World Trade Organization: 166 members, headquartered in Geneva, created by the Uruguay Round

International International organisation Economy & Banking

World Trade Organization: 166 members, headquartered in Geneva, created by the Uruguay Round

Background

The WTO has 166 members, accounting for 98% of world trade, and its headquarters is in Geneva, Switzerland.
It was established on 1 January 1995 and was created by the Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-94).
The WTO is run by its member governments; decisions are normally taken by consensus.
Its main decision-making body is the Ministerial Conference, which meets usually every two years.
Below it is the General Council, which meets several times a year in Geneva and also sits as the Dispute Settlement Body and the Trade Policy Review Body.
Its functions include administering WTO trade agreements, serving as a forum for trade negotiations, handling trade disputes and monitoring national trade policies; its working languages are English, French and Spanish.

Members: 166 Share of world trade: 98% Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland Established: 1 January 1995 Created by: Uruguay Round negotiations (1986-94)

Why it matters for exams: The WTO's membership, structure and origin in the Uruguay Round are frequent international organisations questions in UPSC and PSC papers.

Kerala PSCUPSC

13 October 2026 Source: World Trade Organization

In plain words

Ministerial Conference WTO's main decision-making body — It meets usually every two years.

Dispute Settlement Body General Council in its dispute role — The General Council meets as this body to oversee procedures for settling disputes between members.