STRUCTURE OF WTO

 The Structure of the WTO

• The WTO activities are supported by a Secretariat located in Geneva, headed by a Director General. It has a three-tier system of decision making. The WTO’s top level decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference which can take decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements. 
•  The Ministerial Conference meets at least once every two years. The next level is the General Council which meets several times a year at the Geneva headquarters. The General Council also meets as the Trade Policy Review Body and the Dispute Settlement Body.
•  At the next level, the Goods Council, Services Council and Intellectual Property (TRIPS) Council report to the General Council. 
• These councils are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the WTO agreements in their respective areas of specialisation. Numerous specialized committees, working groups and working parties deal with the individual agreements and other areas such as the environment, development, membership applications and regional trade agreements.
• The WTO accounting for about 95% of world trade currently has 164 members, of which 117 are developing countries or separate customs territories accounting for about 95% of world trade. Around 25 others are negotiating membership. The WTO’s agreements have been ratified in all members’ parliaments.