Evaluation of the WTO:
The WTO is different from and an improvement over the GATT in the following respects:
• The WTO is more global in its membership.
• The WTO has introduced commercial activities into the multilateral trading system.
• While the GATT had 'contracting parties'. WTO has 'members' and is a legal organisation.
• GATT provisions in case of disputes were time-consuming. GATT could levy penalties only through unanimous decisions, which were virtually impossible. Under WTO, unanimous are no longer desired; all disputes are to be settled within 18 months.
• WTO has one-country one-vote principle, unlike in the World Bank and IMF where the economic strength of rich countries translates into a voting majority.
• Even if developing countries differ on specific issues, they can make a difference if even a few of them stand firm.
• Both big and small developing countries no longer accept decisions taken behind closed door by a group of select countries.