What’s at stake for WTO members in Nairobi?

With the signing of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1947, trade began to be viewed in a multilateral context, with rules and regulations requiring the agreement of multiple parties.

GATT drew in 23 countries, but then globalisation came about and was described as a train that had rolled out of the station at high speed, leaving those on the platform clambering after it. So in 1995, when GATT paved way for the World Trade Organisation (WTO), 123 countries came on board.