Reflections on modes of decision-making in the World Trade Organization

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511792496.004

2 - Reflections on modes of decision-making in the World Trade Organization

from PART I - Constitutional issues in international trade regulation

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 April 2011

Thomas Messerli and

Edited by

Thomas Cottier and

Panagiotis Delimatsis

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Yves Bonzon: Affiliation:
University of Lausanne Law Faculty, Switzerland
Manfred Elsig: Affiliation:
University of Bern, Switzerland
Marina Foltea: Affiliation:
University of Bern, Switzerland
Thomas Messerli: Affiliation:
Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland
Andreas Ziegler: Affiliation:
University of Lausanne, Switzerland
Thomas Cottier: Affiliation:
World Trade Institute
Panagiotis Delimatsis: Affiliation:
Universiteit van Tilburg, The Netherlands

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Summary

KEY MESSAGES

The chapter focuses on selected challenges in decision-making within the WTO, vertical decision-making focusing on firms, and horizontal decision-making addressing the WTO's judicial interactions with other international organisations.

∙ There are various interpretations of the notions of legitimacy and accountability which in turn have an impact on the way we address the challenges to decision-making.

∙ The negotiation process needs improvement. Streamlining decision-making could include strengthening the role of the WTO Secretariat.

∙ There are a variety of decision-making rules in the WTO, but consensus trumps all. Therefore, when reforming consensual decision-making more attention needs to be paid to the different natures of legislative objectives.

∙ The role of corporations and the effects of domestic political systems are important in understanding current dynamics of WTO negotiations.

∙ Overlapping authorities pose a challenge for decision-making (horizontal decision-making). Here the fragmentation–coherence issue is most prevalent. Finding the ‘institutional sensitivity’ to cooperate across international organisations is pivotal.

Introduction

International organisations (IOs) have come under increased scrutiny in recent years. Various notions including accountability, legitimacy or performance have characterised the animated public and scholarly debates. There is growing consensus – outside the inner circle of decision-makers within IOs – that reform is necessary to tackle global externalities more swiftly and efficiently. Reform projects mainly relate to designing new mandates and delegating more powers to IOs, as the current crises in the global financial architecture and unfolding summit activities suggest. However, reform needs to go beyond designing new tasks for IOs. Reform should also address governance issues.

Type: Chapter
Information: The Prospects of International Trade Regulation
From Fragmentation to Coherence
, pp. 103 - 135

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511792496.004 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2011

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