WTO

The WTO
Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Established: 1 January 1995
Created by: Uruguay Round negotiations (1986–94)
Membership: 146 countries (as of April 2003)
Budget: 155 million Swiss francs for 2003
Secretariat staff: 560
Head: Director-General, Supachai Panitchpakdi
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


Understanding
the WTO

3rd edition
Previously published as “Trading into the Future”
August 2003


Fact file
The WTO

Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Established: 1 January 1995
Created by: Uruguay Round negotiations (1986–94)
Membership: 146 countries (on 4 April 2003)
Budget: 154 million Swiss francs for 2003
Secretariat staff: 550
Head: Supachai Panitchpakdi (director-general)

Functions:
• Administering WTO trade...