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THE WTO:
SECRETARIAT AND BUDGET Divisions The WTO Secretariat is organized into divisions with functional, information and liaison and support roles. Divisions are normally headed by a Director who reports to a Deputy-Director General or directly to the Director General. |
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Accessions Division
The work of the division is to facilitate the negotiations between WTO
Members and states and entities requesting accession to the WTO by
encouraging their integration into the multilateral trading system
through the effective liberalization of their trade regimes in goods
and services; and to act as a focal point in widening the scope and
geographical coverage of the WTO. There are at present nearly 30
accession working parties in operation The division handles all matters related to the ongoing negotiations on agriculture. Furthermore, the division provides support in the implementation of the existing WTO rules and commitments on agriculture, including by ensuring that the process for multilaterally reviewing these commitments by the Committee on Agriculture is organized and conducted in an efficient manner. The work of the division encompasses to facilitate implementation of the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, including by servicing the SPS Committee. Other activities of the division include support for the implementation of the Ministerial Decision on Measures Concerning the Possible Negative Effects of the Reform Programme on Least-Developed and Net Food-Importing Developing Countries; dealing with matters related to trade in fisheries and forestry products as well as natural resource-based products; providing services for dispute settlement in the area of agriculture and SPS; providing technical assistance in all areas under its purview; and cooperation with other international organizations and the private sector. The division provides support for sessions of the Ministerial Conference, in the work of the General Council, the Dispute Settlement Body, and the Trade Negotiations Committee. It is responsible for the preparation and servicing of relevant meetings and consultations between ministerial sessions, for preparation of Basic Instruments and Selected Documents (BISD) supplements and for derestriction of documents.
The Development Division is the focal point for all developmental
policy issues and assists senior management and the Secretariat as a
whole on issues relating to the participation of developing countries,
including the least-developed among them, in the multilateral trading
system. The division services the Committee on Trade and Development
in regular session, as well as its dedicated sessions on small
economies and its special sessions on special and differential
treatment, as well as the newly constituted Working Group on Trade and
Transfer of Technology. It services the Sub-Committee on LDCs. It is
also responsible for the Integrated Framework (IF), holds its
secretariat and is responsible for its management structure such as
the Integrated Framework Working Group (IFWG) and the Integrated
Framework Steering Committee (IFSC). Doha Development Agenda Special Duties Division The DDA/SDD is responsible for the development assistance aspects of the cotton issue. It is also responsible for other DDA development-related substantive issues as directed by the Director-General for the purpose of assisting positive progress in the period leading up to the Hong Kong Ministerial (December, 2005). The division undertakes assignments, as determined by the Director-General, on selected issues relating to membership groups such as the G-90 and the African Group. The division works in close cooperation with the relevant Deputy Directors-General and Directors of existing operational divisions on a range of development-oriented issues and specific assignments. The purpose is to achieve an enhanced and sharper focus on the range of specific development issues through “a more direct engagement by the Office of the Director-General”, to which the division directly reports. The division provides economic analysis and research in support of the WTO’s operational activities, including monitoring and reporting on current economic news and developments. It carries out economic research on broader policy-related topics in connection with the WTO’s work programme, as well as on other WTO-related topics of interest to delegations arising from the on-going integration of the world economy, the spread of market-oriented reforms, and the increased importance of economic issues in relations between countries. The division contributes to regularly scheduled annual publications, including the World Trade Report. Other major activities include work related to cooperation with other international organizations and the academic community through conferences, seminars and courses; preparation of special research projects on policy-related topics in the area of international trade; preparation of briefings to senior management. On the statistics side, the division supports WTO Members and the Secretariat with quantitative information in relation to economic and trade policy issues. The division is the principal supplier of WTO trade statistics through the annual “International Trade Statistics” report and Internet and Intranet sites. The division is responsible for the maintenance and development of the Integrated Data Base which supports the Market Access Committee’s information requirements in relation to tariffs. The division’s statisticians also provide Members with technical assistance in relation to the Integrated Data Base. And finally, the division plays an active role in strengthening cooperation and collaboration between international organizations in the field of merchandise and trade in services statistics, and in ensuring that WTO requirements in respect to the concepts and standards underpinning the international statistical system are met. The WTO Library supports WTO activities and research through its print and electronic collection of documents; provision of an online public access catalogue; bibliographic reference services including Internet research; inter-library loans; depository for national statistics from Member and non-Member countries as well as specific product statistics; depository of GATT/WTO documents and publications; printed archives of the WTO. The Institute’s mission is to contribute to the fuller participation of beneficiary countries in the multilateral trading system through human resource development, institutional capacity building, and increased public awareness of the multilateral trading system. It delivers technical cooperation and training through activities including: advisory missions; seminars and workshops on a country or regional basis, and/or technical notes on issues of interest to beneficiary countries; trade policy courses; training of trainers; outreach activities with universities; and internet based training activities. The aim is to develop better understanding of WTO rights and obligations, adaptation of national legislation and increased participation of these countries in the multilateral decision-making process. Legal advice is also made available under Article 27.2 of the DSU. Related activities include establishing and supporting WTO Reference Centres with Internet connectivity and with training provided on how to track down trade-related sources on the Internet, particularly the WTO website; and how to use information technology tools to meet notification requirements. The Institute manages trust funds provided by individual donor countries for the purpose of training and technical cooperation. The division provides service to the TRIPS Council and to dispute settlement panels; service to any negotiations that may be launched on intellectual property matters; provides assistance to WTO Members through technical cooperation, in particular in conjunction with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and through the provision of information/advice more generally; maintains and develops lines of communication with other intergovernmental organizations, the NGO community, intellectual property practitioners and the academic community so that they have an adequate understanding of the TRIPS Agreement and of the WTO processes. In the area of competition policy it provides service to work in the WTO on the interaction between trade and competition policy; provides technical cooperation, in conjunction with UNCTAD and other intergovernmental organizations, and information/advice more generally to WTO Members. In the area of government procurement the division provides service to work in the WTO on transparency in government procurement; provides service to the Committee established under the plurilateral Agreement on Government Procurement and to dispute settlement panels that may arise; provides technical cooperation and information/advice more generally to WTO Members.
The principal mission of the Legal Affairs Division is to provide
legal advice and information to WTO dispute settlement panels, other
WTO bodies, WTO Members and the WTO Secretariat. The division’s
responsibilities include providing timely secretarial and technical
support and assistance on legal, historical and procedural aspects of
disputes to WTO dispute settlement panels; providing regular legal
advice to the Secretariat, and in particular to the Dispute Settlement
Body and its Chairman, on interpretation of the Dispute Settlement
Understanding (DSU), WTO agreements and on other legal issues;
providing legal information to WTO Members on the DSU and WTO
agreements; providing legal support in respect of accessions;
providing training in respect of dispute settlement procedures and on
WTO legal issues through special courses on dispute settlement,
regular WTO training courses and WTO technical cooperation missions;
attend meetings of other organizations with WTO-related activities
(e.g., IMF, OECD, Energy Charter). Market Access Division The division works with the following WTO bodies: Council for Trade in Goods: oversees the multilateral trade agreements and ministerial decisions covering the goods sector and takes actions on the issues raised by the various committees which report to it. Servicing the Council includes the organization of formal meetings. The division also arranges informal meetings/consultations prior to formal meetings. Committee on Market Access: supervises the implementation of concessions relating to tariffs and non-tariff measures; provides a forum for consultation on matters relating to tariffs and non-tariff measures; oversees the application of procedures for modification or withdrawal of tariff concessions; ensures that WTO Schedules are kept up-to-date, and that modifications, including those resulting from changes in tariff nomenclature, are reflected; conducts the updating and analysis of the documentation on quantitative restrictions and other non-tariff measures, in accordance with the timetable and procedures agreed by the GATT CONTRACTING PARTIES in 1984 and 1985 (BISD 31S/227 and 228, and BISD 32S/92 and 93); oversees the content and operation of, and access to, the Integrated Data Base and will do the same for the future Consolidated Tariff Schedules Database. Committee on Customs Valuation: Monitor and review annually the implementation of the Customs Valuation Agreement; provide service to the Committee on Customs Valuation; organizing, managing the WTO programme for technical assistance on customs valuation for developing countries that have invoked the five-year delay; cooperating with the World Customs Organization Secretariat on providing technical assistance to developing countries having requested a five-year delay in the implementation of the Agreement. Committee on Rules of Origin: carrying out the harmonization work programme on non-preferential rules of origin; provide service to the Committee on Rules of Origin; providing information and advice to delegations, private parties and other divisions in the Secretariat on matters relating to rules of origin. Committee on Import Licensing: Monitoring and reviewing the implementation and operation of the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures; providing information and advice to acceding countries, delegations, private parties and other divisions in the Secretariat on matters relating to import licensing. Committee of Participants on the Expansion of Trade in Information Technology Products (ITA): providing technical assistance and information to acceding participants; review the implementation of the ITA; continue the work, technical and otherwise, with respect to non-tariff barriers and classification issues; for review of product coverage (ITAII); provide continuing support for the negotiations and the follow-up if necessary.. The role of the division is to ensure the smooth functioning of all WTO bodies serviced by the division. This includes facilitating new and on-going negotiations and consultations, monitoring implementation of the WTO Agreements in the area of anti-dumping, subsidies and countervailing measures, safeguards, state-trading and civil aircraft and actively assisting in their implementation; providing all necessary implementation assistance, counselling and expert advice to Members concerning the above agreements; providing secretaries and legal officers to WTO dispute settlement panels involving the rules-area agreements; and active participation in the WTO technical assistance programme. The bodies serviced by the Rules Division are: Committee on Anti-Dumping Practices, Committee on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, Committee on Safeguards, Committee on Trade in Civil Aircraft, Working Party on State-Trading Enterprises, Informal Group of Experts on the Calculations of Subsidies under Article 6.1 of the Subsidies Agreement, Permanent Group of Experts, Informal Group on Anti-Circumvention, Working Group on Implementation of the Agreement on Anti-Dumping and Working Group on Trade and Competition (co-secretary). Its responsibility is to ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of all forms of technical assistance provided by the WTO.
The division provides service and support to WTO committees dealing
with trade and environment and technical barriers to trade. For Trade
and Environment, it supports the work of the Committee on Trade and
Environment (CTE) by providing technical assistance to WTO Members;
reporting to senior management and WTO Members on discussions in other
intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), including negotiation and
implementation of trade-related measures in multilateral environmental
agreements. The division maintains contacts and dialogue with NGOs and
the private sector on issues of mutual interest in the area of trade
and environment. The division services the needs of WTO Members and WTO management in supporting the work of the Committees on Balance-of-Payment Restrictions and on Trade-Related Investment Measures, the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation, the Working Groups on Trade, Debt and Finance and on Trade and Investment, and General Council meetings on Coherence in Global Economic Policy-making . The Division is responsible for overseeing the cooperation agreements between the WTO and the Bretton Woods Institutions (IMF and the World Bank). The division contributes to the work of dispute panels addressing matters falling under its responsibility and provides technical assistance and expert advice to Members in Geneva and in capitals.
The Services Division provides support for the new round of services
negotiations underway since 2000 . It also continues to provide
support for the Council for Trade in Services and other bodies
established under the GATS including the Committee on Financial
Services; the Working Party on Domestic Regulation; disciplines under
Article VI:4; the Working Party on GATS Rules; disciplines relating to
safeguards, subsidies, government procurement; the Committee on
Specific Commitments; any additional bodies set up under the Council;
any dispute settlement panels involving services. The principal task of the TPR Division is, pursuant to Annex 3 of the WTO Agreement, to prepare reports for meetings of the Trade Policy Review Body (TPRB), at which reviews of Members are carried out. The division provides a secretariat for the TPRB meetings. The division also prepares the Director-General’s Annual Overview of trade policy developments. The division also supports the work of the Committee on Regional Trade Agreements.
Information and liaison divisions back to top External Relations Division The division is the focal point for relations with Non-Governmental Organizations, International Intergovernmental Organizations, with parliaments and parliamentarians. It also carries out responsibilities in regard to protocol and the maintenance of the WTO registry of documents. Its principle activities are to organize and develop dialogue with civil society and its various components; to maintain liaison with the UN system, and in particular with UN New York HQ and with UNCTAD and the ITC. The division maintains liaison with OECD, particularly with the Trade Directorate regarding substantive issues. The division acts as the focal point in the Secretariat to ensure coordination of attendance at relevant meetings, attends meetings on behalf of the WTO and delivers lectures and speeches. It is also in charge of official relations with Members including host country and protocol matters in close liaison with the Office of the Director-General and it maintains the WTO Directory. As mandated by Member Governments the focus of the division is to use all the means at its disposal to better inform the public about the World Trade Organization. The division offers the public clear and concise information through frequent and regular press contact, a wide range of relevant publications and an extensive Internet service. Its work includes providing publications which delegations and the public deem necessary to their understanding of trade and the WTO. The Internet is an important vehicle for distributing WTO information. The “Newsroom” feature on the WTO website (www.wto.org) is accessible by journalists from around the world, while the main Internet site is accessed by an average of one million individual users every month from more than 170 countries. Webcasting on the Internet is used to increase public access to special events such as ministerial meetings and symposia.
Administration and General Services Division Its work focuses on ensuring the efficient functioning of services in (a) all financial matters, including budget preparation and control, accounting, and payroll, (b) logistical issues related to the physical facilities, and (c) missions and other travel arrangements. This includes monitoring the decentralized budget as well as the Extra-budgetary Funds and providing timely information to divisions; ensuring the administrative functioning of the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration; managing the WTO-specific pension arrangements; providing information to senior management; and assisting the host country in the preparation of WTO Ministerial Conferences. The division is responsible for human resources management of over 700 WTO staff members (regular and temporary) in its Geneva-based Secretariat. The responsibilities span division restructuring, performance management, including development and training, workforce planning, recruitment and selection, as well as career management (internal career mobility, transitions and exit); and management of staff benefits and entitlements. Its objective is to respond to the evolving needs of the WTO, aligning its workforce and providing strategic advisory services to the staff and to WTO Members. The division ensures the efficient operation of the
information technology (IT) infrastructure as well as the necessary
support to cover the information technology needs of Members and
Secretariat. This includes implementation of the IT security policy. The
division works to constantly enhance IT services and procedures to
better facilitate dissemination of WTO information to Members and the
public through the Internet and specialized databases. The division provides a range of language and documentation services to Members and to the Secretariat, including translation, documentation, printing and related tasks. The advent of the Internet has provided the Secretariat with a powerful vehicle to disseminate its documentation. The vast majority of people consulting WTO’s homepage visit the LSDD’s documentation facilities. Consultation is growing at a rate of 15% per month. LSDD ensures WTO documents, publications and electronic materials are available to the public and to Members in the three WTO working languages — English, French and Spanish.
WTO Appellate Body and its Secretariat back to top The WTO Appellate Body The Appellate Body was established pursuant to the Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (the “DSU”), which is contained in Annex 2 to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. The function of the Appellate Body is to hear appeals arising from panel reports pursuant to Article17 of the DSU. The Appellate Body comprises seven members, recognized authorities in law, international trade and the WTO agreements generally, who reside in different parts of the world and are required to be available at all times and on short notice to hear appeals. Individual members of the Appellate Body are sometimes called upon to act as arbitrators under Article 21 of the DSU.
Distribution of staff positions within the WTO's various divisions (2007) back to top
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