The WTO Decision-Making Process: Problems and Possible Solutions

What is it about?

All formal WTO decision-making organs are open to all members. Independent of population size, economic might or contribution to international trade, each member of the WTO wields a single unweighted vote – i.e. one-member-one-vote. Thus at the formal level, all appears to bode well with the WTO decision-making process. This seeming well-being however does not show the true nature of the problems and challenges the decision-making process is encumbered with. The article undertakes a descriptive and analytical exegesis of the provisions on decision-making in Articles IX and X of the WTO Agreement.

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Why is it important?

The article conducts in-depth discussion of the formal and informal systems of decision-making in the WTO and its implications for participatory democracy in the WTO.