The General Council is the WTO’s highest-level decision-making body in Geneva, meeting regularly to carry out the functions of the WTO. It has representatives (usually ambassadors or equivalent) from all member governments and has the authority to act on behalf of the Ministerial Conference. The current Chairperson is Ambassador Athaliah Lesiba MOLOKOMME (Botswana).

The General Council also meets, under different rules, as the Dispute Settlement Body and as the Trade Policy Review Body.