Interim Commission for the International Trade Organization (ICITO) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Employment, held at Havana, Cuba, from November 1947 to March 1948, drew up a charter for an International Trade Organization (ITO) and established an Interim Commission for the organization (ICITO). Since the charter was never accepted, ITO was not established. However, while the charter was being prepared, the Preparatory Committee’s members negotiated on tariffs among themselves and drew up the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The Agreement—a multilateral treaty embodying reciprocal rights and obligations—entered into force on 1 January 1948, with 23 Contracting Parties. Since that date, ICITO has provided the GATT secretariat.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Partnerships for the Goals