The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. Predictability and legitimacy is assured through shared rules, bound commitments, decision making through consensus, and recourse to a rules based settlement of disputes.
Norway has always been an active participant in, and contributor to, the World Trade Organisation, as a founding member of both the GATT in 1947 and the WTO in 1995. Our extensive trade with other countries has been a key driver for our economic development. A significant part of our businesses are oriented towards exports, drawing benefits from recognised and predictable rules for trade across borders.
The Permanent Mission of Norway to the WTO works with, and reports to, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant Ministries in representing the Norwegian government in trade negotiations and in the full range of WTO committees. The Mission explains, defends and pursues Norwegian interests at the WTO. For a small, open economy such as Norway, key among these interests is to safeguard and strengthen the multilateral trading system itself.