Founding of the World Trade Organization

Follow the story · Four stages

1. 01

   Background

   As trade expanded under GATT, governments sought institutional rules covering services, intellectual property, and agriculture.

   • As trade expanded under GATT, governments sought institutional rules covering services, intellectual property, and agriculture.
   • Core event: In 1995, the World Trade Organization was established after the Uruguay Round to administer trade rules and dispute settlement.
   • Connection to the next stage: Members signed the Marrakesh Agreement and established a Geneva-based secretariat and dispute-settlement system.

   
2. 02

   Course

   Members signed the Marrakesh Agreement and established a Geneva-based secretariat and dispute-settlement system.

   • Members signed the Marrakesh Agreement and established a Geneva-based secretariat and dispute-settlement system.
   • Conditions behind the action: As trade expanded under GATT, governments sought institutional rules covering services, intellectual property, and agriculture.
   • Meaning of the turning point: In 1995, the World Trade Organization was established after the Uruguay Round to administer trade rules and dispute settlement.

   
3. 03

   Outcome

   The WTO became central to multilateral trade negotiations and disputes, while inequalities around development, sovereignty, labor, and environment remained.

   • The WTO became central to multilateral trade negotiations and disputes, while inequalities around development, sovereignty, labor, and environment remained.
   • Process producing the result: Members signed the Marrakesh Agreement and established a Geneva-based secretariat and dispute-settlement system.
   • Question carried forward: Its foundation reflected post-Cold War economic integration while making the politics of globalization’s benefits and costs more visible.

   
4. 04

   Historical significance

   Its foundation reflected post-Cold War economic integration while making the politics of globalization’s benefits and costs more visible.

   • Its foundation reflected post-Cold War economic integration while making the politics of globalization’s benefits and costs more visible.
   • Immediate consequence: The WTO became central to multilateral trade negotiations and disputes, while inequalities around development, sovereignty, labor, and environment remained.
   • Historical turning point: In 1995, the World Trade Organization was established after the Uruguay Round to administer trade rules and dispute settlement.