Urgent and important : improving WTO performance by revisiting working practices

Abstract

The rules of the game embodied in the World Trade Organization (WTO) date back to the 1980s. They have not kept up with a rapidly changing world economy in which countries increasingly use trade-distorting measures designed to advantage national industries. This article reflects on why cooperation in the WTO unravelled to the extent that it did in 2017-18 and argues that improving the performance of the organization in fulfilling its mandate requires re-visiting and updating WTO working practices.