THE ISSUES OF SCOPE AND LEGAL STATUS IN WTO – IMF CONSULTATIONS

Abstract

In designing the international economic governance system after the Second World War, trade and finance, due to the close connection between them, were addressed as parts of a whole. A predictable and stable international monetary system was recognized as prerequisite for healthy and sustainable trade. However, these two issues were regulated under different institutional structures, by envisaging close cooperation and coordination. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), designed to be responsible for international finance and monetary issues, was established in 1944. The International Trade Organization (ITO) was designed to address international trade, while the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), with a limited scope, was temporarily put into implementation in January 1, 1948 to provide rapid tariff reductions until the ratification of ITO Charter. The ITO became still-born as it was not approved by national parliaments, especially the USA, and international trade continued to be regulated by the GATT. The GATT, with its unique organizational structure that gradually developed, continued its existence until the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995 and hosted international trade negotiations. WTO, with more advanced legal and institutional structure, took over the functions of the GATT. Formal consultation procedures have constituted an important part of the cooperation between the GATT/WTO and the IMF in the context of the management of international trade and monetary/financial system. These procedures differ from traditional cooperation activities between international organizations and have a special character. It is regulated in a binding language as an obligation for the relevant WTO bodies to apply for consultations with the IMF on certain issues and to comply with the inputs received from the IMF. There are some points open to interpretation regarding the scope of the consultations and the binding and functional status of IMF inputs in the WTO. This study discusses the issues of scope and legal status.

Keywords

• World Trade Organization (WTO)
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)
• Balance of Payments Restrictions
• Exchange Arrangements
• WTO-IMF Consultations

DTÖ – IMF DANIŞMALARINDA KAPSAM VE HUKUKİ STATÜ MESELELERİ

Abstract

İkinci Dünya Savaşı sonrasında uluslararası ekonomik yönetişim sistemi tasarlanırken ticaret ve finans konuları, aralarındaki yakın bağlantı nedeniyle bir bütünün parçaları olarak ele alınmıştır. Öngörülebilir ve istikrarlı bir uluslararası para sistemi, sağlıklı ve sürdürülebilir bir uluslararası ticaret için ön koşul olarak kabul edilmiştir. Bununla birlikte, bu iki konu farklı kurumsal yapılar altında düzenlenmiş; bu yapılar arasında yakın işbirliği ve koordinasyon öngörülmüştür. Uluslararası finans ve para konularından sorumlu olmak üzere tasarlanan Uluslararası Para Fonu (IMF) 1944 yılında hayata geçirilmiştir. Uluslararası ticareti ele almak üzere ise Uluslararası Ticaret Örgütü (ITO) tasarlanmış, bu arada, ITO Şartı devletler tarafından onaylanıncaya kadar hızlı bir şekilde tarife indirimleri sağlamak üzere, sınırlı bir kapsama sahip Gümrük Tarifeleri ve Ticaret Genel Antlaşması (GATT) 1 Ocak 1948’de geçici şekilde uygulamaya konulmuştur. ITO Şartı, başta ABD olmak üzere ulusal parlamentolarca onaylanmayınca hayata geçirilememiş, uluslararası ticaret konuları GATT tarafından düzenlenmeye devam etmiştir. GATT, tedricen gelişen özgün örgütsel yapısıyla, 1995’te Dünya Ticaret Örgütü (DTÖ) kuruluncaya kadar varlığını sürdürmüş ve uluslararası ticaret müzakerelerine ev sahipliği yapmıştır. Daha ileri bir yasal ve kurumsal yapıya sahip olan DTÖ, GATT’ın işlevlerini devralmıştır. Uluslararası para/finans sistemi ile ticaretin yönetimi bağlamında GATT/DTÖ ve IMF arasındaki işbirliğinin önemli bir kısmını resmi danışma usulleri oluşturmaktadır. Bu usuller, örgütler arasındaki geleneksel işbirliği faaliyetlerinden farklılıklar arz etmekte ve hususi bir karakter taşımaktadır. Belirli konularda, ilgili DTÖ organlarının IMF’e danışma başvurusunda bulunması ve IMF’ten alınan girdilere uygun davranması, bağlayıcı bir dille, bir yükümlülük olarak düzenlenmiştir. Danışmaların kapsamı ile IMF girdilerinin DTÖ’deki bağlayıcılık ve işlevsel statüsüne dair yoruma açık hususlar bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışma, bahsi geçen kapsam ve hukuki statü meselelerini tartışmaktadır.

Keywords

• Dünya Ticaret Örgütü (DTÖ)
• Uluslararası Para Fonu (IMF)
• Ödemeler Dengesi Kısıtlamaları
• Kambiyo Düzenlemeleri
• DTÖ-IMF Danışmaları

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