秘书处主要是为WTO的各种常设机构提供日常服务,如为WTO的各种会议提供会务安排,出版秘书处各种文件等。秘书处的经济学家对贸易实绩和贸易政策进行分析;法律专家们起草文件,协助组织会议和谈判,向代表团提供法律咨询,并在涉及WTO规则、程序和先例解释的贸易争端中提供帮助。
二、WTO的运行机制
(一)WTO的加入和退出
1.创始成员方
Original Membership
The contracting parties to GATT 1947 as of the date of entry into force of this Agreement, and the European Communities, which accept this Agreement and the Multilateral Trade Agreements and for which Schedules of Concessions and Commitments are annexed to GATT 1994 and for which Schedules of Specific Commitments are annexed to GATS shall become original Members of the WTO.