The World Trade Organization (WTO) is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It was founded on 1 January 1995, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). The WTO is the international body that regulates global trade rules between nations. It has 164 member countries (as of 2024), including India.
WTO headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
WTO = World Trade Organization; founded 1 January 1995.
WTO replaced GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade).
WTO has 164 member countries; India is a founding member.
Director-General (2021ā): Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Nigeria) ā first woman and first African DG.
NCERT Class 10 Economics Chapter 4 ā Globalisation and the Indian Economy.
Quick Facts:
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full form | World Trade Organization |
| Headquarters | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Founded | 1 January 1995 |
| Replaced | GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) |
| Members | 164 countries (as of 2024) |
| Director-General | Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (since March 2021; Nigeria) |
| Official languages | English, French, Spanish |
| India member since | 1 January 1995 (founding member) |
What Does WTO Do? ā¢ Sets and enforces rules for international trade ā¢ Resolves trade disputes between member countries ā¢ Negotiates trade agreements (trade rounds) ā¢ Promotes free trade and reduces tariffs ā¢ Operates through Ministerial Conference (highest decision body)
History: ā¢ 1947: GATT established after World War II (provisional treaty) ā¢ 1986ā1994: Uruguay Round negotiations (8 years) ā¢ 1 January 1995: WTO formally established (Marrakesh Agreement, 1994) ā¢ WTO replaced GATT, which was not a formal organization
Important WTO Agreements: ā¢ TRIPS ā Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights ā¢ TRIMS ā Trade-Related Investment Measures ā¢ GATS ā General Agreement on Trade in Services ā¢ Doha Development Agenda (2001) ā ongoing negotiations
WTO and India: ā¢ India is a founding member of WTO ā¢ India often advocates for developing nations' interests ā¢ Key issues: agricultural subsidies, public stockholding for food security
Other Important International Organizations and Headquarters:
| Organization | Headquarters |
|---|---|
| WTO | Geneva, Switzerland |
| UN | New York, USA |
| WHO | Geneva, Switzerland |
| IMF | Washington D.C., USA |
| World Bank | Washington D.C., USA |
| ILO | Geneva, Switzerland |
| NATO | Brussels, Belgium |
| SAARC | Kathmandu, Nepal |
NCERT: Class 10 Economics Chapter 4 ā Globalisation and the Indian Economy
The headquarters of WTO (World Trade Organization) is in Geneva, Switzerland. WTO was founded on 1 January 1995, replacing GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade). It has 164 member countries. The current Director-General is Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (since 2021), who is the first woman and first African to hold this post. India is a founding member of WTO.
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