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6 November 2023  
(23-7471) Page: 1/1 
    
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
US gives USD 600,000 to support trade -related capacity -building 
in developing economies  
The United States is contributing USD 600,000 (about CHF 535,000) in 2023 to the WTO’s Global 
Trust Fund to finance training programmes for government officials from developing economies 
and least -developed countries (LDCs). Overall, since 2002, the United States has donated 
approximately CHF 29 million (USD 32 million) to the Global Trust Fund and  the Standards and 
Trade Development Facility.  
 
The donation to the Global Trust Fund will help developing economies and LDCs broaden their 
expertise in WTO matters and enhance their ability to negotiate trade rules at the WTO.  
 
The United States Ambassado r to the WTO, María Pagán, said: "We seek to promote a culture at 
the WTO where members are motivated to share success stories and challenges and where our 
partnerships and dialogues here help open the door to more effective development assistance 
cooperat ion at the national level."  
 
WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala said: "The United States has long supported the WTO 
Secretariat's work to build the capacity of government officials from developing economies to 
participate effectively in the multilate ral trading system and help convert international trade 
opportunities into improved lives and livelihoods for people in their home countries. We are 
grateful for this new contribution to the Global Trust Fund, which is vital to maintain our technical 
assistance efforts."  
 
Close to 2,800 activities have been organised under this fund over more than 20 years.  
 
 
END 