Institutions and decision making:

The highest decision making body in the WTO is the ministerial conference that meets at least once in two years. So far, these conferences have been held in Singapore (1996), Geneva (1998), Seattle (1999), Doha  (2001), Cancun (2003) and Hong Kong (2005).

In  between  the ministerial conferences,  the hctions of the ministerial conference are conducted by the General Council. There  are  councils for  specific areas: Council for Trade in Goods  for  the implementation of agreements on goods, Council for Trade  in Services  for implementation of  the GATS and Council  for TRIPS  for implementation of the Agreement on TRIPS.

The Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) operates the DSU, as mentioned earlier. All countries in the WTO are members of all these bodies.

Decisions  are generally taken  in the WTO by consensus, which has been specifically defined. A decision will be deemed  to be made by consensus  "if no Member, present at  the meeting when the decision is being taken, formally objects to the proposed decision".  If consensus  is not possible, the decision is to  be taken by  voting. There  is  the system of one-country-one-vote and decision generally by majority. For very special purposes, higher majority is prescribed. For example, a decision on interpretation of an agreement or on waivers of an obligation needs  three-fourths majority. Amendments require two-thirds majority or in some matters acceptance by all countries.