{"id":51989,"date":"2026-04-15T11:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T06:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=51989"},"modified":"2026-04-16T16:50:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T11:20:11","slug":"world-trade-organisation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/world-trade-organisation\/","title":{"rendered":"World Trade Organisation, Objectives, Evolution, Principles"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The World Trade Organisation is responsible for managing global trade by ensuring fair and free trade, resolving related disputes and working towards ensuring economic growth. In this article, we are going to cover all details about the World Trade Organisation, its history, objectives, structure and other relevant information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>World Trade Organisation Overview<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The World Trade Organisation was established in 1995 as a global multilateral organisation that would make and implement rules for trading between nations of the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The responsibility of the WTO is to promote and manage free trade.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It acts as a forum for governments across the world to negotiate free trade agreements and manage trade disputes.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helps producers conduct international business smoothly.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At present, the WTO consists of<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">164 members (including European Union), and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">23 observer governments (like Iraq, Iran, Bhutan, Libya etc).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Key Objectives of WTO<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The objectives of World Trade Organisations are:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To establish and uphold rules governing international trade, with the aim of promoting global economic growth and generating employment opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To serve as a platform for negotiations and oversight, facilitating further trade liberalisation by lowering trade barriers and ensuring fair, non-discriminatory practices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To provide a structured mechanism for resolving trade disputes, thereby fostering global peace, economic predictability, and geopolitical stability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To enhance the transparency of trade-related decision-making, empowering smaller and developing nations with a stronger voice in global trade governance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To collaborate with other key international economic institutions, ensuring coordinated and effective management of the global economy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To support developing countries in fully leveraging the benefits of the global trading system, thus reducing their operational costs and improving integration into global markets.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To promote good governance by minimising arbitrariness, encouraging the use of clear, consistent, and rules-based approaches in trade administration.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>World Trade Organisation Evolution<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The World Trade Organisation\u2019s history dates back to 1945 and officially came into existence in 1995.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Idea of International Trade Organisation (ITO)<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The idea behind creating the International Trade Organisation came through the western countries to manage the trade side of international economic cooperation.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apart from \u201cBretton woods\u201d and UN specialised agency, WTO became the third international institution in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the major countries, including the USA, failed to get this treaty ratified in their respective legislatures.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, this treaty became a dead letter.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) was established in 1947 and came into effect on January 1, 1948, with the signing of 23 founding countries in Geneva. Its primary objective was to gradually eliminate import quotas and reduce tariffs on merchandise trade to promote freer and fairer global trade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From 1948 to 1994, GATT served as the primary framework governing most of the world\u2019s trade in goods. It laid the foundation for multilateral trade rules and negotiations across successive trade rounds.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uruguay Round (1986\u20131994)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As international trade became more complex, GATT\u2019s mechanisms proved inadequate to address emerging issues in services, intellectual property, and dispute resolution.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Uruguay Round, held from 1986 to 1994, was the most comprehensive and ambitious of all GATT trade negotiations. It not only expanded the scope of trade talks but also led to the creation of a more robust global trade body\u2014the World Trade Organization (WTO).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The WTO Era<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The WTO was formally established through the Marrakesh Agreement in April 1994, during a ministerial conference held in Marrakesh, Morocco. This marked a transition from GATT to the WTO regime, which came into force on January 1, 1995.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The original GATT contracting parties automatically became members of the WTO. The agreement was subsequently opened for accession by other countries, making the WTO a truly global organisation for regulating international trade in goods, services, and intellectual property.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>India and World Trade Organisation\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India was a member of GATT since 1948 and also the founding member of the World Trade Organisation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organisational Structure of WTO\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The organisational structure of WTO consists of the Ministerial Conference, General Council, director general, trade policy review body etc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ministerial Council (MC)<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ministerial Conference is the topmost structural organisation of WTO and acts as a supreme governing body that makes all the decisions. It consists of all ministers of trade of all countries who are also the members of WTO.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The conference is conducted every 2 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General Council (GC)\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The WTO General Council is located in Geneva and is considered to the highest level decision making body. The council meets frequently to carry out the functions of World Trade Organisation. All the representatives are members of the council and they act on behalf of the Ministerial Conference. The Council is also responsible for acting as the Dispute Settlement Body as well as the Trade Policy Review Body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Three Councils of WTO\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The General Council has three WTO councils under it. These councils are:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Council for Trade in Goods,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Council for Trade in Services, and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Director General (DG)<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The administration of the World Trade Organisation is conducted by the Secretariat, headed by the Director General (DG)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Director General (DG) is appointed by the Ministerial Conference (MC) for a tenure of four years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Director General (DG) is assisted by the four Deputy Directors from different member countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB)<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The General Council meets as the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB) to undertake trade policy reviews of members under the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) and to consider the Director-General\u2019s regular reports on trade policy development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thus, the TPRB is open to all the members of the WTO.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dispute Settlement Body (DSB)<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The General Council convenes itself as the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) to deliberate upon and resolve the disputes among the WTO members.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Such disputes may arise w.r.t. any agreement contained in the Final Act of the Uruguay Round that is subject to the Understanding of Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DSB has the authority to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">establish dispute settlement panels,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">refer matters to arbitration,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adopt panel, Appellate Body and arbitration reports,<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">maintain surveillance over the implementation of recommendations and rulings contained in such reports, and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">authorized suspension of concessions in the event of non-compliance with those recommendations and rulings.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appellate Body<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Appellate Body was established in 1995 under Article 17 of the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (DSU).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The DSB appoints persons to serve on the Appellate Body for a term of four years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is a standing (permanent) body of 7 persons that hears appeals from reports issued by panels in disputes brought by members of the World Trade Organisation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Appellate Body can uphold, reverse or modify the legal findings and conclusions of a panel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), the reports of the Appellate Body must be accepted by the parties to the dispute.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The seat of the Appellate Body is in Geneva, Switzerland.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>Principles of World Trade Organisation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The WTO is guided by a set of foundational principles that aim to ensure a fair, predictable, and transparent international trading system. These principles are enshrined in the WTO Agreement and serve as the bedrock for global trade governance.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Non-Discrimination<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Non-discrimination lies at the heart of the WTO\u2019s multilateral trading system. It is intended to prevent unfair treatment among trading partners and promote equal opportunity in global trade.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>a. Most Favoured Nation (MFN)<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the MFN principle, if a WTO member grants a trade advantage (like a reduced customs duty) to one country, it must extend the same benefit to all other WTO members.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This principle applies to trade in goods, services, and aspects of intellectual property.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Exceptions to MFN:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Formation of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and customs unions.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Special market access for developing and least developed countries (LDCs).<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anti-dumping and countervailing measures against unfair trade practices.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limited discriminatory treatment in services under specific conditions.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>b. National Treatment<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once goods have entered a country, they must be treated no less favourably than domestically-produced goods.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This applies equally to services and intellectual property (trademarks, patents, copyrights).<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The principle ensures imported and local products compete on a level playing field after entry into the domestic market.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Free Trade and Market Access<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the WTO\u2019s primary objectives is to liberalise trade by reducing barriers to market entry.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>a. Tariff Barriers<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Countries commit to reducing and &#8220;binding&#8221; tariffs at agreed levels.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><b>bound tariff<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a legally committed ceiling beyond which the tariff cannot be raised.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Uruguay Round led to extensive tariff binding across sectors.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>b. Non-Tariff Barriers<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These include quotas, lack of transparency in trade policies, complex customs procedures, technical standards, and government procurement biases.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WTO rules discourage or prohibit such barriers unless justified under specific conditions.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Only duties, taxes, and safeguards are permitted under defined circumstances.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Promoting Fair Competition<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">WTO rules ensure that trade is conducted in a fair, predictable, and transparent manner.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Equal treatment is mandated through MFN and national treatment provisions.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The system guards against <\/span><b>unfair trade practices<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as dumping (selling goods at unfairly low prices) and the use of <\/span><b>export subsidies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that distort competition.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Members can impose anti-dumping duties or countervailing measures after due investigation and adherence to WTO norms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Special and Differential Treatment for Developing Countries<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognising disparities in economic development, WTO agreements provide flexibility and support to developing and least-developed countries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key Provisions Include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Longer timelines for implementing commitments.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Preferential market access in developed countries.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technical assistance and capacity-building measures.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Requirements for developed nations to consider the developmental impact of their trade policies on poorer countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong>WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The WTO Dispute Settlement Mechanism\u00a0 includes members of World Trade Organisation. The detailed process of Dispute Settlement by the World Trade Organisation is as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Process of Dispute Settlement\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First stage: Consultation up to 60 days, aimed at settling the trade disputes through conciliation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second stage (up to 1 year): In case the consultations fails to settle the dispute, the DSB forms a Dispute Panel.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The report of the Dispute Panel can be rejected only through consensus among the DSB members.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Appeal Stage: Either side can appeal the Dispute Panel\u2019s ruling.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each appeal is heard by three members of a permanent 7-membered Appellate Body.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Appellate Body can uphold, reverse or modify the Dispte Panel\u2019s rulings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Dispute Settlement Body has to accept or reject the report of the Appeallate Body; Rejection of its report is only possible by consensus.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Present Issue with Dispute Settlement Mechanism<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The sanctioned strength of the Appellate Body (AB) is seven members.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Appellate Body members are appointed through consensus among the member countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The AB must have a quorum of 3 judges to hear a particular case.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US has been blocking appointments of members to the Appellate Body (AB) as it feels that the AB is \u201cunfair\u201d and biased against it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since December 10, 2019, the AB has been left with only 1 Judge and the quorum required to hear a case is minimum 3 judges. Hence, the Appellate Body has become dysfunctional.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>World Trade Organisation oversees global trade rules to ensure fairness and growth. Know more about its objectives, evolution, and key principles for global trade.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":51843,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[1059,1060],"class_list":{"0":"post-51989","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-world-trade-organisation","9":"tag-wto","10":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51989","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51989"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51989\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90816,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51989\/revisions\/90816"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51843"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51989"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51989"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51989"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}