Multilateral treaties are treaties between multiple states, usually (though not always) denoting participation by a majority of the world's states. Multilateral treaties cover practically every substantive field of international law, from human rights to inter-state agreements on matters such as trade or transportation.
Examples of early successful multilateral treaties include the International Telegraph Convention (1865) and the Universal Postal Convention (1874). Other examples are the Kyoto Protocol, the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and the Paris Agreement.
[Last updated in July of 2023 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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