According to the Financial Times website on October 29, emails seen by Financial Times reporters show that despite the Trump administration's frequent attacks on the World Trade Organization (WTO), the United States has reimbursed more than $25 million in late membership payments to the global trade organization.

According to the report, eight months ago, the U.S. government announced that it would suspend the payment of annual dues before reviewing its dues to WTO, OECD and other multilateral organizations.

Based on its share of global trade, in 2024, the United States should pay 11% of the WTO annual budget of 205 million Swiss francs (approximately US$257 million). According to reports, in December last year, in the WTO annual report, this figure was 23.2 million Swiss francs-equivalent to US$25.7 million.

In March this year, after the United States failed to pay its 2024 membership dues, the WTO adopted so-called "administrative measures" and imposed a series of escalating punitive measures on members who were in arrears.

In an email seen by a Financial Times reporter, WTO employees were implicitly informed of the payment of dues. The email informed them that the United States was no longer bound by "administrative measures."

A Trump administration official confirmed the subsidy, but declined to comment further and also declined to specify the amount of the transfer.The official said: ¡°The WTO Secretariat declined to comment on the subsidy fee due to be paid in 2024.

Trade experts say that although the decision to settle the arrears is welcome, it represents the following decision: that is, to adopt a way that is beneficial to the United States, rather than a complete change of attitude.

Simon Evennett, a geopolitical and strategic professor at the Swiss School of Business at the International Management and Development School, said: ¡°The U.S. transfer of funds to the WTO is not a gesture of loyalty ¨C it is a ¡®feeding tube¡¯.

Original title: "The United States has quietly paid the arrears of dues"

Column Editor: Zhang Wu Text Editor: Song Hui Title Source: Xinhua News Agency

Source: Author: Reference News