Question

Which of the following is ignored by the World Trade Organization?

• A. Rules related to trade between nations.
• B. Issues of worker's right and child labour.
• C. Trade in services.
• D. Issues of intellectual property rights.

Hint:

Key features of the WTO:
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
Established: January 1, 1995.
Core Coverage: Merchandise trade, Services (GATS), Intellectual Property (TRIPS).
Common Criticism: Neglects labour standards, workers' rights, child labour, and environmental protection.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Concept:
The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on January 1, 1995, succeeding the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
The WTO serves as the sole international body dealing with multilateral trade rules governing nations.
While the WTO oversees global trade agreements, its institutional scope and focus have faced consistent critique from civil society and developing countries.

Step 1: Mandate of the WTO:
The official mandate of the WTO encompasses:
1. Setting binding rules for international trade in goods and manufactured merchandise.
2. Governing trade in services (General Agreement on Trade in Services - GATS).
3. Protecting Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
4. Providing a formal dispute settlement mechanism for member nations.

Step 2: Areas Critiqued as Being Ignored:
Critics emphasize that the WTO framework prioritizes trade liberalization and corporate commercial interests while largely sidelining critical social welfare issues.
Specifically, basic issues concerning workers' rights, child labour exploitation, environmental conservation, and public health safeguards are largely omitted or subordinated within core WTO rules.
Final Answer:
Consequently, Issues of worker's right and child labour are ignored by the World Trade Organization.