Economics: Today and Tomorrow © 2012

"The World Trade Organization"

Introduction
You learned in this chapter that the World Trade Organization is the most important international trade organization. As of 2007,the WTO had 147 member nations. The main function of the WTO is to facilitate trade among nations and to ensure that it is as free of restrictions as possible. The WTO assists over 130 other nations, and its members account for more than 90 percent of world trade. Read about the WTO and the benefits it brings its members by visiting the World Trade Organization Website.

Destination Title: World Trade Organization

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Directions
Start at the World Trade Organization Web site.

• Run the cursor over the link entitled in "The WTO" and click on the "What is the WTO" topic.
• Browse through the site, taking notes as you go. Be sure to visit "The WTO in Brief" and the "10 Benefits of the WTO Trading System" topics.

1			How is the WTO organized?
2			How does the WTO facilitate trade among nations?
3			What special provisions are made for developing countries in their compliance with WTO agreements?
4			How does the WTO mission of increased trade among all nations foster improved living conditions for nations whose economies are in transition?
5			Spend some time online to research recent international news. What headlines has the WTO recently made?