The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is an international body which negotiates and polices agreements between countries.

There are many problems with the WTO:

• Undemocratic
  Big countries power and wealth means the concerns of smaller nations are pushed aside.

• Sets destructive agenda
  Other trade agreements often use WTO rules as a starting point
  (eg the EU's EPAs (PDF†)).

• Own judge and jury
  Disputes are judged by a closed internal "court". The cost of raising complaints means developing countries cannot defend themselves.

Half of the poorest countries in the WTO can't afford a single negotiator to defend their interests, whereas the US has around 250 negotiators.

The WTO now wants to extend its power even further. Current proposals would threaten to:

• Empower big business to control exports in timber and fish
  
• Cause mass unemployment
  
• Deepen poverty in developing countries

The UK is represented in the WTO by the EU. UK Government policy is strongly in favour of "free" trade.

As a leading player in the EU the UK could take a positive lead reshaping global trade.