The World Trade Organization (WTO) is{{U}} (1) {{/U}}dealing with the global rules of trade between nations.
It has more than{{U}} (2) {{/U}}, accounting for over 90% of world trade. Over 30 others are negotiating membership.
Decisions are made by the entire membership. This is typically by consensus.{{U}} (3) {{/U}}is also possible but it has never been used in the WTO, and{{U}} (4) {{/U}}under the WTO’ s predecessor, GATT. The WTO’ s agreements have been ratified in all{{U}} (5) {{/U}}.
The WTO’s{{U}} (6) {{/U}}is the Ministerial Conference which meets at least once every two years.
Below this is the{{U}} (7) {{/U}}which meets several times a year in the Geneva headquarters. The General Council also meets as the Trade Policy Review Body and the{{U}} (8) {{/U}}.
At the next level, the Goods Council, Services Council and Intellectual Property Council report to{{U}} (9) {{/U}}.
Numerous specialized committees,{{U}} (10) {{/U}}deal with the individual agreements and other areas such as the environment,{{U}} (11) {{/U}}applications and regional trade agreements.
The WTO Secretariat,{{U}} (12) {{/U}}, has around 500 staff and is headed by a director- general. It does not have{{U}} (13) {{/U}}outside Geneva. Since decisions{{U}} (14) {{/U}}the members themselves, the Secretariat does not have the{{U}} (15) {{/U}}that other international bureaucracies are given.
The Secretariat's{{U}} (16) {{/U}}are to supply technical support for the various councils and committees and the ministerial conferences, to{{U}} (17) {{/U}}for developing countries, to analyze world trade, and to explain WTO affairs to{{U}} (18) {{/U}}. The Secretariat also provides some forms of{{U}} (19) {{/U}}in the dispute settlement process and advises governments wishing to become members of the WTO. The annual budget is{{U}} (20) {{/U}}Swiss francs.