Level 8 of 10: The UN and global treaty bodies

World Trade Organization (WTO)

The World Trade Organization is the only international organisation dealing with the global rules of trade between nations, according to the WTO. Its 166 members negotiate trade agreements, settle trade disputes and review each other's trade policies; the WTO says decisions are typically taken by consensus among all members. Its top body, the Ministerial Conference, includes every member and meets at least once every two years.

Who leads it

• Director-General: Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (since 1 March 2021 (second four-year term from 1 September 2025)) (wto.org)

The UK and the WTO

The WTO says the United Kingdom has been a WTO member since 1 January 1995 and a member of GATT since 1 January 1948. The WTO's 2025 budget table lists the UK's contribution as CHF 7,352,220, or 3.620% of assessed contributions.

Key figures

What it decides

• The Ministerial Conference, made up of all members, meets at least every two years and can take decisions on all matters under the multilateral trade agreements (Marrakesh Agreement, Article IV).
• Decisions are taken by consensus as under GATT 1947; where consensus fails, matters go to a vote with one vote per member (Article IX).
• New members join on terms agreed with the WTO; the Ministerial Conference approves accession by a two-thirds majority (Article XII).
• Any member may withdraw, taking effect six months after written notice to the Director-General (Article XV).
• The WTO lists its functions as administering trade agreements, hosting negotiations, handling trade disputes, monitoring national trade policies and giving technical help to developing countries.

Records you can check

• WTO dispute cases, chronological list
  Every trade dispute brought to the WTO, with status
• WTO budget and member contributions
  Annual WTO budgets and what each member pays
• United Kingdom and the WTO
  UK trade statistics, commitments, disputes as complainant or respondent, and notifications
• Members and observers
  Each member's joining date and trade profile

Common questions

How many countries are in the WTO?

166 members. The WTO says they represent 98 per cent of world trade; members include separate customs territories as well as countries.

Who runs the WTO?

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Director-General. The WTO says she took office on 1 March 2021 and began a second four-year term on 1 September 2025.

How much does the UK pay the WTO?

CHF 7,352,220 in 2025, or 3.620% of members' assessed contributions, according to the WTO's 2025 budget table.

When did the UK join the WTO?

The WTO says the UK has been a member since 1 January 1995, and a member of GATT since 1 January 1948.

How does the WTO make decisions?

By consensus. Article IX of the Marrakesh Agreement says that where consensus cannot be reached, decisions go to a vote with one vote per member.

Other bodies at level 8

• Commonwealth of Nations
• International Court of Justice
• International Criminal Court
• International Labour Organization
• Interpol
• NATO
• UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
• United Nations (General Assembly and Security Council)
• United Nations Children's Fund
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
• United Nations Human Rights Council
• United Nations Security Council
• World Food Programme
• World Health Organization

Sources

• WTO | What is the WTO?, read 20 October 2026
• WTO in brief, read 16 October 2026
• WTO | Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, read 16 October 2026
• WTO | Budget for the year, read 20 October 2026
• WTO Annual Report chapter: Budget, finance and administration (2025 budget), read 20 October 2026
• WTO members' contributions to the consolidated budget 2025, read 20 October 2026
• United Kingdom and the WTO, read 20 October 2026
• Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, read 20 October 2026
• Chronological list of disputes cases, read 20 October 2026