United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office National Security and International Affairs Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-09-27 monographic deposited born digital 23 p. GA 1.13:T-NSIAD-96-243 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-243 P0b002ee180398abe f:ns96243t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-243 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-243 T-NSIAD-96-243 Foreign trade agreements International trade regulation Restrictive trade practices International economic relations Foreign trade policies International organizations Clothing industry Agricultural industry United States-Canada Free Trade Area Agreement Other Written Product NSIAD

GAO discussed the implementation of the Uruguay Round agreements and the World Trade Organization's (WTO) operations in the context of the upcoming Singapore ministerial meeting. GAO noted that: (1) implementation of the Uruguay Round agreements is complex, and the Singapore meeting will provide WTO member countries with the opportunity to take stock of their implementation efforts; (2) limitations and variations in the amount of information reported by member countries has made it difficult for WTO committees and working groups to oversee implementation of the agreements and a new dispute settlement mechanism; (3) implementation of the WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing has been a major area of contention between exporting and importing countries; (4) the United States has many concerns regarding the implementation of commitments to liberalize agricultural trade, and has indicated that it will propose further agricultural reform negotiations; (5) it is not clear whether efforts to liberalize trade in the services sector will be successful, since WTO member countries have been unable to reach final agreements covering some sectors; and (6) it is expected that WTO members will begin work on the next generation of trade issues in such areas as environmental protection, investment rules, competition policy, labor standards, and bribery and corruption at the Singapore meeting. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-243/html/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-243.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-243/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-243.pdf GAO/T-NSIAD-96-243 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-NSIAD-96-243 Other Written Product GAO/T-NSIAD-96-243; World Trade Organization: Status of Issues to Be Considered at Singapore Ministerial Meeting; Foreign trade agreements International trade regulation Restrictive trade practices International economic relations Foreign trade policies International organizations Clothing industry Agricultural industry United States-Canada Free Trade Area Agreement Title 15 Section 78dd-2 15 U.S.C. 78dd-2 Title 19 Section 2462 19 U.S.C. 2462 Public Law 95-213 Public Law 98-573