Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Announces Bid For Second Term As WTO Director-General

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Announces Bid For Second Term As WTO Director-General

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is seeking a second four-year term. At 70 years old, Okonjo-Iweala, who previously served as Nigeria’s finance minister, made history in 2021 as the first woman and first African to lead the WTO…….CONTINUE READING 

In a statement confirmed by the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala expressed her readiness to compete for another term, focusing on “unfinished business” from her first term. Her priorities include tackling issues such as eliminating fisheries subsidies, advancing global agricultural negotiations, reforming the WTO’s dispute resolution system, and promoting trade decarbonization.

The African-led initiative to start the reappointment process early began in July, aiming to address these issues before the U.S. elections in November. If no other candidates emerge and her candidacy receives unanimous support, her reappointment could be feasible.

Okonjo-Iweala faced obstruction from the Trump administration in 2020, but regained U.S. support under President Biden. She has been instrumental in negotiating global trade agreements, including a key fishing subsidies treaty finalized in 2022. Despite challenges such as limited progress in recent high-level meetings and opposition from individual members like India, Okonjo-Iweala remains committed to her role.

She acknowledges the difficulties posed by geopolitical tensions among the WTO’s 166 members but remains motivated by the importance of her work. Discussions on potential reforms to reestablish the WTO’s dispute resolution mechanism are ongoing in Washington.