Furqan Ahmed (L1F21BSIR0064)

International political economy

The article reforming the WTO Is written by Marianne schneider. In which she explained the
WTO issues and challenges which its facing before and after pandemic Covid-19’s. And she
explained the factors which effecting its working. She also tells that how WTO get reforms and .
For reforming this institution which possible steps should be taken or how to agree the powerful
nations to sit together for the future of WTO . All she this explained in chapters but I will review
it in single paragraph.
The Marianne tells that The WTO before were facing the crisis of dispute settlement body and
then eventually the covid pandemic spread all over the world , during & after the covid 19 its
challenges were increased because every country started to ban on exports due to the lacks of
product and medical equipment for their country and pandemic also increased the border
restrictions which were effected the flow of trade chains caused unprecedented fall in export and
imports therefore it increased the number of problems for WTO. So The article highlights
critical challenges facing the World Trade Organization (WTO) and emphasizes the urgent need
for comprehensive reform across its three core functions: negotiation, monitoring, and dispute
resolution.in The major problems the first is deadlock in appointing members to the Appellate
Body has effectively paralyzed the WTO's dispute settlement system. Resolving this impasse
requires addressing both procedural and substantive concerns raised by the US and other
members. The second WTO's rules haven't kept up with the rapidly evolving global trade
landscape, especially in areas like digital trade, e-commerce, and dealing with issues related to
China's trade policies, such as state-owned enterprises and subsidies. The states moving to
plurilateral agreement, The article suggests that focusing on plurilateral negotiations engaging
subsets of WTO members on specific sectors such could offer a way forward in addressing some
of these pressing issues. The many developed countries holding the status of developing by
which they were getting advantages therefore other countries have concerns about that The lack
of a clear definition for developed or developing countries at the WTO leads to disparities in
treatment. This article highlights the contentious practice of self-designation for special
treatment, emphasizing the need to address this issue. The issue about transparency and
notification was also have concerns ,Improving compliance with notification and transparency
requirements within the WTO is crucial to enhancing the organization's effectiveness and
credibility.The article underscores the critical role of the US and the EU in maintaining and
reforming the rules-based international trading system. Both entities acknowledge the necessity
for updated trade rules in the 21st century and share concerns about China's trade policies.
However, differences, particularly regarding reforming the WTO's Appellate Body, hinder
collaboration between the US and the EU.The primary disagreement revolves around the
approach to Appellate Body reform, and the article suggests that without collaboration between
these major economies, meaningful reform within the WTO is improbable. It stresses the need
for addressing underlying tensions between key trading partners, emphasizing the importance of
involving China, the world's largest trading nation, in these discussions.Transatlantic cooperation
is highlighted as crucial, although not the sole factor, in driving meaningful reform within the
WTO. The article suggests that resolving differences between major trading partners, especially
regarding the Appellate Body and broader trade policies, is essential for any substantial progress
in restructuring the WTO.The article underscores the complexities and challenges surrounding
the reform of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It emphasizes that modernization isn't a one-
size-fits-all solution and involves various issues, processes, and actors. The current focus on
dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the impending US election has temporarily stalled
broader reform efforts within the WTO.It suggests that post-pandemic economic recovery,
coupled with new leadership at the WTO, could provide an opportunity for substantial reform.
However, the article cautions against overly optimistic expectations, emphasizing the time and
effort needed for meaningful changes to materialize.Regarding the WTO Appellate Body.The
article suggests that presenting explicit proposals or at least outlining acceptable changes to the
Appellate Body could improve the likelihood of successful reform.Furthermore,. It emphasizes
the need to update trade rules to align with 21st-century global trade needs, citing e-commerce,
digital trade, sustainability initiatives, and addressing the impact of state-owned enterprises and
industrial subsidies as pivotal areas.Overall, the article provides a comprehensive assessment of
the challenges and potential avenues for WTO reform, highlighting the interconnected nature of
various issues that need to be addressed for effective modernization and reassertion of the WTO's
position in the global trading system.The article emphasizes the potential of leveraging the
transatlantic relationship between the US and Europe for reforming the World Trade
Organization (WTO). The paper suggests that the crisis surrounding the WTO's Appellate Body
presents an opportunity for broader reform within the organization. It also highlights upcoming
events, such as the appointment of the next director-general and the next WTO Ministerial
Conference, as critical moments to address issues crucial for the WTO's future and the global
trading system.The article underlines the need for a positive transatlantic agenda for WTO
reform, stating that progress is unlikely without bilateral cooperation between the US and the
EU. It emphasizes that for effective reform, China, as the largest trading nation, needs to be
involved, and underlying trade frictions among major WTO partners must be
addressed.Additionally, it suggests that the EU stands a better chance of advancing WTO reform
by engaging constructively with the US. This could involve demonstrating to the US why
maintaining and reforming a rules-based international trading system with the WTO at its core is
in their mutual interest. Emphasizing the need to update WTO rules to address technological
shifts and challenges posed by China's trade practices could serve as a compelling case for the
US to collaborate with its allies for WTO reform.Overall, the article advocates for strategic
collaboration between the US, the EU, and other stakeholders to drive meaningful reform within
the WTO, acknowledging the importance of addressing shared concerns and engaging key
players to ensure progress.