25 years of the WTO
The WTO began life on 1 January 1995, succeeding the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade which had regulated world trade since 1948. Over the past 25 years, the WTO has made a major contribution to the strength and stability of the global economy, helping to boost trade growth, resolve numerous trade disputes and support the integration of developing countries 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.
1997
December
Seventy WTO members reach a multilateral agreement to open their financial services sector.
1999
September
Mike Moore (New Zealand) becomes WTO Director-General.
November
Third Ministerial Conference takes place in Seattle, United States.
2001
November
Fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha, Qatar.
Doha Development Agenda is launched.
China becomes the WTO’s 143rd member.
2002
September
Supachai Panitchpakdi (Thailand) is elected WTO Director-General.
2003
September
2004
July
General Council approves “July 2004 Framework” for advancing Doha Round negotiations.
2005
September
Pascal Lamy (France) becomes WTO Director-General.
December
Sixth Ministerial Conference takes place in Hong Kong, China.
Aid for Trade initiative is launched.
Hong Kong Declaration is approved.
2006
September
2009
April
DG Pascal Lamy reappointed for second term of four years.
September
2011
December
2012
August
Russia becomes the WTO’s 156th member.
2013
September
Roberto Azevêdo (Brazil) takes office as WTO Director-General.
December
Ninth Ministerial Conference takes place in Bali, Indonesia.
“Bali Package” adopted, including the Trade Facilitation Agreement.
2014
April
Revised WTO Agreement on Government Procurement comes into force.
2015
December
Tenth Ministerial Conference takes place in Nairobi, Kenya.
“Nairobi Package” adopted, including abolition of agricultural export subsidies.
Expansion of Information Technology Agreement concluded.
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
Eleventh Ministerial Conference takes place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2018
October
WTO and UN Environment host leadership dialogue on expanding trade's contribution to sustainability.
2019
January
General Council appoints facilitator to help WTO members resolve differences on functioning of Appellate Body.
October
WTO hosts World Cotton Day.
November
Conference marks 30 years of the WTO’s Trade Policy Review Mechanism.
