How does the WTO look upon countertrade? Do any legal provisions exist in this area?
The WTO does not contain any specific provisions on countertrade. The normal rules relating to trade–MFN treatment, for example–apply. However, a study undertaken by the former GATT secretariat seemed to indicate that countries engaging in countertrade have not been able to increase their exports through countertrade deals–at least in the medium and long term.
