Last updates:

WTO's main activities

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is made of governments and customs territories that set, apply and enforce the global rules for trade between themselves. Both the European Union (EU) and the individual EU countries are members of the WTO.

The WTO's main activities are:

• Being a forum for international trade negotiations (e.g. the Doha Development Round)
• Resolving trade disputes (Dispute Settlement)
• Setting legal rules for trade in the form of trade agreements
• Monitoring members' trade policy through the Trade Policy Review Mechanism
  

The EU's activities

The European Union is a key player in the World Trade Organization (WTO), acting as a single entity representing all its member states in international trade matters. Its involvement is crucial in shaping global trade policies and ensuring a rules-based multilateral trading system.

The European Commission negotiates on behalf of the EU in the WTO, coordinating policies and strategies among member states.

The EU actively contributes to formulating trade rules, addressing issues like market access, trade facilitation, and subsidy regulations. By engaging in disputes, the EU seeks to enforce international trade rules and resolve conflicts amicably. It advocates for trade policies that uphold labor rights and human rights, reflecting its commitment to global ethical standards. It has also put forward proposals to enhance the efficiency of the WTO, including updates to the dispute settlement system and greater transparency measures, and it supports developing countries in building trade capacity, helping them to better integrate into the global trading system.