The United States has stopped its contributions to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to reduce government spending.
A U.S. delegate told a WTO budget meeting on March 4 that payments for 2024 and 2025 are on hold. The country is reviewing its contributions to international organizations. The U.S. will announce its decision at a later date.
The Trump administration has pulled back from several global institutions, arguing that they do not align with U.S. interests. The White House has already announced plans to exit the World Health Organization (WHO) and cut funding to other international bodies.
The WTO has been weakened since 2019 when the U.S. blocked the appointment of new judges to its appeals court. This left the dispute resolution system partially functional. Washington has long accused the WTO Appellate Body of overstepping its authority in trade disputes.
The Geneva-based WTO operates on a budget of 205 million Swiss francs ($232 million) in 2024. The US was expected to contribute about 11% of the total. Payments are based on a country’s share of global trade.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed that last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review all U.S. memberships in international organizations.
The review will take 180 days and will determine whether these groups align with U.S. economic and political goals.
As of now, the White House has not commented on the decision to suspend WTO payments. It remains unclear whether the U.S. will resume funding or withdraw from the organization entirely.
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