General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is an international agreement that aims to regulate and promote international trade between countries. It was signed in 1947 by 23 countries and it came into force in 1948. Since then, it has been amended and updated multiple times, and now it is referred to as the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement.
The general agreement on tariff and trade was created as a response to the protectionist trade policies that had been adopted by many countries during the Great Depression of the 1930s. These policies, such as import quotas, tariffs, and other trade restrictions, were seen as a major obstacle to the growth of international commerce and economic development.
The goal of GATT was to promote free trade by reducing and eliminating the trade barriers that hindered international commerce. It aimed to create a level playing field for all countries, regardless of their size or economic power. The agreement made it easier for countries to trade goods and services with each other by lowering tariffs and other trade barriers.
The agreement also established a set of rules that all countries that signed the agreement had to follow. These rules included the most-favored-nation principle, which meant that any trade concessions that were made between two countries had to be extended to all other countries that had signed the agreement, ensuring that all countries had equal access to trade benefits. Also, the agreement stated that countries could not use trade barriers as a tool to protect their own industries or to unfairly disadvantage other countries.
Over time, the agreement proved to be successful in promoting free trade and economic growth. By the 1980s, it had been signed by over 100 countries, and trade barriers had been significantly reduced. In addition, countries that had opened their markets to international trade had experienced significant economic growth and development.
Today, the WTO continues to promote free trade by negotiating new trade agreements and resolving disputes between countries. However, the organization and the GATT agreement have also faced criticism from some quarters. Some critics argue that free trade has led to job losses and economic inequality in certain countries, and that the rules of the agreement have been used to promote the interests of more powerful countries at the expense of developing economies.
In conclusion, the general agreement on tariffs and trade was a landmark international agreement that helped to promote free trade and economic growth. While it has faced criticism and challenges in the decades since its creation, it remains a vital tool for promoting international commerce and ensuring that all countries can benefit from the advantages of a globalized economy.