US suspends Financial Contribution to WTO

The United States has suspended its financial contributions to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as President Donald Trump’s administration intensifies efforts to cut government spending.

The move aligns with Trump’s “America First” economic policies, which have seen his administration retreat from global institutions perceived as opposing US interests. While some organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), are being abandoned entirely, contributions to others are being reviewed as part of a broader federal spending assessment.

The WTO has already faced significant setbacks due to a US decision in 2019 to block new judge appointments to its top appeals court, leaving its dispute settlement system only partially functional. Washington has accused the WTO Appellate Body of overstepping its mandate in trade disputes.

According to WTO records, the organization’s annual budget in 2024 stood at 205 million Swiss francs ($232.06 million), with the US expected to contribute about 11% based on its share of global trade. However, on March 4, a US delegate informed a WTO budget meeting that payments for the 2024 and 2025 budgets were on hold pending a review of contributions to international organizations.

The White House has yet to comment on the development, but a State Department spokesperson confirmed that Trump recently signed an executive order directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review all international organizations the US belongs to within 180 days to determine if they align with American interests.