World Trade Organisation (WTO)
The declared aim of the WTO is to encourage trade by lowering tariffs (taxes on imports and exports) and limiting how governments regulate barriers to trade. It often seems to control the global economy on behalf of corporations, by using its supra-national legislative and judicial powers. Although the WTO is meant to be democratic, with each member having one vote, in reality smaller countries are bullied into supporting the aims of the powerful countries.
Member countries must ensure that their laws comply with a mass of obligations and 'international standards'. These may go against certain priorities of individual countries. For example Austria found itself unable to operate a ban on the import of tropical hardwoods from unsustainable sources. Likewise the USA is being forced to lower its requirements for the protection of dolphins in tuna fishing. The EU is being told to stop giving preferential treatment to small banana producers on Caribbean islands, which are highly dependent on banana exports, and also to lift a ban on beef from cattle from America raised with growth hormones.
The WTO rules actually operate against employment, environmental and safety standards because such standards are considered to be obstacles to free trade. It is regarded as 'protectionist' to try to give preference to local businesses that hire local people at a decent living wage, produce things that local people need, pay their full share of local taxes, play by local rules and contribute to the livelihood and well being of the community. Poor countries are therefore unable to support their own national industries, and the poorest people living in these countries are the ones that suffer.