World Trade Organization
Structure and Ministerial Conference
The WTO, established on 1 January 1995 as the successor to GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, 1947), is the principal multilateral body governing international trade rules among its 166 members. Its Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body, convening at least once every two years, and has authority to take decisions on all matters under the WTO's multilateral trade agreements. Previous conferences were held in Abu Dhabi (MC13, 2024) and Geneva (MC12, 2022).
- WTO established: 1 January 1995 (Marrakesh Agreement, 1994)
- Ministerial Conference meets at least once every two years
- Dispute settlement handled by the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB), which operates via panels and the Appellate Body
- At MC12 (2022), WTO members committed to having a fully functioning dispute settlement system by 2024
- MC14 (2026) held in Yaounde, Cameroon — the first MC in Sub-Saharan Africa
● Tracked since March 30, 2026 · last seen April 05, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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