WTO Accession and Its Effects on Multinational Corporate Strategy (1995-2010)

1. World Trade Organization begins operations

   Jan 1, 1995Labels: World Trade, GATT

   • WTO Timeline
   • WTO Press

2. GATS enters into force for services trade

   Jan 1, 1995Labels: GATS, Services Sector

   • WTO GATS

3. Information Technology Agreement reduces tariffs on IT goods

   Dec 1, 1996Labels: Information Technology, Singapore Ministerial

   • WTO ITA

4. Singapore Ministerial launches “Singapore issues” era

   Dec 13, 1996Labels: Singapore Ministerial, Singapore issues

   • WTO Singapore
   • WTO ITA

5. Basic telecommunications liberalization deal takes effect

   Feb 5, 1998Labels: Basic Telecommunications, WTO commitments

   • WTO Telecoms

6. Seattle Ministerial ends without agreement amid backlash

   Dec 3, 1999Labels: Seattle Ministerial, Anti-globalization protests

   • WTO Seattle
   • Britannica

7. Doha Round launched; development and rules agenda expands

   Nov 14, 2001Labels: Doha Round, Doha Development

   • WTO Doha DDA
   • WTO Declaration

8. TRIPS and Public Health declaration clarifies IP flexibility

   Nov 14, 2001Labels: TRIPS, Doha Declaration

   • WTO TRIPS

9. China becomes a WTO member

   Dec 11, 2001Labels: China, WTO accession

   • WTO Doha Note
   • WTO News 2001

10. Cancún Ministerial collapses, highlighting North–South divides

    Sep 14, 2003Labels: Canc n, North South

    • WTO Canc n
    • UK Parliament

11. Trade facilitation negotiations formally begin

    Aug 1, 2004Labels: Trade Facilitation, Customs

    • WTO TF Negot
    • WTO TF Background

12. Textiles and Clothing Agreement expires; quotas end

    Jan 1, 2005Labels: Textiles and, Quota phase-out

    • WTO ATC Text
    • WTO Textiles

13. Saudi Arabia joins WTO, widening rules-based coverage

    Dec 11, 2005Labels: Saudi Arabia, WTO accession

    • WTO Saudi
    • WTO Press 420

14. Hong Kong Ministerial seeks progress but leaves major gaps

    Dec 18, 2005Labels: Hong Kong, Doha

    • WTO Hong Kong

15. Doha negotiations suspended after G6 deadlock

    Jul 24, 2006Labels: Doha suspension, Pascal Lamy

    • WTO TNC 2006
    • Al Jazeera

16. Vietnam joins WTO, continuing expansion of membership

    Jan 11, 2007Labels: Vietnam, WTO accession

    • WTO Vietnam

17. Doha “mini-ministerial” attempt fails in Geneva

    Jul 29, 2008Labels: Geneva talks, Doha mini-ministerial

    • Czech MPO

18. By 2010, WTO rules anchor strategy amid stalled negotiations

    Jan 1, 2010Labels: WTO rules, 2000s

    • WTO Timeline
    • WTO Doha DDA