Following the Millennium Summit of 2000, a useful set of references and benchmarks which governments, international and other agencies and people can look to as worthy goals to achieve, was formulated at the United Nations. They came to be known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The realisation of the MDGs has, however, been impacted upon by some of the rules, recent proposals and developments in the World Trade Organisation (WTO). This paper attempts, in summary, to show

some of the effects the multilateral organisation has had on the goals and targets government leaders have collectively wanted to achieve.

It begins with a brief assessment of the problems arising from the implementation of WTO rules. This is followed by an outline of the main features and effects of some of the WTO agreements and a discussion on the decision-making system and the structural or systemic aspects of the WTO. Some suggestions for improving the situation are made for each of the topics.

About the Author
Martin Khor is the Director of the Third World Network. He is an economist trained in Cambridge University and has authored several books and articles on trade, development and environment issues.

Contents
1. INTRODUCTION

2. "PROBLEMS OF IMPLEMENTATION" AND THE LACK OF PROGRESS ON THE "DEVELOPMENT ISSUES" IN THE WTO

3. AGRICULTURE

4. SERVICES AND GATS

5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND TRIPS

6. THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR

7. ATTEMPTS TO INTRODUCE NEW ISSUES AND AGREEMENTS IN THE WTO

8. TRANSPARENCY AND PARTICIPATION IN THE WTO

REFERENCES