The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that deals with the rules of

trade between nations. It was established in 1995 to replace the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade (GATT). The organizational structure of the WTO consists of three main bodies: the Ministerial
Conference, the General Council, and the Secretariat.

Ministerial Conference:
The Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the WTO, and it meets at least
once every two years. The conference brings together trade ministers from all WTO member
countries to discuss and make decisions on trade-related issues.

General Council:
The General Council is responsible for overseeing the functioning of the WTO and acts as a forum for
member countries to discuss and negotiate trade-related issues. The Council meets regularly
throughout the year and is responsible for monitoring the implementation of WTO agreements,
settling disputes, and making decisions on accession of new members.

Secretariat:
The Secretariat is the administrative arm of the WTO and is responsible for providing technical and
legal support to the other bodies. It is headed by the Director-General, who is appointed by the
member countries for a term of four years. The Secretariat also provides assistance to developing
countries and facilitates technical cooperation and training programs.

The functions of the WTO include:

Administering WTO trade agreements:
The WTO administers the rules of trade between its member countries, which include over 160
countries. It oversees the implementation of trade agreements and provides a forum for negotiation
and dispute settlement.

Providing a forum for trade negotiations:

The WTO provides a platform for member countries to negotiate new trade agreements and to
update and expand existing ones. It aims to liberalize trade and reduce barriers to trade in goods
and services.

Monitoring national trade policies:

The WTO monitors the trade policies of its member countries and encourages transparency and
compliance with international trade rules.

Providing technical assistance and training:

The WTO provides technical assistance and training to help member countries build their capacity to
participate effectively in the multilateral trading system. It also provides assistance to developing
countries to help them integrate into the global trading system.

Cooperating with other international organizations:

The WTO works closely with other international organizations, such as the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, to promote economic development and growth. It also works with
regional trade organizations to promote regional integration and trade liberalization.