30th anniversary of signing of Marrakesh Agreement

The Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization was signed on 15 April 1994, leading to the birth of the WTO on 1 January 1995. For the past 30 years, the WTO has made a major contribution to the strength and stability of the global economy, helping to boost trade growth, resolve trade disputes and support the integration of developing economies into the trading system.


GATT Director-General Peter Sutherland holding a signed copy of the Marrakesh Agreement.

1994

April

Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO is signed.

WTO building

1995

January

The WTO is born on 1 January.

May

Renato Ruggiero (Italy) takes office as WTO Director-General.

1996

December

WTO holds 1st Ministerial Conference in Singapore

1997

December

Information Technology Agreement (ITA) enters into force, slashing tariffs on IT goods

1998

May

2nd Ministerial Conference in Geneva marks 50 years of the GATT.

1999

September

Mike Moore (New Zealand) becomes WTO Director-General.

November

3rd Ministerial Conference in Seattle, United States, ends with breakdown in negotiations amid public protests.

2000

January

Negotiations begin on services.

March

Negotiations begin on agriculture.

2001

November

4th Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar, sees launch of new round of trade negotiations, known as the Doha Development Agenda

China becomes the WTO’s 143rd member.

2002

September

Supachai Panitchpakdi (Thailand) is elected WTO Director-General.

2003

September

5th Ministerial Conference in Cancún, Mexico, welcomes Cambodia and Nepal as first least-developed countries to join the WTO since its establishment

2004

July

General Council approves “July 2004 Framework” for advancing Doha Round negotiations.

2005

September

Pascal Lamy (France) becomes WTO Director-General.

December

6th Ministerial Conference in Hong Kong, China, sees launch of Aid for Trade initiative.

2006

September

First WTO Public Forum takes place in Geneva.

2007

November

First Global Review of Aid for Trade takes place in Geneva.

2008

July

Ministerial meeting in Geneva attempts to take big step towards conclusion of Doha Round.

November

7th Ministerial Conference in Geneva takes stock of WTO’s contribution to growth.

2009

April

DG Pascal Lamy reappointed for second term of four years.

September

First WTO Open Day in Geneva.

2010

January

“WTO Chairs Programme” launched to support trade-related work of universities in developing economies.

2011

December

Expansion of Government Procurement Agreement agreed at 8th Ministerial Conference in Geneva.

2012

November

Historic signing ends 20 years of EU-Latin American banana dispute, the longest-running dispute in WTO history.

2013

September

Roberto Azevêdo (Brazil) takes office as WTO Director-General.

December

9th Ministerial Conference in Bali, Indonesia, sees conclusion of negotiations on landmark Trade Facilitation Agreement.

2014

April

Revised Government Procurement Agreement enters into force, adding new markets.

2015

December

10th Ministerial Conference results in “Nairobi Package” , including abolition of agricultural export subsidies and expansion of ITA.

2016

November

100th session of Committee on Trade and Development

2017

January

Amendment to the TRIPS Agreement enters into force, easing access to medicines.

February

Trade Facilitation Agreement enters into force.

September

Roberto Azevêdo begins second term as WTO Director-General.

December

11th Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, sees launch of new areas of negotiations.

2018

January

WTO and UN Environment launch new dialogue on using trade to support green growth.

2019

October

WTO hosts inaugural World Cotton Day to highlight central role of cotton in developing economies.

2020

March

WTO launches web portal on COVID-19 and world trade.

2021

February

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala becomes the first African and first woman to become WTO Director-General.

2022

June

12th Ministerial Conference results in unprecedented package of decisions, including landmark Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.

December

First World Trade Congress on Gender takes place at the WTO.

2023

January

Switzerland becomes first member to formally accept Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

December

First-ever “Trade Day”, co-led by the WTO, held at COP28 in Dubai.

2024

February-March

13th Ministerial Conference concludes with series of decisions on various topics, commitment to continue talks.