FUNCTIONS OF WTO

1. The WTO facilitates the implementation, administration and operation, and furthers the objectives, of this Agreement and the Multilateral Trade
Agreements, and also provide framework for the implementation, administration and operation of the Plurilateral Trade Agreements.
2. The WTO provides the forum for negotiations among its members concerning their multilateral trade relations in matters dealt with under the
agreements and a framework for the implementation of the results of such negotiations, as may be decided by the Ministerial Conference.
3. The WTO administers the Understandings on Rules and Procedures governing the Settlement of Disputes.
4. The WTO administers the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM).
5. With a view to achieving greater coherence in global economic policy-making, the WTO cooperates as appropriate, with the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and its affiliate agencies.

Four Basic Rules

1. Protection to Domestic Industry Through Tariffs:
a. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) covers international trade in goods. The workings of the GATT agreement are the responsibility
of the Council for Trade in Goods (Goods Council) which is made up of representatives from all WTO member countries. GATT requires the member
countries to protect their domestic industry/production through tariffs only.
b. It prohibits the use of quantitative restrictions, except in a limited number of situations.

2. Binding of Tariffs: The member countries are urged to

a. Eliminate protection to domestic industry/ production by reducing tariffs and removing other barriers to trade in multilateral trade negotiations.
b. The reduced tariffs are bound against further increases by listing them in each country's national schedule.
c. The schedules are an integrated part of the GATT legal system.
3. Most Favoured-Nation(MFN) Treatment:
a. The rule lays down the principles of non-discrimination amongst member countries.
b. Tariff and other regulations should be applied to imported or exported goods without discrimination among countries.
c. Exceptions to the rules i.e., regional arrangements subjected to preferential or duty free trade agreements, Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
where developed
countries apply preferential or duty free rates to imports from developing countries.
4. National Treatment Rule:
The rule prohibits member countries from discriminating between imported products and domestically produced like goods in the matter of internal
taxes and in the application of internal regulations.