About
Switzerland
Non-profit & Charity, Public Sector
101-1000
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.
The WTO Secretariat, based in Geneva, has approximately 650 staff. The Secretariat's main duties are to supply technical and professional support to the WTO's councils and committees, to provide technical assistance for developing countries, to monitor developments in world trade, to conduct economic research, to disseminate information on WTO activities to a variety of audiences and to organize ministerial conferences. It also provides legal assistance in the WTO's dispute settlement process and advises governments wishing to join the WTO.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible.
The WTO Secretariat, based in Geneva, has approximately 650 staff. The Secretariat's main duties are to supply technical and professional support to the WTO's councils and committees, to provide technical assistance for developing countries, to monitor developments in world trade, to conduct economic research, to disseminate information on WTO activities to a variety of audiences and to organize ministerial conferences. It also provides legal assistance in the WTO's dispute settlement process and advises governments wishing to join the WTO.
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WTO Public Forum 2024: Better trade for a better world
Since its inception in 1995, the WTO has facilitated rapid global trade expansion, lifting 1.5 billion people out of extreme poverty and creating diverse economic opportunities. Despite these gains, trade benefits are unevenly distributed, exacerbating inequalities and marginalizing underserved communities, including women and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). As the global economy reaches an inflection point, there's a pressing need to re-globalize trade inclusively.