Introduction

Established in 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) adminis-

ters the trade agreements negotiated by its Members, in particular the

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), the General Agree-

ment on Trade in Services (GATS), and the Agreement on Trade-

related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The underlying philoso-

phy of the WTO is that open markets and nondiscrimination are

conducive to the national welfare of all countries. The raison d’eˆtre of

the WTO is to offer a mechanism to governments to reduce both their own trade barriers and those in foreign markets. Its primary functions

are to be a focal point for the negotiation of binding agreements to

reduce trade barriers and agree on disciplines for policies affecting

international trade, and to provide a mechanism through which WTO

Members can enforce these negotiated commitments.