GATT Round

GATT Round and the GATT Policy Negotiations

In relation to the GATT Policy Negotiations, Christopher Mark (1993) provided the following explanation and/or definition of GATT Round: A cycle of multilateral trade negotiations conducted under the auspices of the GATT. Each Round has constituted a series of interrelated bargaining sessions among the participating countries to achieve mutually beneficial agreements reducing, tariffs and other trade barriers. The agreements reached at the conclusion of each Round become new GATT commitments and thus amount to an important step in the progressive liberalization of the world trading system. Eight Rounds have been initiated under GATT auspices since 1947:

Geneva Round (1) 1947 (“First Round”)

Annecy Round 1949 (“Second Round”)

Torquay Round 1950-51 (“Third Round”)

Geneva Round (2) 1956 (“Fourth Round”)

Dillon Round 1959-62

Kennedy Round 1963-67

Tokyo Round 1973- 79

Uruguay Round 1986-present

Since 1956, all GATT Rounds have taken place at GATT headquarters in Geneva, although the more recent Rounds have been named after the city or country in which the ministerial declaration launching the negotiations was signed.