The World Trade Organisation (WTO) located in Geneva, Switzerland, succeeded the GATT Secretariat which existed from 1948 - 1994.  The WTO was established on 1 January 1995 following the end of the GATT Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations.  

The World Trade Organisation is the sole multilateral body regulating global trade among its Members. The primary objective of the Organization is the progressive liberalisation of international trade to facilitate the free movement of goods and services.  The WTO currently has a membership of 149 countries, the majority of which are developing countries.

Jamaica became a member of the WTO on 9th March 1995. Jamaica was originally a contracting party of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) having succeeded in 1963 as a result of the colonial relationship with Britain.  Jamaica has participated in multilateral trade negotiations since the GATT Kennedy Round (1963-1994).
 All CARICOM Member States are members of the WTO except the Bahamas and Montserrat.  The Bahamas is an observer and is in the process of acceding to full membership of the Organisation.   Montserrat is a dependent territory of Britain.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has responsibility for the work of the WTO.  

Jamaica’s Permanent Mission in Geneva is accredited to the WTO and the Permanent Representative designate is Ambassador Gail Mathurin .

Contact details for the Permanent Mission of Jamaica in Geneva, Switzerland, are as follows:
36 rue de Lausanne
1201 Geneva
Switzerland
Telephone: (41 22) 9080760
Fax: (41 22) 7384420
Email : mission.jamaica@ties.itu.int