challenge: Global Sustainable Development for the 21st Century”. Retrieved on 18th July 2012 from: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres98_e/pr97_e.htm.