WTO playbook 'out of date', needs immediate reforms to account for changes

The World Trade Organization is using an "out of date" playbook despite dramatic changes including the rise of China and the evolution of the internet, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in testimony to Congress on Tuesday.

The "WTO is still largely operating under the same old playbook from the early 1990's," Lighthizer said. "It is now out of date." Lighthizer said the United States is nonetheless working "diligently" to negotiate new WTO rules to address these problems.