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I support WTO education. But this video contains some false and / or misleading statements. Allow me to correct them (thread)
At the margins (but the first statement so...): The WTO has 164 members, not all of them are countries. This really is technical, but nevertheless...
It is, however, very misleading that WTO law provides the rules for up to 98% of world trade. That’s like saying criminal law provides the rules for 98% of all contracts.
What do I mean? The 98% refers to all trade between WTO Members. That includes trade on NAFTA terms, SADC terms, Mercosur terms. When you try to prove that WTO terms are ok, you cannot include trade that operates on better terms.
OK. Have to run. How awkward. But: The rollover is not as easy as process as this video pretends. Has Switzerland agreed to carry over ALL its agreements with the EU? That would include free movement. The answer is: unlikely.
And finally CPTPP: Yes. The EU has not voiced interest to become a party. However, the EU has FTAs or is negotiating FTAs with its members, so it has preferential access to much of the CPTPP market.
CPTPP Member States: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam
EU has finalised FTAs with: Canada (pa), Chile (in force), Japan (pa in feb), Mexico (in force), Peru (pa), Singapore (finalised), Vietnam and is negotiating with Australia, Malaysia (paused), NZ
