A New Opening for WTO Reform |
NEW HAVEN/JAKARTA – Even before US President Donald Trump upended the global trade system by wielding tariffs as a cudgel to force other leaders to bend to his will, the World Trade Organization was struggling to remain relevant and effective. Amid intensifying great-power competition and deep disagreements over trade rules and priorities, the 166 WTO member nations have found themselves hamstrung by a rigid commitment to consensus decision-making (which in practice means unanimity).