Minesterial Conferences

Ministerial Conference is the topmost body of the WTO. It consists of the representatives of all member states. It is authorized to undertake the measures which are necessary for the functioning of the Organization and to make decisions on all matters governed by the multilateral trade agreements. Meetings of the Ministerial Conference are held at least once in two years and the decisions are made by a consensus.

In accordance with the provisions of the Agreement Establishing the WTO, the General Council, which manages the work of the Organization, takes a significant place in the organizational structure and makes decisions within the guidelines set by the Ministerial Conference. It meets regularly, usually once in two months. General Council is in charge for the functioning of the WTO in the periods between the two Ministerial conference meetings, acting on its behalf and answering for its work.

First Ministerial Conference was held in Singapore, from 9 to 13 December 1996. The documents adopted at the meeting could be found here 

Second Ministerial Conference was held in Geneva, from 18 to 20 May 1998. The documents adopted at the meeting could be found here 

Third Ministerial Conference was held in Seattle, from November 30 to December 3, 1999. The documents adopted at the meeting could be found here 

Forth Ministerial Conference was held in Doha, from 9 to 13 November 2001. The documents adopted at the meeting could be found here 

Fifth Ministerial Conference was held in Cancun, 10-14 September 2003. The documents adopted at the meeting could be found here 

Sixth Ministerial Conference was held in Hong Kong, 13-18 December 2005. The documents adopted at the meeting could be found here 

Seventh Ministerial Conference was held in Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009. The documents adopted at the meeting could be found here 

Eight Ministerial Conference was held in Geneva, 15-17 December 2011. The documents adopted at the meeting could be found here 

Ninth Ministerial Conference was held at Bali, 3-6 December 2013. The documents adopted at the meeting could be found here 

Tenth Ministerial Conference was held at Nairobi, 15-19 December 2015. The documents adopted at the meeting, as well as “Nairobi package” could be found here 

Eleventh Ministerial Conference was held in Buenos Aires, 10-13 December 2017. The documents adopted at the meeting could be found here 

Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference, after being postponed twice due to the situation with the COVID-19 virus (first term from 8 to 11 June 2021 in Astana-Kazakhstan and second term from 30 November to 3 December 2021 in Geneva-Switzerland ), will be held from 12 to 15 June 2022 in Geneva.