What is the role of the World Trade Organization and what philosophy does it promote with respect to globalization?

The World Trade Organization is an international organization of over 150 countries that provides a forum for negotiating and enforcing global trade agreements. Initially it was created to administer the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and to handle trade negotiations. The WTO promotes free trade through the reduction of trade barriers including tariffs, quotas, domestic subsidies, discriminatory government procurement policies, and regulations. The WTO allows countries to establish standard necessary to protect human, animal, or plant life or to conserve exhaustible natural resources as long as these are not trade barriers. The WTO has the authority to resolve trade disputes and any country found in violation must change its trade policy or pay damages.