Does Trade Equal Peace? The Role of the WTO in International Peace

This article contends that the World Trade Organization (‘WTO’) plays a vital role in the maintenance of international peace through continued international trade. In exploring this argument, the article looks to the history of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (‘GATT 1947’) and the WTO. After doing so, the article analyses the other side of the coin:  when trade is weaponized through the use of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade  (‘GATT 1994’) security exception Article XXI. Lastly, the article discusses the effectiveness of  trade sanctions and whether the security exception is in need of reform in order for the WTO to  better engage in the pursuit of international peace through international trade.