The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the main body dealing with the setting of multilateral rules for trade between nations. The failure in Seattle in November 1999 to start a new round of multilateral trade negotiations (the so-called Millennium Round) showed that there is a large diversity of views on various subjects. There is no consensus on what issues should be included in a new round of negotiations nor on how to deal with issues that are part of the built-in agenda (agriculture, services and intellectual property rules).

In addition, there is currently a debate on the WTO as an institution. Critics feel that the influence and the mandate of the WTO are too big, both in absolute terms and in comparison with its current governance structure. The WTO can by itself impose trade sanctions, for example. Yet, at the same time, there is much to be gained from a strong, rule-based multilateral trading system.

In this section you will find:

• Information on the position of the EU for the Millennium Round;

• Information on the position of LDCs for the Millennium Round;

• EU and developing countries perspectives on ongoing negotiations;

• Viewpoints in the discussion on the governance of the WTO;

• Alternative views.