DESCRIPTIONS OF MAJOR MULTILATERAL TRADE General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) The GATT is a multilateral instrument, currently subscribed to by 101 countries, which has served as the framework for international trade since its inception in 1948. The GATT has evolved into a comprehensive set of rules governing many aspects of international trade. The organization provides a framework within which multilateral trade negotiations are conducted and trade disputes among the world's major trading partners are resolved. The GATT headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. GATT Membership as of March 1991-Contracting Parties Antiqua and Barbuda Germany, Federal Argentina Australia Austria Bangladesh Republic of Nigeria Norway Romania Rwanda Barbados Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia Botswana Brazil Burkina Faso Israel India Indonesia Ireland Senegal Sierra Leone Singapore South Africa Switzerland Tanzania Thailand Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda United Kingdom United States of America Uruguay Venezuela Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Founded in 1961 and based in Paris, the OECD is the primary organization for industralized nations to discuss trade and economic matters. The objectives are to achieve economic growth and employment and a rising standard of living in member countries while maintaining financial stability. The 24 member countries use the OECD and its various committees and working groups to conduct both studies and negotiations on particular economic problems and to coordinate their policies for purposes of international negotiations. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Based in Geneva and associated with the United Nations system, UNCTAD focuses attention on international economic relations and measures that might be taken by developed countries to accelerate the pace of economic and industrial development in the developing countries. The conference has met quadrennially since 1964 in various locations throughout the world. UNCTAD committees meet several times each year between the major conferences and is supported by the permanent UNCTAD Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. Customs Cooperation Council (CCC) Established in 1952, the Customs Cooperation Council is a 93member international organization with headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. It deals exclusively with customs matters. Its objective is to obtain, in the interest of international trade, the best possible degree of uniformity among the customs systems of member nations. The United States became a member on November 5, 1970. The Customs Service is the lead government agency in dealing with the various activities of the Council, including the work of the Harmonized System Committee. The Customs Service heads the U.S. delegations to the sessions of the Committee. Generally, the Council studies questions relating to cooperation in customs matters, examines technical aspects of customs systems and furnishes information and advice to member states. |