World Trade Organization

Centre William Rappard,
Rue de Lausanne 154,
CH-1211 Geneva 21,
Switzerland.
Tel: (41-22) 739 51 11
Fax: (41-22) 731 42 06
email: enquiries@wto.org
http://www.wto.org/

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world's trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.

Established: 1 January 1995
Created by: Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-94)
Membership: 149 countries (on 11 December 2005)
Budget: 175 million Swiss francs for 2006
Secretariat staff: 635
Head: Pascal Lamy (Director-General)
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