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and the United States of America. More
countries have joined the GATT Agreement
over 47 years, after that further negotiation for
trade liberalization has been conducted.
The parties of GATT had embarked on new
negotiations totaled eight rounds during the
period between 1947 and 1994with a purpose
of liberalizing the international trade. Such
efforts have been culminated with Uruguay
Round, which ended the GATT era in 1994
and paved the way for establishing the World
Trade Organization, whose member states
has increased to hit 150 countries.
The GATT Agreement, as we stipulated in
its preamble, was meant to help in raising
the livelihood standards, labor and engage
in mutual arrangements designated to
substantially reduce customs tariff and other
trade barriers, along with eliminating the
discrimination in the international trade.
As for the main principles of the World
Trade Organization agreements, they are
not confined to the non-discrimination
principle, transparency and procedural
integrity, they, however, could be the main
elements that help promoting a credible and
effective international trade system. Such
principles have been listed in theWorld Trade
Organization Agreement, so that dealers and
investors could have equal opportunities in
competition, which facilitates enhancing the
commercial and investment flows.
The Non-Discrimination Principle refers
to two elements: The Most Favored Nation
Principle and the National Treatment
Principle.
The Most Favored Nation Principle may
includearrangementsofbilateralandregional
cooperation, through which some counties
can deal with each other on a preferential
basis.
As for the National Treatment Principle, it is
a general commitment in GATT Agreement
referring to the equality of treatment between
local and foreign products.
The National Treatment Principle means
that the foreign companies (Its products and
services) shall receive equal treatment similar
to the local companies in the local market
without any discrimination based on the
nationality of products, whether they were
local or imported.
The transparency includes publishing
directional laws, regulations and principles
that could be publically implemented, as well
as the exception and exemption, and ensure
that these documents are available to the
public, whether in the Official Gazette or in
an electronic magazine on the internet. The
transparency also includes a commitment to
notify the World Trade Organization of such
matters.
As for the content of procedural remedy, it
allows the parties, who face decisions and
penalties issued by the authorities to take all
self-defense measures, including:
Sendofficial noticesupon investigation, allow
them to submit evidences and documents,
demonstrate their point of view, enable
them to have the right of appeal along with
protecting the confidential informationbeing
submitted to the authorities.
Following the establishment of World Trade
Organization, GATT Agreement has become
oneof themultilateral agreements annexed to
World Trade Organization Agreement. It is an
international charter binding on all parties in
the organization.
The scope of GATT Agreement of the year
1994 is confined to the commodities. The
member states interest has expanded to
include trade in services, which led them to
negotiate over an international agreement
designated to regulating the trade in services.
The efforts of negotiators have culminated in
the concluding the General Agreement on
Trade in Services (GATS), which will be the
topic of our upcoming article, Allah willing.
The opinions expressed in this article do
not reflect by anymeans the viewof the
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority,
but only reflect thewriter›s point of view.