The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1995 to regulate and facilitate international trade. It succeeded the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. As the world's largest international economic organization, it has 166 member states representing over 98% of global trade and GDP.
The WTO is notable for creating a structured system of trade rules and providing a forum for negotiating trade agreements among nations. Its core functions include overseeing implemented trade agreements, settling trade disputes between members, and supporting the needs of developing countries in global trade. This framework aims to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible.
Recently, the WTO has been active in addressing modern trade challenges, as reflected in recent news. This includes committee sessions focused on the role of trade in digital transformation and members reviewing technological standards. The organization has also been involved in adopting new transparency guidance and addressing numerous specific trade concerns raised by its members.
Furthermore, the WTO continues to be a focal point for broader global economic discussions. Recent headlines have covered topics such as coalition-building efforts to reform the global trading system and advocacy from agricultural groups for continued funding of international organizations like the WTO. Accession processes for new members, such as Uzbekistan aligning its domestic programs with WTO requirements, also remain part of the ongoing news coverage.
Latest related news
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- Uzbekistan launches energy-efficiency programme aligned with WTO accession - AnewZ 2025-11-21 21:44 · AnewZ
- A first step in coalition building to reform the global trading system - Bruegel 2025-11-21 21:37 · Bruegel
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