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World Trade Organization: Overview and Future Direction
Some U.S. frustrations with the WTO are not new and many are shared by other trading partners, such as the European
Union. At the same time, the Administration's overall approach has spurred new questions regarding the future of U.S.
leadership and U.S. priorities for improving the multilateral trading system. Concerns have emphasized that the
Administration's recent actions to unilaterally raise tariffs under U.S. trade laws and to possibly impede the functioning of
the dispute settlement system might undermine the credibility of the WTO system. A growing question of some observers is
whether the WTO would flounder for lack of U.S. leadership, or whether other WTO members like the EU and China taking
on larger roles would continue to make it a meaningful actor in the global trade environment.
The growing debate over the role and future direction of the WTO may be of interest to Congress. Important issues it may
address include how current and future WTO agreements affect the U.S. economy, the value of U.S. membership and
leadership in the WTO, whether new U.S. negotiating objectives or oversight hearings are needed to address prospects for
new WTO reforms and rulemaking, and the relevant authorities and impact of potential U.S. withdrawal from the WTO on
U.S. economic and foreign policy interests.Congressional Research Service
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Cimino-Isaacs, Cathleen D.; Fefer, Rachel F. & Fergusson, Ian F. World Trade Organization: Overview and Future Direction, report, November 29, 2018; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1404250/m1/3/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.