<P> The WTO has 164 members and 23 observer governments . Liberia became the 163rd member on 14 July 2016, and Afghanistan became the 164th member on 29 July 2016 . In addition to states, the European Union, and each EU Country in its own right, is a member . WTO members do not have to be fully independent states; they need only be a customs territory with full autonomy in the conduct of their external commercial relations . Thus Hong Kong has been a member since 1995 (as "Hong Kong, China" since 1997) predating the People's Republic of China, which joined in 2001 after 15 years of negotiations . The Republic of China (Taiwan) acceded to the WTO in 2002 as "Separate Customs Territory of China: Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu" (Chinese Taipei) despite its disputed status . The WTO Secretariat omits the official titles (such as Counsellor, First Secretary, Second Secretary and Third Secretary) of the members of Chinese Taipei's Permanent Mission to the WTO, except for the titles of the Permanent Representative and the Deputy Permanent Representative . </P> <P> As of 2007, WTO member states represented 96.4% of global trade and 96.7% of global GDP . Iran, followed by Algeria, are the economies with the largest GDP and trade outside the WTO, using 2005 data . With the exception of the Holy See, observers must start accession negotiations within five years of becoming observers . A number of international intergovernmental organizations have also been granted observer status to WTO bodies . 12 UN member states have no official affiliation with the WTO . </P> <P> The WTO oversees about 60 different agreements which have the status of international legal texts . Member countries must sign and ratify all WTO agreements on accession . A discussion of some of the most important agreements follows . </P> <P> The Agreement on Agriculture came into effect with the establishment of the WTO at the beginning of 1995 . The AoA has three central concepts, or "pillars": domestic support, market access and export subsidies . </P>

Who is involved with the world trade organization