U.S. Suspends Financial Contributions to WTO, Triggering Administrative Measures

The Trump administration's decision aligns with its 'America First' agenda, raising concerns about the WTO's future operations and global trade governance.

The United States officially halted its financial contributions to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on March 27, 2025, as part of the Trump administration's economic strategy.
This move places the U.S. under the first category of WTO administrative measures, restricting its ability to preside over WTO bodies and access formal documentation.
The U.S. was expected to contribute approximately 11% of the WTO's $232 million 2024 budget, a significant share tied to its global trade volume.
The decision follows previous U.S. actions to weaken the WTO, including blocking appointments to its appeals court in 2019, which undermined its dispute resolution mechanism.
The suspension reflects broader U.S. efforts to reduce funding to international organizations, such as the WHO, and signals a continued retreat from multilateralism.