World Trade Organization - WTO
The WTO provides a forum for negotiating agreements aimed at reducing obstacles to international trade and ensuring a level playing field for all, thus contributing to economic growth and development. The WTO also provides a legal and institutional framework for the implementation and monitoring of these agreements, as well as for settling disputes arising from their interpretation and application.
267%
Increase in the value of world merchandise trade since the creation of the WTO in 1995 (through 2019)
$118 billion
Potential additional world economic growth resulting from the WTO's 2013 Trade Facilitation Agreement, with developing countries gaining the most
$40 billion
Average annual Aid for Trade commitments from donor countries to support trade-related development programmes
98%
Percentage of global trade covered by the WTO's rules-based system, contributing to stability and predictability in world commerce
Source: WTO
The WTO’s trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) activities aim to help developing countries build their trade capacity so that they can participate more effectively in global trade.
The Technical Assistance Plan aims to help:
- government officials implement WTO agreements and make full use of members' rights
- governments negotiating WTO membership participate in accession negotiations
- members access the most relevant trade information so that they can better enforce their rights and obligations
- members of parliament, journalists and civil society learn more about WTO activities
- students and academic institutions supported by the WTO gain a better understanding of trade policy and WTO subjects.
The aim is to strengthen trade capacity in the following areas:
- trade policy formulation and implementation
- compliance with WTO obligations
- the exercising of WTO rights
- WTO-related trade negotiations.