The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that regulates global trade and resolves disputes between member countries. It has 164 member countries and seeks to reduce trade barriers and promote free trade. The WTO helps implement trade agreements, settles disputes between members, and reviews members' economic policies to facilitate international trade.

1. TPOIC : “WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATION”ORGANIZATION”

2. WTO is an international organization, that deals with the rules of
trade between countries, and help trading nations to resolve
disputes.

3. Formation : 1 Jan. 1995
Type : International Trade Organization
Purpose : Reduction of Tariffs and other barriers to trade
Headquarters : Geneva, Switzerland
Region served : Worldwide
Membership : 164 member countries
Official Language : English, French, Spanish
Director-General : Roberto Azevedo
Website : www.wto.org

4. 1. It is an international organization to promote multilateral trade.
2. It has replaced GATT.
3. It promotes free trade by removing tariff and non-tariff barriers in
international trade.
4. It has a set of rules and regulations and it has a legal status. Its rules
and regulations are agreed upon by member nations.
5. Agreements agreed by member-countries are binding on all members5. Agreements agreed by member-countries are binding on all members
of WTO and if any member does not follow such agreements, then its
complaint can be lodged with the Dispute Settlement Body of WTO.
6. It includes trade in goods, trade in services, protection of intellectual
property right rights, foreign investment etc.
7. All the WTO members have equal voting rights (One Country, One
Vote).

5. 1. To implement the new world trade agreements.
2. To promote multilateral trade.
3. To promote free trade by abolishing tariff and non tariff barriers.
4. To promote world trade in a manner that benefits every member
country.
5. To ensure that developing countries get a better share in the
advantages resulting from the expansion of internatinational tradeadvantages resulting from the expansion of internatinational trade
corresponding to their development needs.
6. To remove all hurdles to an open world trading system and use
world trade as an effective instrument to boost economic growth.
7. To enhance competitiveness among all trading partners so as to
benefit consumers.
8. To expand and utilize world resources in the most optimum
manner.
9. To improve the level of living for the global population and speed
up economic development of the member nations.
10. To take special steps for the development of poorest nations.

6. 1. Laying down code of conduct aiming at reducing tariff and non-tariff
barriers in international trade.
2. Implementing WTO agreements and administering the international
trade.
3. Cooperating with IMF and World Bank and its associates for
establishing coordination in Global Trade Policy-Making.
4. Settling trade related disputes among member nations with help of its4. Settling trade related disputes among member nations with help of its
Dispute Settlement Body (DSB).
5. Reviewing trade related economic policies of member countries with
the help of its Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB).
6. Providing technical assistance and guidance related to management
of foreign trade and fiscal policy to its members.

7. •World Trade Organization is a permanent trade organization having
its own secretariat and huge organizational set up.
•The headquarters of WTO are at Geneva in Switzerland.
•Organizational structure of WTO is headed by Ministerial
Conference which meets after every two years.
•General council a permanent organ of WTO works under the policy•General council a permanent organ of WTO works under the policy
framework of Ministerial Conference.
•General Council is assisted by Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) and
Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB).
•Under General Council, various Councils/Working Groups work.
These are Council for Trade in Goods, Council for TRIPs, council for
trade in services, council for Trims, Trade Negotiations Committees
and Working Groups. The organizational structure of WTO is clear
from the following chart.

9. 1) Increase In Export Earnings
2) Agricultural Exports
3) Foreign Investment
4) Removing tariffs
5) It promotes peace

10. •Industrialization and decision making are dominated by developed
countries.
• Developing nations do not have financial resources to participate in
WTO discussions on negotiations.
• Very less attention is given to the development of under developed
countries.
• Rules and regulations cannot be strictly enforced on developed
countries who are members of WTO.