What role did France play in the development of the World Trade Organization (WTO)?

France played a significant role in the development of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The WTO is an international organization that regulates and promotes global trade. Its predecessor, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), was established after World War II to promote international economic cooperation and to reduce trade barriers.

In the 1980s, France became a strong supporter of the creation of the WTO as a successor to GATT. French policymakers believed that the WTO would be better equipped to promote free trade and resolve trade disputes than its predecessor.

France also played a key role in the negotiations that led to the establishment of the WTO in 1995. French negotiators were instrumental in securing a number of provisions that were important to the country, including protections for geographical indications of origin, which protect products with unique qualities or characteristics that are tied to a specific geographic area.