The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization that oversees the rules for global trade among nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably, and freely as possible. The WTO operates a global system of trade rules and helps developing countries build their trade capacity. The WTO agreements are essentially contracts that provide the rules for international commerce and bind governments to keep their trade policies within agreed limits. The WTO facilitates trade negotiations among countries by providing a framework to structure the agreements, as well as providing dispute resolution mechanisms. The WTO also produces research based on the impact of the agreements on the economies of the countries involved. The WTO runs special programs to support developing countries by helping them build the capacity to participate in free trade with more developed countries. Finally, the WTO carries out lobbying and outreach across the world as a part of its larger objectives to promote free trade. In summary, the functions of the WTO can be broadly divided into the following categories:

• Facilitating trade negotiations among countries
• Ensuring adherence to commitments in practice
• Creating an international legal framework that ensures the smooth exchange of goods and services among member countries
• Supporting developing countries to participate in free trade with more developed countries
• Lobbying and outreach to promote free trade