New
New
What is the UK's role in the World Trade Organization?
I can explain the function of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and how the UK plays a part in this international organisation.
Lesson 3 of 6
New
New
- Year 10
What is the UK's role in the World Trade Organization?
I can explain the function of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and how the UK plays a part in this international organisation.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The WTO ensures fair trade by creating rules, transparency and providing a platform for global discussions.
- The WTO works to prevent trade conflicts by supporting regulation and promoting open, fair trade practices.
- The WTO has 166 members, with the Ministerial Conference at the top and the General Council managing daily operations.
- The UK plays a key role in the WTO by contributing to its budget and shaping fair global trade policies.
Keywords
Trade - the action of buying and selling goods and services
World Trade Organization (WTO) - an international organisation which deals with the global rules of trade between nations
Common misconception
The WTO deals with what we buy and sell other nations. It acts as a regulator.
The WTO does not control specific goods or services we trade. It oversees the rules, policies and agreements that guide trade between countries, ensuring fairness and transparency, and works to prevent conflicts.
Encourage pupils to focus on the WTO’s role in setting rules for trade, rather than specific products, to avoid confusion. It may be helpful to explain that WTO is spelled using the US spelling of 'organisation', so should be styled as such, but the UK spelling should be used in all other instances.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which year was the UN founded?
Which year was the UN founded?
1919
1955
1961
Q2.The UN was created to promote peace and ...
The UN was created to promote peace and ...
Q3.What is one goal of the Commonwealth?
What is one goal of the Commonwealth?
promote war
build nuclear weapons
end free trade
Q4.Who is the current Head of the Commonwealth?
Who is the current Head of the Commonwealth?
Sir Keir Starmer
Antonio Guterres
Joe Biden
Q5.Which organ of the UN does the UK hold a permanent seat at?
Which organ of the UN does the UK hold a permanent seat at?
General Assembly
Sustainable Development Goals Committee
Q6.Match the word to its definition.
Match the word to its definition.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the main purpose of the WTO?
What is the main purpose of the WTO?
to make international trade more difficult
to create new currencies
to protect rich countries
Q2.Match the word to its definition
Match the word to its definition
Q3.How many members are there of the WTO as of 2024?
How many members are there of the WTO as of 2024?
45
100
250
Q4.What does the WTO help settle between countries?
What does the WTO help settle between countries?
Q5.The WTO requires all countries trading rules and practices to have ...
The WTO requires all countries trading rules and practices to have ...
corruption
profits
exploitation
Q6.What does the WTO regulate?
What does the WTO regulate?
what countries can buy and sell from each other
the price of products sold between countries
