Editing World Trade Organization (section)

==Organizational structure==
[[File:Tenth WTO Ministerial Conference - Day 3 - WTO Trade Facilitation in Action (23781232856).jpg|thumb|The biennial ''[[Ministerial Conference]]'', which is the highest authority of the WTO, brings people together to discuss ideas and concerns, which can lead to new policies or agreements.]]
The highest authority of the WTO is the Ministerial Conference, which must meet at least every two years.<ref name="whosewto">{{cite web |title=Whose WTO is it anyway? |url=https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org1_e.htm |publisher=World Trade Organization |access-date=24 June 2020 |archive-date=4 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704133012/https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org1_e.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The Ministerial Conference met most recently in June 2022 in Geneva.<ref>WTO, [https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news22_e/mc12_17jun22_e.htm WTO members secure unprecedented package of trade outcomes at MC12] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107185918/https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news22_e/mc12_17jun22_e.htm |date=7 January 2023 }}, published 17 June 2022, accessed 9 August 2022</ref>

In between each Ministerial Conference, the daily work is handled by three bodies whose membership is the same; they only differ by the terms of reference under which each body is constituted:<ref name=whosewto/>
* The General Council
* [[Dispute Settlement Body|The Dispute Settlement Body]]
* The Trade Policy Review Body

The General Council, whose Chair as of 2020 is [[David Walker (diplomat)|David Walker]] of New Zealand,<ref name=wtodg/> has the following subsidiary bodies which oversee committees in different areas:

; Council for Trade in Goods: There are 11 committees under the jurisdiction of the Goods Council each with a specific task. All members of the WTO participate in the committees. The Textiles Monitoring Body is separate from the other committees but still under the jurisdiction of the Goods Council. The body has its chairman and only 10 members. The body also has several groups relating to textiles.<ref name="WTO subsidiary bodies">{{cite news|url=http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org1_e.htm#fourth|title=Fourth level: down to the nitty-gritty|publisher=WTO official site|access-date=18 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928232833/http://www.wto.org/English/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org1_e.htm#fourth|archive-date=28 September 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

; Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights: Information on intellectual property in the WTO, news and official records of the activities of the TRIPS Council, and details of the WTO's work with other international organizations in the field.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/intel2_e.htm|title=Intellectual property – overview of TRIPS Agreement|publisher=Wto.org|date=15 April 1994|access-date=30 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706052904/http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/intel2_e.htm|archive-date=6 July 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

; Council for Trade in Services: The Council for Trade in Services operates under the guidance of the General Council and is responsible for overseeing the functioning of the [[General Agreement on Trade in Services]] (GATS). It is open to all WTO members and can create subsidiary bodies as required.<ref name="WTO-Services council">{{cite web|url=http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/s_coun_e.htm|title=The Services Council, its Committees and other subsidiary bodies|publisher=WTO official site|access-date=14 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929143518/http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/serv_e/s_coun_e.htm|archive-date=29 September 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>

;Trade Negotiations Committee: The Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) is the committee that deals with the current trade talks round. The chair is WTO's director-general. {{As of|2012|06}} the committee was tasked with the [[Doha Development Round]].<ref name="WTO-TNC">{{cite web|url=http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/tnc_e.htm|title=The Trade Negotiations Committee|publisher=WTO official site|access-date=14 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051125165156/http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dda_e/tnc_e.htm|archive-date=25 November 2005|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Service Council has three subsidiary bodies: financial services, domestic regulations, GATS rules, and specific commitments.<ref name=" WTO subsidiary bodies"/> The council has several different committees, working groups, and working parties.<ref name="WTO-chart">{{cite web|url=http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org2_e.htm|title=WTO organization chart|publisher=WTO official site|access-date=14 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814144315/http://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org2_e.htm|archive-date=14 August 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> There are committees on the following: Trade and Environment; Trade and Development (Subcommittee on [[Least developed country|Least-Developed Countries]]); [[Regional Trade Agreement]]s; Balance of Payments Restrictions; and Budget, Finance and Administration. There are working parties on the following: Accession. There are working groups on the following: Trade, debt and finance; and Trade and technology transfer.

As of 31 December 2022, the number of WTO staff on a regular budget is 340 women and 283 men.<ref name="WTO 2022-12-31">{{cite web |title=Secretariat and budget overview |website=WTO |date=2022-12-31 |url=https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/secre_e/intro_e.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516060623/https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/secre_e/intro_e.htm |archive-date=2024-05-16 |url-status=live |access-date=2024-06-12}}</ref>