WTO Secretariat

The WTO Secretariat is based in Geneva. It has 639 staff on the regular budget and is headed by Director-General Pascal Lamy, whose term of office ends on 31 August 2013. The Secretariat has no decision-making powers as all decisions in the WTO are taken by members. The selection process for a new Director-General began at the end of 2012, with nine candidates being nominated by their respective governments.