25 years on, WTO on its shakiest ground as confidence of members plummets

As confidence of member nations plummets, reforming the global body itself forms the core agenda for many countries

On January 1, 1995, the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) marked the biggest reform of international trade since the end of the Second World War. Now, on its 25th anniversary, reforming the WTO itself forms the core trade agenda of many nations, rich and poor alike, as confidence in the global body plummets to historical lows.
 

While the earlier General Agreement in Trade and Tariffs mainly dealt with merchandise trade, WTO has expanded its reach to cover labour, environmental, and intellectual property aspects of trade. Through its enabling policies of free and fair trade, it was credited with