Perspektywy działalności Światowej Organizacji Handlu w obliczu nowych tendencji w handlu światowym – efekty XI Konferencji Ministerialnej WT
Perspectives of WTO Activity in the Light of New Trends in World Trade – Effects of XI WTO Ministerial Conference

Summary/Abstract: Since 2016 the World Trade Organization (WTO) consists of 164 members representing over 98% of the world trade. Under its aegis, the multilateral trade-negotiation round has been in progress since its commencement at the Ministerial Conference in the Qatari city of Doha, in 2001. It has been the ninth negotiation round, taking into account the entire GATT/WTO system, and the first within the organization. This round is referred to as the Development Round owing to the great emphasis put on the improvement of the situation of the poorest countries. However, the ongoing Doha Round negotiations cannot keep abreast of dynamic changes occurring in the economic system and global trade, which translates into the WTO negotiation impasse lasting over a decade. The Ministerial Conferences of WTO member states, held every two years, are seen as a chance for breaking the deadlock. Such hope was also entertained in the case of the XI MC, which took place in Buenos Aires, in 2017, particularly since four years earlier all WTO members managed to sign the first trade facilitation agreement, which is expected to bring tangible benefits to participants of the multilateral system as well as confirm meeting expectations of the international community with regard to the effectiveness of implementation of the process of world trade liberalization. However, due to the arrangements failure or, rather, lack thereof, XI MC reaffirmed the general conviction of the crisis of multilateral talks. This raises the question of the future of the organization and its role as the overarching negotiation forum for the world trade, particularly in the context of proliferation of RTAs, which also undermines its position. Therefore, we are confronted with the dilemma of the present and future role of the WTO, specifi cally in the context of the WTO’s contribution in the development of the world economy and its fight against protectionism, which, in the face of the current situation in the global trade (American protectionism and a threat of the outbreak of a trade war, among others) may become an issue of paramount importance

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