The story is one of remarkable change and adaptation, of a system that has contributed significantly to post-war prosperity, but which has not delivered all it could and which still faces formidable challenges.

The Report looks at the circumstances in which the GATT was born and goes on to explain why governments believe it is in their interests to cooperate on trade matters. This is followed by a discussion of how the GATT/WTO as an institution can foster greater international cooperation. Finally, the Report reviews what the multilateral trading system has achieved in six decades and what remains to be done.

The Report also provides brief analytical commentaries on certain topical trade issues. The 2007 Report looks at “10 years of the Information Technology Agreement” and “global imbalances and world trade”.
 

Download pdf:

> Complete report (436 pages; 3523KB)

 

> DG Foreword (4 pages; 72KB)

> Executive summary and related material (33 pages; 253KB)

 

I- Recent Trade Developments and selected trends in trade

> A. Recent trends in International trade (12 pages; 143KB)

> B. Selected trade developments and issues  (20 pages; 194KB)

  

II- Six decades of multilateral trade cooperation: What have we learnt?

> A. Introduction (1 pages; 46KB)

> B. The economics and political economy of
International trade cooperation (76 pages; 689KB)

> C. The design of international trade agreements (68 pages; 615KB)

> D. Sixty years of the multilateral trading system: Achievements and challenges (182 pages; 1521KB)

> E. Conclusion: present and future challenges (2 pages; 53KB)

 

> Bibliography (23 pages; 233KB)

> Technical notes (3 pages; 71KB)

 

> Tables and charts in Excel format
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