The World Trade Organization — the international body that makes and looks after the rules for trade between countries. Most of the world's countries are members.

The World Trade Organization世界貿易組織——the international body that makes and looks after the rules for trade between countries是負責制定並維護國家間貿易規則的國際組織。 Most of the world's countries世界上大多數國家 are members都是會員。

Two things it does matter most. First, it sets rules the members agree to follow, such as limits on the taxes (tariffs) a country can put on goods coming in, and a promise to treat goods from all member countries by the same standard. Second, it settles arguments: when country A believes country B is breaking the rules, the case goes to the WTO, and if A wins, A may be allowed to hit back with taxes of its own.

Two things it does它做的事情裡 matter most最重要的有兩件。 First第一，it sets rules the members agree to follow它訂定會員都同意遵守的規則，such as limits on the taxes (tariffs) a country can put on goods coming in例如限制一個國家能對進口商品課多少稅（關稅），and a promise to treat goods from all member countries by the same standard以及承諾用同樣的標準對待所有會員國的商品。 Second第二，it settles arguments它負責排解爭端：when country A believes country B is breaking the rules當A國認為B國違反規則時，the case goes to the WTO案子就會送到WTO，and if A wins如果A國勝訴，A may be allowed to hit back with taxes of its own A國就可能被允許用自己的稅來反制。

It grew out of an older agreement called GATT and began in 1995, with its offices in Geneva, Switzerland.

It它 grew out of an older agreement called GATT是從一個叫GATT的舊協定發展而來的，and began in 1995於1995年成立，with its offices in Geneva, Switzerland總部設在瑞士日內瓦。

In English you almost always say 'the WTO', with 'the', and you say the three letters separately. In news writing it is often used as a noun standing for the whole rule-system: 'WTO rules', 'a WTO ruling', 'to join the WTO'.

In English在英文裡，you almost always say 'the WTO', with 'the'幾乎都會加the說the WTO，and you say the three letters separately而且這三個字母要分開唸。 In news writing在新聞寫作裡，it is often used as a noun standing for the whole rule-system它常被當成代表整套規則體系的名詞使用：'WTO rules'WTO規則、'a WTO ruling'一則WTO裁決、'to join the WTO'加入WTO。

This is a live topic in Taiwan, because Taiwan is a member — it joined in 2002, under the name 'Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu', usually shortened in the press to Chinese Taipei. That is worth knowing, because it explains why Taiwanese news uses the name so often.

This is a live topic in Taiwan這在台灣是個很受關注的話題，because Taiwan is a member因為台灣是會員——it joined in 2002在2002年加入的，under the name 'Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu'當時用的名稱是「台澎金馬個別關稅領域」，usually shortened in the press to Chinese Taipei新聞上通常簡稱中華台北。 That is worth knowing這點值得知道，because it explains why Taiwanese news uses the name so often因為這解釋了為什麼台灣新聞這麼常用這個名稱。

Note also that the organization has grown weaker in recent years, as its dispute-settling body has been unable to work fully; you will see this discussed in the news.

Note also另外要注意，that the organization has grown weaker in recent years這個組織近年變得比較弱勢，as its dispute-settling body has been unable to work fully因為它的爭端解決機制沒辦法完全運作；you will see this discussed in the news新聞上會看到這個話題被討論。