Analyzing World Trade Organization through the Lens of Global Justice

In his writing, “World Poverty and Human Rights”, Thomas Pogge argues that the economic order is shaped by the better off by imposing it on the worst off. He continues it further and says that there are two kinds of obligations- First, being the negative moral obligation that one should refrain from doing anything which inflicts pain or suffering on others for one’s lesser advantage. Second is the positive obligation to help someone who is in need. Of the two obligations mentioned, the first one is the most basic and agreeable by everyone around the globe. Taking this theory forward author wants to analyse the multilateral trading institution- World Trade Organisation through the lens of global justice. It is often argued that this institution is unjust and manoeuvred by the powerful nations who decide the course of future action. In the light of the recent deadlock in the form of a trade war between the US-China and the deadlock created by the US in the appellate body of the dispute settlement understanding, this paper will analyse the bargaining power of the developing and least developed nations in the trading regime. The researcher will deal with the three major issues surrounding the WTO through this paper. i) Is developing or the least developed countries equipped to bargain in the world trading platform? ii) How far the “world court” has been able to reinforce justice without discriminating between the powerful and less powerful nations? iii) What is the mechanism for enforcement, and how far has it been successful in maintaining equitable justice?