The World Trade Organization WTO was established in 1995 to develop and monitor the rules of international trade. WTO functions as a forum for the negotiations on trade liberalisation, settling trade disputes, and monitoring of national trade policies. WTO agreements are concluded as a comprehensive outcome of extensive negotiation rounds, of which the present one is called the Doha Round.

WTO negotiations on further liberalisation of agricultural trade have been in progress since 2000. The main topics are the reduction of export subsidies and trade-distorting support and improving market access.

In Finland the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has the main responsibility for the WTO negotiations. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry follows the negotiations very closely through regular participation in the meetings of the negotiating bodies in Geneva and in the preparation of the Finnish positions.

Related links:
World Trade Organization WTO
http://www.wto.org

WTO website of DG Agri of the European Commission
http://europe.eu.int/comm/agriculture/external/wto/index_en.htm