US Halts WTO Contributions Amid Trump’s Global Spending Review

The United States has paused its contributions to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as part of President Donald Trump’s broader review of funding to international organizations. This move aligns with Trump’s "America First" policy, which has seen the U.S. exit or reduce support for various global institutions it views as misaligned with national interests.

According to three trade sources who spoke to Reuters, the U.S. informed a WTO budget meeting on March 4 that payments to the 2024 and 2025 budgets are on hold pending the outcome of a federal review. The U.S. typically contributes around 11% of the WTO’s annual 205 million Swiss franc ($232 million) budget, proportionate to its share in global trade.

The WTO, headquartered in Geneva, has faced U.S. pushback before. In 2019, Washington blocked new judge appointments to the WTO’s top appeals court, effectively crippling its dispute resolution system. The U.S. accused the Appellate Body of exceeding its authority.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed that Trump signed an executive order directing a review of all U.S. international organization memberships, including the WTO. As of December 2024, U.S. arrears totaled 22.7 million Swiss francs ($25.7 million), placing it in "Category 1 arrears." This status limits its ability to chair WTO bodies or receive official documents.

Despite the funding pause, WTO spokesperson Ismaila Dieng said the organization is managing its resources prudently and has contingency plans in place. Experts, including former U.S. Commerce official William Reinsch, believe the U.S. will eventually settle its dues, noting that Washington has nominated a new WTO ambassador—indicating a continued interest in engagement.

Outstanding member contributions to the WTO now total 38.4 million Swiss francs, with six countries, including the U.S., currently in arrears.