The most striking features of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are, arguably, its membership list and the changes in the list over time. Despite widespread concerns about globalization and about the role of the WTO as a global institution, WTO Membership has been growing rapidly. When GATT the predecessor of the WTO — was established in 1947, the total number of countries signing the Agreement
... [Show full abstract] was 23. By 2007, the membership had increased to 150. Moreover, there were more than 30 countries negotiating accession to the WTO. Most of the increase in the membership has come from developing countries and from countries in transition since most developed countries had joined GATT years earlier. Developing countries now account for two-thirds of the total membership. What is evident from the rising numbers is that many countries join the WTO with great expectations and expecting something positive to come from their membership.