Marrakesh agreement establishing the world trade organization wto agreement

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The texts reproduced in this section do not have the legal standing of the original documents which are entrusted and kept at the WTO Secretariat in Geneva.

Article I back to top
Establishment of the Organization

The World Trade Organization (herein-after referred to as �the WTO�) is hereby established.

Article II back to top
Scope of the WTO

1. The WTO shall provide the common institutional framework for the conduct of trade relations among its Members in matters related to the agreements and associated legal instruments included in the Annexes to this Agreement.
2. The agreements and associated legal instruments included in Annexes 1, 2 and 3 (hereinafter referred to as �Multilateral Trade Agreements�) are integral parts of this Agreement, binding on all Members.

Article IX back to top
Decision-Making

1. The WTO shall continue the practice of decision-making by consensus followed under GATT 1947(1) . Except as otherwise provided, where a decision cannot be arrived at by consensus, the matter at issue shall be decided by voting. At meetings of the Ministerial Conference and the General Council, each Member of the WTO shall have one vote. Where the European Communities exercise their right to vote, they shall have a number of votes equal to the number of their member States(2) .

1. The body concerned shall be deemed to have decided by consensus on a matter submitted for its consideration, if no Member, present at the meeting when the decision is taken, formally objects to the proposed decision. Back to text
2. The number of votes of the European Communities and their member States shall in no case exceed the number of the member States of the European Communities. Back to text