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	home > the wto The WTO Information about the institution. The WTO is a rules-based, member-driven organization — all decisions are made by the member governments, and the rules are the outcome of negotiations among members.   What is the WTO?  back to top Read and download explanations of what the WTO is and does. Decision-making  back to top Organization chart All WTO members may participate in all councils, committees, etc, except Appellate Body, Dispute Settlement panels, Textiles Monitoring Body, and plurilateral committees. > Current WTO chairpersons    Ministerial conferences The WTO’s top decision-making body. Meets at least once every two years.    General Council Top day-to-day decision-making body. Meets regularly, normally in Geneva. Membership  back to top Members and observers    Accessions  How countries apply to join the WTO, and the current situation.   Before 1995: GATT signatories before the WTO came into being The countries that had signed the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade by the end of 1994 when the WTO replaced GATT as the organization overseeing the multilateral trading system. WTO Secretariat  back to top Secretariat > Overview   > Mandate   > Work of Divisions   > Secretariat chart   Budget> Summary  2012   2011   2010   2009   2008   2007   2006   2005  2004   2003   2002   2001 > Contributions by individual members   2011   2010   2009   2008  2007   2006   2005   2004   2003   2002   2001    Director-GeneralBiodata, speeches, statements, and other information on Pascal Lamy. Plus historical information on his predecessors. Deputy Directors-General    The WTO building: Centre William Rappard > Brochure (pdf format; 48 pages, 1198KB; opens in a new window)    Guided tours of Centre William Rappard   Procurement at the WTO  back to top    Assistance for developing countries  back to top Building trade capacity    The WTO and other organizations  back to top Cooperation between multilateral institutions on global economic policy-making. Anniversary events  back to top 80th anniversary of the CWR 10th anniversary of the WTO 50th anniversary of the GATT/WTO    Annual publications  back to top WTO Annual Reports World Trade Report International Trade Statistics Jobs in the WTO  back to top Vacancies WTO internship programme    Glossary  back to top How to contact the WTO  back to top General enquiries, publications, the website. Also copyright and trademark statements.  FACT FILE    Location:Geneva, Switzerland Established:1 January 1995 Created by: Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-94)   Membership: 159 countries on 2 March 2013 Budget: 196 million Swiss francs for 2011 Secretariat staff: 640 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

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