WTO.org Review: The "Supreme Court" and "Data Goldmine" of Global Trade

1. The Export Manager's "Tariff Puzzle"

Mr. Lin's EV company was planning to expand into Brazil.
Calculating costs was a nightmare:
"What is the exact import duty for EVs in Brazil? Are there anti-dumping duties? Does MFN apply?"
Logistics agents gave conflicting answers; Google results were outdated.

Finally, the Legal Director sent a link: wto.org (World Trade Organization).
"For fundamental legal and data questions, go directly to the WTO. That's where the rules are written. There is no source more accurate."

2. Core Features: Three Keys for Trade

While the WTO website looks like a serious archive, it holds the source code of global trade.

1. Tariff Download Facility

• Pain Point: How much tax will India charge on my iPhone export?
• Function: This is the most practical tool. Enter the HS Code and the destination country, and it lists the "Bound Rate" (maximum limit) and "Applied Rate" (actual rate).
• Value: The baseline data for export pricing and cost analysis.

2. WTO Stats Portal

• Path: [Documents & Data] -> [Statistics].
• Function: Visual maps of global trade. You can query "Changes in China's textile exports over 10 years" or "Germany's auto import flows."
• Value: Essential for macro market analysis and industry reports.

3. Dispute Settlement

• Function: Records of famous "DS Series" cases (like DS316 Airbus vs. Boeing).
• Value: A treasure trove of case law for international law students and corporate compliance teams. It shows how nations "argue" within the rules.

3. How to Find Tariffs?

Step 1: The Entry
On the homepage, go to [Documents & Data] and click [Tariff data].

Step 2: Choose the Tool
For general users, use "Tariff Download Facility" (Simpler UI); for pros, use "Tariff Analysis Online (TAO)" (requires registration, more powerful).

Step 3: Input Parameters

• Reporter: The importing country (e.g., Brazil).
• Product: Input HS Code (e.g., 8703).
• Year: Latest available.

Interpreting Results
Look at the "MFN Applied Duty" column. This is most likely the base tariff you will pay.

4. Pros and Cons

Feature	Pros	Cons	Advice
Authority	#1 Global Source, the official rulebook	Data relies on member reporting (lag)	Use for legal basis, not live market data
Coverage	All 164 Member Nations	No Chinese UI (En/Fr/Es only)	Use a translation plugin
Usability	Powerful Excel exports	Heavy jargon (Bound vs Applied)	Basic trade knowledge required
Cost	100% Free	None	Don't pay resellers for this data

5. Conclusion

The WTO Website is the cornerstone of the global trading system.
It may not be as fast or user-friendly as commercial data sites, but it is the only legally binding source of information.
Whether you are selecting products for cross-border e-commerce or planning multinational strategy, when in doubt about "Tariffs" or "Rules," the WTO is your final arbitrator.