WTO Legal Index & Glossary (Extended Version V2)

Comprehensive glossary of WTO legal terminology covering TRIPS, Trade Remedies, Customs Valuation, Rules of Origin, GATS, GPA, and Trade Facilitation.

Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)

Rights related to the creative products of human intellect, including copyright, patents, and trademarks as outlined in the TRIPS Preamble.

Trademarks

Signs used to distinguish the goods or services of different enterprises, regulated under TRIPS Part II Section 2.

Geographical Indications (GIs)

Signs indicating that a good originates from a specific region, locality, or country where a given quality or reputation is attributable to that origin.

Patents

Exclusive rights granted for an invention that is a new product or technological process involving an inventive step.

Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights

Legal, administrative, civil, and criminal procedures and measures intended to protect rights and prevent infringement.

Counterfeit Trademark Goods

Goods bearing a trademark that is identical to or indistinguishable from a validly registered trademark.

Pirated Copyright Goods

Copies made without the consent of the right holder or a person authorized by the right holder in the country of production.

Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment (MFN)

A principle where any advantage or privilege granted to one country must be applied immediately and unconditionally to all other members.

Expressions versus Ideas

A copyright principle stating that protection extends only to the form of expression and not to the ideas or concepts themselves.

Fair Use of Descriptive Terms

An exception allowing third parties to use descriptive terms for product characteristics without it being considered trademark infringement.

Sui Generis System

A unique legal system specifically designed for the protection of plant varieties, such as the UPOV system.

Compulsory Licensing (Non-Voluntary Licensing)

A government's authorization for a third party to use a protected object without the consent of the right holder.

Anti-Dumping Measure

Administrative or tariff actions applied against imported goods sold at dumped prices that cause injury to domestic production.

Dumping

The act of introducing a product into the commerce of another country at less than its normal value.

Normal Value

The comparable price of a like product when sold in the ordinary course of trade in the exporting country.

Material Injury

A significant decline in revenue, profit, or output within the domestic industry of the importing country.

Negligible Volume of Imports

Imports from a country that account for less than $3\%$ of the total imports of the like product.

De Minimis Margin of Dumping

A dumping margin of less than $2\%$ of the export price, which triggers the immediate termination of an investigation.

Sunset Review

A periodic review, typically conducted every $5\,years$, to determine whether to continue applying trade remedy duties.

Subsidy

A financial contribution by a government or any public body that confers a benefit to the recipient.

Prohibited Subsidies (Red Light)

Subsidies contingent upon export performance or the use of domestic over imported goods, which are strictly forbidden.

Actionable Subsidies (Yellow Light)

Legal subsidies that can be challenged if they cause adverse effects to the interests of other members.

Countervailing Duty (CVD)

A special duty levied on imports to offset any subsidy bestowed directly or indirectly upon the manufacture or export of the product.

Safeguard Measure

An emergency, temporary import restriction used to protect a domestic industry from a sudden surge in imports.

Transaction Value

The primary method for customs valuation based on the price actually paid or payable for the goods.

Computed Value

A valuation method based on the sum of production costs, materials, profit, and general expenses from the exporting country.

Assists

Goods or services supplied by the buyer free of charge or at a reduced cost for use in connection with the production of imported goods.

Rules of Origin

The laws, regulations, and administrative determinations used to identify the country of origin of a good.

Last Substantial Transformation

A principle determining origin at the country where the processing results in a fundamental change to the product's nature.

Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)

A unilateral mechanism where developed countries reduce tariffs for goods from developing or least-developed countries.

Trade in Services

The supply of commercial services across borders between WTO members, classified into four modes.

Cross-Border Supply (Mode 1)

Services supplied from the territory of one member into the territory of any other member, such as consulting via email.

Consumption Abroad (Mode 2)

Services consumed by a person moving to the territory of another member, such as tourism or studying abroad.

Commercial Presence (Mode 3)

Services supplied by a service supplier of one member through a legal entity, branch, or office in the territory of another member.

Presence of Natural Persons (Mode 4)

Service supply involving the movement of an individual to the territory of another member to provide a service.

Prudential Measures (Prudential Carve-Out)

Measures a government may take to protect investors/depositors and ensure the integrity of the financial system.

Government Procurement

The process by which government agencies purchase goods or services for public purposes.

Limited Tendering

A procurement method where the procuring entity contacts specific suppliers of its choice directly.

Splitting of Procurement

The prohibited act of dividing a project into smaller contracts to avoid meeting international tendering thresholds.

Urgency Exception (GPA)

A provision allowing the reduction of the tendering period to a minimum of $10\,days$ during a national emergency.

Time-Period for Tendering

The standard minimum period of $40\,days$ provided for suppliers to prepare and submit bids in open tendering.

Trade Facilitation

The simplification, harmonization, and modernization of export and import procedures to speed up the movement of goods.

Advance Rulings

Written decisions provided by customs authorities regarding the HS code, origin, or valuation of goods before they are imported.

Authorized Operators (AEO)

Suppliers meeting high security and compliance standards who receive special facilitation during customs clearance.

De Minimis Shipment Value (TFA)

A small value threshold, such as under $100\,USD$, below which imports are exempt from duties and complex declarations.

Single Window

A single online portal allowing traders to submit all required documentation to multiple government agencies simultaneously.

Special and Differential Treatment Categories

The classification of TFA commitments into Category A (immediate), Category B (delayed), and Category C (needs technical assistance).