What WTO means to Africa and developing countries

Simply known as WTO to many, these letters mean World Trade Organisation. WTO is the biggest intergovernmental trade organisation in the world with more than 162 (as of November 30, 2015) members world-wide. If you imagine trade as a game that must be fairly played, then you will see why the game of trade must be governed by rules, just like football or any other game. Its 162 member countries are the players in the WTO trade game.

Trade among WTO nations is governed by rules, which determine how the “game” of trade is played. This helps trade to be fair, accessible and beneficial to all its members. The rules also help bring discipline in the game of trade. In fact, when there is a dispute among members/players, those rules are used to resolve the disagreements.