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What
is the WTO? back to top
Read
and download explanations of what the WTO is and does.
Decision-making back to top
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130106131104im_/http://www.wto.org/images/newsite/meeting.jpg)
- Organization
chart
All
WTO members may participate in all councils,
committees, etc, except Appellate Body, Dispute
Settlement panels, Textiles Monitoring Body, and
plurilateral committees.
> Current WTO chairpersons
- Ministerial
conferences
The
WTOs top decision-making body. Meets at
least once every two years.
- General
Council
Top day-to-day decision-making body.
Meets regularly, normally in Geneva.
Membership back to top
- Members
and observers
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130106131104im_/http://www.wto.org/images/newsite/hands.jpg)
- Accessions
How
countries apply to join the WTO, and the current
situation.
- Before
1995: GATT
signatories before the WTO came into being
The countries that had signed the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade by the end of 1994
when the WTO replaced GATT as the organization
overseeing the multilateral trading system.
WTO
Secretariat back to top
-
Secretariat
> Overview
> Mandate
> Work
of Divisions
> Secretariat chart
-
Budget
> Summary 2012 2011 2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
> Contributions by individual members 2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
- Director-General
Biodata,
speeches, statements, and other information on Pascal Lamy. Plus historical information on his
predecessors.
Procurement at the WTO back to top
Assistance
for developing countries back to top
The WTO and
other organizations back to top
Cooperation
between multilateral institutions on global
economic policy-making.
Anniversary
events back to top
Annual
publications back to top
Jobs
in the WTO back to top
Glossary back to top
How
to contact the WTO
back to top
General
enquiries, publications, the website. Also copyright and
trademark statements. |
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Established: 1 January 1995
Created
by: Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-94)
Membership:
countries on
Budget: 196 million
Swiss francs for 2011
Secretariat
staff: 640
Head: Pascal Lamy (Director-General)
Functions:
Administering WTO trade agreements
Forum for trade negotiations
Handling trade disputes
Monitoring national trade policies
Technical assistance and training for
developing countries
Cooperation with other international
organizations |
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