General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: TPP and these other trade deals show the end result of capitalism... [View all]pampango
(24,692 posts)the concept of neutral tribunals to arbitrate trade disputes or it would not have been in the negotiated agreement signed by over 50 countries.
To be effective, any international agreement needs some kind of fair and effective enforcement mechanism. FDR and Truman believed that allowing each country to decide its own guilt or innocence in resolving trade disputes was a recipe for a failed agreement. They decided that arbitration was fairer.
The UN, the IMF and World Bank (also part of the many international organizations proposed by FDR) were negotiated more quickly and approved by Congress when it was still in Democratic hands. The negotiation of the ITO took longer, unfortunately, and it was not submitted to congress until republicans were in control. The ITO died as a result - except for the GATT part which Truman approved by executive order, knowing that congress would reject that, too.