The United Nations created the 1958 Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.
Often called the New York Convention, the treaty was adopted by a United Nations diplomatic conference in New York on 10 June 1958. It requires courts of contracting states to recognize arbitration agreements and, subject to limited exceptions, recognize and enforce foreign arbitral awards.
The convention is a foundation of international commercial arbitration. It helps businesses obtain cross-border enforcement of awards without requiring a separate full trial on the underlying commercial dispute in every country.
The New York Convention is not a WTO agreement and does not govern tariffs or market access. It belongs to the broader legal infrastructure supporting international commerce, alongside trade rules, contract standards and national arbitration laws.