Another Officer.
A revealing report by Reuters, citing three commercial sources, says the US has “frozen” funding to the World Trade Organization.
Specifically, during a meeting on the WTO budget on March 4, an US official said that payments for 2024 and 2025 are waiting for the contributions of contributions to international organizations and that the US would inform the Organization of the result.
Another official, with knowledge of the matter, confirmed to Reuters that two payments were pending and said the WTO was working on a “plan B” in the event of a prolonged funding cessation, without giving further clarification.
Officials called for confidentiality because the budget meeting was private and the US funding cessation has not been officially announced.
What did WTO representative report
WTO spokesman Ismail Dieng said US contributions had been launched, but “were entangled in the cessation of all payments to international organizations”.
“Generally, delays can affect WTO’s operational capacity. But the Agency continues to manage its resources wisely and has plans that will allow it to operate despite any delays, “she said, referring to further questions to the US authorities.
What do the rules of the organization predict
By the end of December 2024, the United States had overdue debts of $ 22.7 million ($ 25.70 million), according to a WTO document that was held by Reuters with the mark “Restricted” and dated 21 February.
According to the WTO rules, any member who does not pay his subscriptions after more than a year is subject to “administrative measures” – these measures are progressively becoming more and more strictly, the longer the fees remain unpaid.
The country is now ranked in the first of three such categories, confirmed two of the commercial sources in Reuters, which means that its representatives can no longer chair in WTO organs, nor receive official documents.
What a State Department spokesman reported
A State Department spokesman said Trump signed an executive decree last month ordered by Foreign Minister Marco Rubio to re -examine within 180 days all international organizations in which the US is “to find out if they are in the US.”
“The funding of the WTO, along with other international organizations, is currently under review,” the spokesman said.
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