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Farage is actually right about the WTO being an honest broker if the UK and EU notify a free trade agreement under GATT Art.24.
Well sort of.
Well, actually, not in the way he was thinking.
How does it work in the WTO?
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Well sort of.
Well, actually, not in the way he was thinking.
How does it work in the WTO?
1/6
Stages of GATT Art24 procedure.
1. The countries concerned (here the UK and EU) negotiate a deal. They reach agreement.
It's highly unlikely either the UK or EU would ask the WTO for help. Why would they?
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1. The countries concerned (here the UK and EU) negotiate a deal. They reach agreement.
It's highly unlikely either the UK or EU would ask the WTO for help. Why would they?
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2. The UK & EU fill in a 1-page form👇🏽. Their agreement is attached, or, more likely the form links to the agreement's text on an official website.
The last time the EU notified an interim agreement to the WTO, the linked text was over 1100 pages.
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docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…
The last time the EU notified an interim agreement to the WTO, the linked text was over 1100 pages.
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docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/S…
3. Now for the WTO's "good services".
The Secretariat looks at the form, checks that all is in order, and circulates it to other WTO members. It could be done in five minutes, but WTO Secretariat officials are very careful. So, let's say an hour (more if translation needed)
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The Secretariat looks at the form, checks that all is in order, and circulates it to other WTO members. It could be done in five minutes, but WTO Secretariat officials are very careful. So, let's say an hour (more if translation needed)
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4. The information goes on a WTO database rtais.wto.org/UI/PublicMaint…
5. WTO members then have a chance to ask questions, hear/read answers and discuss the UK-EU agreement at a future meeting of the Regional Trade Agreements Committee (it met 7 times in 2018).
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5. WTO members then have a chance to ask questions, hear/read answers and discuss the UK-EU agreement at a future meeting of the Regional Trade Agreements Committee (it met 7 times in 2018).
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So yes, the WTO is an honest broker, but we need to understand what that means. It's about providing transparency and opportunities for all WTO members to discuss the deal. Nothing more.
Step 1 (UK-EU talks & agreement) remains the only big and difficult task in all of this
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Step 1 (UK-EU talks & agreement) remains the only big and difficult task in all of this
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