World Trade Organization

Agenda Item: Abuse of National Security Exceptions and the Fragmentation of the World Trade System

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is at the center of the multilateral trading system and seeks to create an environment characterized by predictability, non-discrimination, and cooperation in international trade. Its agreements and settlements are designed to prevent actions taken unilaterally, which could create instabilities in international trade and undermine trust among nations. However, the rise of geopolitical tensions and the increasing level of strategic rivalry and politicization have made it more difficult for the organization to carry out its mandate, thus raising questions about its long-term sustainability and its ability to enforce its decisions and settlements.

The agenda item seeks to examine the legitimacy and abuse of national security exceptions for protectionist practices, selective tariffs, and trade restrictions. Although these exceptions were intended for limited purposes, their extensive and ambiguous application has undermined non-discrimination and predictability in the WTO. With the rise of national security concerns among the major economies, the level of fragmentation in the world trade system has also increased, thus raising questions about its sustainability and the long-term integrity of international trade rules and settlements.