general agreement on tariffs and trade: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Historical
Quick answer
What does “general agreement on tariffs and trade” mean?
An international treaty, in effect from 1948 to 1995, aimed at reducing trade barriers and tariffs between member nations to promote economic recovery after World War II.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An international treaty, in effect from 1948 to 1995, aimed at reducing trade barriers and tariffs between member nations to promote economic recovery after World War II.
The organization and series of multilateral agreements that governed international trade rules and dispute settlement before being superseded by the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995; often used historically to refer to the foundational principles of the modern multilateral trading system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. UK usage may more frequently employ 'GATT' as an acronym in formal discourse, while US usage might spell it out more often for clarity in political or business contexts.
Connotations
Neutral historical/technical term in both varieties. In UK discourse, it may carry stronger connotations of post-war internationalism and European recovery. In US discourse, it can be a focal point in debates about free trade versus protectionism.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday language, confined to economics, political science, history, and international trade contexts. Frequency is comparable between varieties within these specialized fields.
Grammar
How to Use “general agreement on tariffs and trade” in a Sentence
[The/This] General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade [verb: established, governed, reduced, was superseded]Under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, [clause]The principles of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “general agreement on tariffs and trade” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- GATT-compliant policies
- the pre-WTO GATT system
American English
- GATT-related disputes
- a GATT-era negotiation
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in strategic planning and market analysis when discussing historical trade policy or legal precedents. 'Our market access was originally negotiated under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.'
Academic
Central term in economics, political science, and international relations literature. 'The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade established the most-favoured-nation principle as a cornerstone of trade law.'
Everyday
Virtually never used. If mentioned, it would be in a simplified historical context. 'Before the WTO, there was something called GATT.'
Technical
Precise legal reference in trade law and international economics. 'Article XX of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade outlines general exceptions.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “general agreement on tariffs and trade”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “general agreement on tariffs and trade”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “general agreement on tariffs and trade”
- Using 'a' general agreement... (it's always 'the' General Agreement... as a proper noun).
- Referring to it as a current entity (it was replaced in 1995).
- Misspelling 'Tariffs' (double 'r', single 'f').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. GATT (1948-1995) was an agreement and a provisional organization. The WTO (established 1995) is a permanent, more powerful international organization that incorporated and expanded upon the GATT rules, adding new areas like services (GATS) and intellectual property (TRIPS).
It refers to the agreement's dual focus: reducing 'tariffs' (taxes on imports) and establishing rules for 'trade' in goods to prevent discriminatory practices and trade wars.
Its core legal text, 'GATT 1994', is still one of the principal treaties administered by the WTO. Many foundational trade law principles and cases originate from the GATT era, making it essential historical and legal context.
When it concluded in 1994, GATT had 128 contracting parties. It started with 23 founding signatories in 1947.
An international treaty, in effect from 1948 to 1995, aimed at reducing trade barriers and tariffs between member nations to promote economic recovery after World War II.
General agreement on tariffs and trade is usually formal, technical, historical in register.
General agreement on tariffs and trade: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdʒen.ər.əl əˈɡriː.mənt ɒn ˈtær.ɪfs ənd treɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdʒen.ər.əl əˈɡriː.mənt ɑːn ˈter.ɪfs ənd treɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “GATT is history (referring to its replacement by the WTO)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a GATe (GATT) that was opened to let TARiffs and TRADE flow more freely between countries.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOUNDATION/BLUEPRINT (for the modern global trading system); RULES OF THE GAME (for international commerce).
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary institutional outcome of the Uruguay Round of negotiations?