Defining the Extent of NGO’s Participation in the WTO

Abstract

Although there are a lot of arguments for and against of NGO’s participation in the WTO, it can be argued that NGO’s already play an important role in the process and work of the WTO. Not withstanding the lack of detailed provisions in WTO law towards NGO’s participation in activities of WTO, NGO’s can, and do influence the decisions made in WTO. The extent of all these activities available to NGO’s in WTO will be addressed there in after. Examples will illustrate how NGO’s can participate in the activities of WTO’s legislative, executive and judicial branches.

Keywords: NGO’s, WTO, amicus curiae briefs, participation in WTO, transparency, non-state actors in WTO, influence, cooperation

JEL Classification: K33