The term multilateral trade negotiations (MTN) initially applied to negotiations between General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) member nations conducted under the auspices of the GATT and aimed at reducing tariff and nontariff trade barriers. In 1995 the World Trade Organization (WTO) replaced the GATT as the administrative body. A current round of multilateral trade negotiations was conducted in the Doha Development Agenda round.
Prior to the ongoing Doha Development Round, eight GATT sessions took place:
The third WTO Ministerial Conference in Seattle, 1999, was intended to start the Millennium Round of negotiations.