The World Trade Organization
The body that sets and polices the rules of trade between countries; it replaced GATT after the Uruguay Round.
What the paper can ask
- Grew out of the Uruguay Round (1986 to 1994) that reformed GATT.
- 166 members. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the seventh DG, in office since 1 March 2021. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- Ministerial Conferences, held about every two years, are its highest meetings.
Why exams ask
The founding year, headquarters, the GATT link and the latest Ministerial Conference are the usual questions.
The full story
The World Trade Organization (WTO) is the only global body dealing with the rules of trade between nations. It grew out of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), signed in 1947, after the Uruguay Round of negotiations (1986 to 1994). Its agreements, signed and ratified by members, are enforced through a dispute settlement system. The Ministerial Conference, meeting about every two years, is its top decision-making body.
Test yourself
1.The World Trade Organization, successor to GATT, came into being on 1 January of which year?
Correct. The WTO was established on 1 January 1995 under the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement; GATT dated from 1947.
Not quite. The WTO was established on 1 January 1995 under the 1994 Marrakesh Agreement; GATT dated from 1947. It goes into your error book.