--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At the WTO, it's never a general surgery…" description: "\"At the WTO, it's never a general surgery. It's always a very specific, clinical, precise surgery - and you can't miss the target. If you miss the targe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e0/roberto-azevedo-29614_always_at-the-wto-it-s-never-a-general-surgery_411956.jpg" --- # At the WTO, it's never a general surgery. It's always a… ![“At the WTO, it's never a general surgery. It's always a very specific, clinical, precise surgery - and you can't miss the target. If you miss the target, you kill the patient. It's as simple as that.” quote by Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e0/roberto-azevedo-29614_always_at-the-wto-it-s-never-a-general-surgery_411956.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e0/roberto-azevedo-29614_always_at-the-wto-it-s-never-a-general-surgery_411956.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e0/roberto-azevedo-29614_always_at-the-wto-it-s-never-a-general-surgery_411956.jpg) > “At the WTO, it's never a general surgery. It's always a very specific, clinical, precise surgery - and you can't miss the target. If you miss the target, you kill the patient. It's as simple as that.” [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective trade interventions must be precise; broad actions cause collateral damage. **In simple terms:** Targeted measures avoid harming the whole system. Key Takeaway Focus on precise, evidence‑based policies. Themes trade policy precision risk management global governance Mood pragmatic urgent Type policy strategic When to use this quote - customs enforcement - sanctions - targeted aid programs - disease outbreak response Key Concepts economics regulation public health environmental policy Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms ensure surgical precision in policy? - How to handle unintended consequences? A Different Perspective Precision is hard to achieve in complex systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Clinical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clinical/) [General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general/) [General Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/general-surgery-3671392/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Miss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miss/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Patient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patient/) [Precise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precise/) [Precise Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/precise-surgery-3671393/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Specific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/specific/) [Surgery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery/) [Surgery Miss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery-miss-3671394/) [Surgery Specific](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surgery-specific-3671391/) [Target](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/target/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Wto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wto-209890/) [Wto General](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wto-general-3671390/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) ## Related quotes > [“Leading Change in the General Surgery Unit”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quickcasesolutions/leading-change-in-the-general-surgery-unit/) [quickcasesolutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quickcasesolutions/) > [WTO is not the forum for labour standards. Next, the U.S. will argue the time zone difference is an unfair competitive advantage enjoyed by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jairam-ramesh/wto-is-not-the-forum-for-labour-standards-next-the-u-s-will-argue-the/) [Jairam Ramesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jairam-ramesh/) > [Most of the money that we provide to the WTO is done on a voluntary basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-blinken/most-of-the-money-that-we-provide-to-the-wto-is-done-on-a-voluntary/) [Antony Blinken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-blinken/) > [Canada has always been a strong supporter of China's accession to the WTO... We look forward to playing a constructive role in helping complete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-pettigrew/canada-has-always-been-a-strong-supporter-of-china-s-accession-to-the/) [Pierre Pettigrew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-pettigrew/) > [I've been through WTO riots in Seattle, massive earthquakes, major floods... forest fires. I just try to be as even-keeled and calm as possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-locke/i-ve-been-through-wto-riots-in-seattle-massive-earthquakes-major/) [Gary Locke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-locke/) > [All left-wing activists, whether it be WTO, anti-WTO, or anti-war, are idealistic as framed by the Democratic Media Complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-breitbart/all-left-wing-activists-whether-it-be-wto-anti-wto-or-anti-war-are/) [Andrew Breitbart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-breitbart/) ## More by Roberto Azevedo > [My job is to prioritize multi-lateralism, and that of course interests Brazil, which is a global player. I'm representing 159 members, and one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/my-job-is-to-prioritize-multi-lateralism-and-that-of-course-interests/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [Each blockage is a blockage. Each impasse is an impasse. You have to find a solution; there is no recipe that fits each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/each-blockage-is-a-blockage-each-impasse-is-an-impasse-you-have-to/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [Just having the economy picking up doesn't mean that we will get through or that we will turn the chapter on many of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/just-having-the-economy-picking-up-doesn-t-mean-that-we-will-get/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [In an era of global value chains, worldwide sourcing and the never-ending search for new markets, we must be careful to avoid the proliferation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/in-an-era-of-global-value-chains-worldwide-sourcing-and-the-never/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [One thinks that one is winning when we slap tariffs or introduce barriers to imports from another country, and we think we win. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/one-thinks-that-one-is-winning-when-we-slap-tariffs-or-introduce/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [The best thing we can do to secure the future of the global system, trading system, is to redouble the efforts to improve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/the-best-thing-we-can-do-to-secure-the-future-of-the-global-system/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [Trade liberalization can be contagious, and the opening of markets regionally can spark progress multilaterally as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/trade-liberalization-can-be-contagious-and-the-opening-of-markets/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [I think what helps me is that delegations of all sizes - the small, the medium, the large, the largest - they all have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/i-think-what-helps-me-is-that-delegations-of-all-sizes-the-small-the/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [We have to learn how to work within the limits that are possible, not what is desirable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/we-have-to-learn-how-to-work-within-the-limits-that-are-possible-not/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [Making strong infrastructural reforms, particularly in the area of social security, that's not an appealing prospect for any country or for any political structure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/making-strong-infrastructural-reforms-particularly-in-the-area-of/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [In most negotiations, you can't attribute success or failure in negotiations to one side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/in-most-negotiations-you-can-t-attribute-success-or-failure-in/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [I think educational systems have to be more nimble, have to be more adapted to today's realities where students can go in different directions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/i-think-educational-systems-have-to-be-more-nimble-have-to-be-more/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [New technologies, innovative management, higher productivity, displacements in the labour market, increased migration - these are all provoking major economic, social, and political shifts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/new-technologies-innovative-management-higher-productivity/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [We cannot look backwards. What we have to do is raise our heads, look forward, roll up our sleeves and work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/we-cannot-look-backwards-what-we-have-to-do-is-raise-our-heads-look/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) > [I believe that trade is essential for economic growth and development around the world, but I also believe that trade is imperfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-azevedo/i-believe-that-trade-is-essential-for-economic-growth-and-development/) [Roberto Azevedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) [Explore all 18 Roberto Azevedo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-azevedo/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) [Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "At the WTO, it's never a general surgery. 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