World Trade Organization (WTO)

Founded in 1995, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is an organization that intends to supervise and liberalize international trade. Its main work revolves around attempting to complete negotiations on the Doha Development Round, launched in 2001, which dresses the needs of developing countries. WTO administers trade agreements covering goods, services and intellectual property. Trade negotiations are based on the principles of non-discrimination, openness, transparency, competition, increased benefits to less developed countries, and environmental protection. The WTO Secretariat is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and consists of over 600 staff and experts who handle trade disputes and conduct regular monitoring to ensure that member countries are correctly applying and enforcing the rules of international trade.