<H2 align=center><FONT color=#0000ff>The WTO ...... In brief,</FONT></H2>
<FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>the World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only international organization dealing with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible. </FONT>
<FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>The </FONT><B><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=3>result</FONT></B><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2> is <FONT color=#0000ff>assurance</FONT>(</FONT><FONT size=2>保证，承诺）</FONT><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>. Consumers and producers know that they can enjoy secure supplies and greater choice of the finished products, components, raw materials and services that they use. Producers and exporters know that foreign markets will remain open to them. <BR>The result is also a more prosperous, peaceful and <FONT color=#0000ff>accountable</FONT> </FONT><FONT size=2>（有责任的）</FONT><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>economic world. Decisions in the WTO are typically taken by <FONT color=#0000ff>consensus</FONT> </FONT><FONT size=2>（.一致同意, 多数人的意见）</FONT><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>among all member countries and they are <FONT color=#0000ff>ratified</FONT> </FONT><FONT size=2>（批准）</FONT><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>by members’ parliaments. Trade friction is channeled into the WTO’s dispute settlement process where the focus is on interpreting agreements and <FONT color=#0000ff>commitments</FONT></FONT><FONT size=2>（许诺, 承担义务）</FONT><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>, and how to ensure that countries’ trade policies <FONT color=#0000ff>conform</FONT> </FONT><FONT size=2>（使一致，使遵守）</FONT><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>with them. That way, the risk of disputes spilling over into political or military conflict is reduced.</FONT>
<FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>By lowering trade barriers, the WTO’s system also breaks down other barriers between peoples and nations.</FONT>
<FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>At the </FONT><B><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=3>heart</FONT></B><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2> of the system — known as the </FONT><B><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=3>multilateral trading system</FONT></B><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2> — are the WTO’s agreements, negotiated and signed by a large majority of the world’s trading nations, and ratified in their parliaments. These agreements are the legal ground-rules for international commerce. Essentially, they are contracts, guaranteeing member countries important trade rights. They also <FONT color=#0000ff>bind</FONT> </FONT><FONT size=2>（约束）</FONT><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>governments to keep their trade policies within agreed limits to everybody’s benefit.</FONT>
<FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>The agreements were negotiated and signed by governments. But their purpose is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.</FONT>
<FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2>The </FONT><B><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=3>goal</FONT></B><FONT face="Trebuchet MS, Verdana, Arial," size=2> is to improve the welfare of the peoples of the member countries.</FONT> |
|
