Leaders of Senate Finance Committee Call on Other Countries to Reform WTO

In an opinion piece published on CNN.com, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and the panel's top Democrat, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said the U.S. needs allies in addressing "the problems that are eroding the [World Trade Organization]'s credibility and effectiveness. These are problems that, if left unresolved, will endanger the WTO's future relevance." They said the fact that China still gets special treatment as a developing country is a big problem, and should be changed. Countries ignore transparency requirements. And, they said, the appellate body has strayed from its mission. But, they said, there are reasons to hope. "Negotiations are underway to curtail the fish subsidies that have long promoted overfishing," as well as e-commerce negotiations. "If concluded, these agreements would demonstrate that the WTO can still serve as the institution it was intended to be."