World Trade Organization (WTO)

Mandate

The basic aim of the WTO is to liberalize international trade; and supervise the settlement of commercial conflicts . Its essential functions are to:

Administer and implement the multilateral and plurilateral agreements which together make WTO.
Act as a forum for multilateral trade negotiations
Seek to resolve trade disputes
Examine national trade policies
Recognize the need to protect environment and to promote sustainable development (WTO Agreement, Preamble)
WTO Committee on Trade and Environment explores the link between trade and environmental policies (compatibility between environmental protection measures and WTO right and obligations). The Committee deals with eco-labelling, multilateral environmental agreements, certification, life-cycle analysis, taxes and charges, environmental effects of subsidies and various tariffs have been discussed.

trade, trade and environment, trade law, dispute settlements