Trump halts funding of World Trade Organization
DC Daily Journal: ... The Trump administration has taken a decisive step by suspending financial contributions to the World Trade Organization (WTO) as of Thursday, March 27. This move marks a significant escalation in President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to reshape America’s relationship with international organizations, which he has repeatedly accused of weakening U.S. sovereignty and misusing American taxpayer money. The suspension affects U.S. funding for both 2024 and 2025, cutting off approximately 11% of the WTO’s annual operating budget. According to Reuters, the organization’s total budget for 2024 stands at around $232 million, making the U.S. contribution a substantial piece of its financial framework. Trump has been vocal about his frustrations with the WTO for years, often pointing to what he perceives as unfair treatment of the United States. In a statement from May 2020, he questioned the organization’s structure: “Why is it that China, for decades, and with a ...