Understanding the GATT Agreement Statements

Let's analyze each statement provided regarding the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) to determine which ones are correct.

1. Statement a: GATT was established in 1948.
   The General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) was signed in 1947 and provisionally entered into force on January 1, 1948. So, stating its establishment year as 1948 is generally considered accurate in this context.
2. Statement b: Initially, the total number of members of GATT was 23 countries.
   Yes, 23 countries were the original signatories, also known as the contracting parties, of the GATT in 1947. These 23 countries signed the Protocol of Provisional Application, bringing the GATT into effect in 1948.
3. Statement c: In a way WTO is the successor of GATT.
   The World Trade Organization (WTO) was established on January 1, 1995, as a result of the Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-1994). The WTO effectively absorbed and replaced the GATT as the principal international organization overseeing trade liberalization and dispute settlement. Therefore, the WTO is widely regarded as the successor to GATT.
4. Statement d: GATT administers all bilateral and multilateral Trade agreements.
   This statement is incorrect. GATT was a specific multilateral agreement dealing with trade in goods. While it covered a significant portion of world trade, it did not administer *all* trade agreements, particularly bilateral agreements or other multilateral agreements outside its framework. The WTO, which succeeded GATT, also administers a specific set of trade agreements (the WTO agreements), not every single trade agreement globally.

Evaluating the Correctness of Statements

Based on the analysis:

• Statement a is correct.
• Statement b is correct.
• Statement c is correct.
• Statement d is incorrect.

Therefore, the correct statements are a, b, and c.