This paper critically examines the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the perpetuation and exacerbation of global inequality. Despite its stated mission to foster international trade, the WTO's policies and practices have been criticized for disproportionately benefiting wealthy nations and multinational corporations while marginalizing developing countries. The review highlights key aspects of WTO agreements, such as trade liberalization, agricultural subsidies, intellectual property rights, and dispute settlement mechanisms, and assesses their impact on global economic disparities. Through a decolonial lens, the paper explores how the WTO's framework reinforces existing power structures, often sidelining the interests of the Global South. The analysis also critiques the institution's failure to adequately address issues such as environmental sustainability, social justice, and labor rights. Ultimately, the paper argues that the WTO's policies, far from promoting equitable global trade, contribute to deepening socio-economic inequalities, and calls for a restructuring of international trade governance that prioritizes fairness and the inclusion of marginalized voices in decision-making processes.
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- Jacob Mahlangu (Autor), 2025, The World Trade Organization and global inequality. A critical review, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1584242
