The World Trade Organization (WTO) stimulates U.S. economic growth, creates good jobs and improves living standards for Americans.

By reducing barriers to trade, the multilateral trading system benefits American businesses, farmers and workers.

• America’s growth and prosperity depend on our ability to sell goods and services to consumers in foreign markets.
• American businesses produce far more goods and services than can be sold in the United States.
• More than 95 percent of the world’s population and four-fifths of the international economy lie outside the United States.
• Under WTO rules, other countries pledge not to block U.S. exports through high tariffs and other trade restrictions. Since the creation of the multilateral trading system, average tariffs in industrialized countries have been slashed from high double digits to less than 4 percent.
• Because it is the world’s largest exporter and has the most competitive and open economy, the United States gains the most from a robust WTO that continues to lower tariffs and other trade barriers to U.S products. Trade liberalization allows America’s businesses, farmers and workers to maximize the economic benefits of their unique talents and creativity.

The WTO is an important engine of economic growth and job creation in the United States.

• Exports comprised more than one-quarter of U.S. economic growth as trade barriers fell over the past decade.
• Ten percent of all U.S. jobs (approximately 12 million) currently depend on exports. Jobs supported by trade pay 13 to 18 percent more than the average U.S. wage.
• Freer and fairer trade creates more U.S. jobs. A 10 percent increase in U.S. exports leads to a 6.9 percent increase in domestic employment. By compar-ison, a 10 percent rise in domestic demand creates just a 4.2 percent increase in U.S. employment.
• The WTO raises living standards for all Americans.
• The creation of higher-paying jobs supported by trade raises living standards for tens of thousands of American families.
• At the same time, the WTO’s commitment to open markets gives Americans more choices at competitive prices for everyday items. More variety at lower prices means workers can get more from their hard-earned paychecks and live well.
• The successful completion of the current multilateral trade negotiations could result in an additional $2,000 of purchasing power each year for an average family of four.

The WTO protects the United States from unfair trade practices.

• The U.S. government uses the WTO agreement to eliminate barriers to the export of U.S. goods. For example, the agreement places a cap on the amount of most duties, prohibits discrimination against imports, and requires transparent and honest customs procedures. The cumulative effect of these rules is to level the playing field for America’s workers.
• The U.S. government effectively uses the WTO dispute settlement procedures to enforce these rules and advocate on behalf of U.S. exporters who are denied access unfairly to foreign markets. From 1995 to the present, the United States has prevailed in 44 of the 47 concluded cases it has filed, either by winning a WTO panel ruling or through an out-of-court settlement.
• Congressional reaffirmation of America’s WTO membership — not a return to isolationism — is the best way to safeguard America from unfair trade.