The World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements cover goods, services and intellectual property. They spell out the principles of liberalization, and the permitted exceptions. They include individual countries’ commitments to lower customs tariffs and other trade barriers, and to open and keep open services markets. They set procedures for settling disputes. These agreements are not static; they are negotiated from time to time and new agreements can be added to the package.

The WTO’s procedure for resolving trade quarrels under the Dispute Settlement Understanding is vital for enforcing the rules and therefore for ensuring that trade flows smoothly. Countries bring disputes to the WTO if they think their rights under the agreements are being infringed. Judgments by specially appointed independent experts are based on interpretations of the agreements and individual countries’ commitments.

WTO agreements contain special provisions for developing countries, including longer time periods to implement agreements and commitments, measures to increase their trading opportunities, and support to help them build their trade capacity, to handle disputes and to implement technical standards. The WTO organizes hundreds of technical cooperation missions to developing countries annually. It also holds numerous courses each year in Geneva for government officials. Aid for trade aims to help poor countries develop the skills and infrastructure needed to expand their trade.

Internet: <www.wto.org> (adapted).

According to the text above, judge the following item.

In the fragment “for enforcing the rules and therefore for ensuring that trade flows smoothly”, “therefore” expresses the idea of in consequence of that.