Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been unanimously reappointed as head of the WTO for another four-year term, emphasizing collaboration with President Trump and adherence to international trade regulations. Her reappointment comes at the request of African nations to facilitate preparations for an upcoming WTO conference in Cameroon. While facing tariff threats from the U.S., she advocates for a constructive approach to avoid trade disputes and aims to revitalize WTO discussions, particularly focusing on agriculture and dispute resolution reform.
Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been reappointed as the head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) without any surprises, expressing her eagerness to collaborate with President Donald Trump. She referred to comments about tariffs as ‘premature’ and emphasized the need for adherence to international trade regulations.
As the first woman and the first African to helm the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala was the sole candidate for her succession. At the age of 70, she was re-elected unanimously by the 166 member nations for another four-year term, with a focus on steering the global economy away from protectionist measures.
“We are ready to dive into our work right away,” she declared during a press conference.
Her initial term concludes in late August 2025, but the reappointment process was expedited at the request of African nations, aimed at easing preparations for the upcoming WTO ministerial conference scheduled in Cameroon in 2026.
The implicit objective behind this swift process was to avoid a repeat of the previous delay caused by Trump’s administration, as noted by Keith Rockwell, former WTO spokesperson and researcher at the Hinrich Foundation.
According to a source close to the discussions, the backing for her second term is not solely because of admiration for Okonjo-Iweala, but rather a concern that Trump’s administration might hinder progress in the future.
On Friday, Norwegian ambassador Petter Olberg, who oversees the appointment process at the WTO, reassured the media that “this is a legitimate process.”
In response to criticism, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala expressed that she found it “a bit strange” and reiterated her enthusiasm for collaborating with President Trump.
Embracing a ‘Creative Approach’
Meanwhile, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) commended her reappointment.
“The United States values the efforts she has made over the last four years. She has demonstrated a strong dedication to the organization’s mission,” stated Katherine Tai.
Even before his presidency, Donald Trump had cast doubt on the WTO, threatening to withdraw during his first term and reigniting fears of trade wars, particularly against China, Canada, and Mexico, with potential tariff increases as soon as he takes office in January.
On Friday, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala deemed it “premature” to respond to these tariff threats.
“We should take a constructive and creative approach,” she noted, stressing the importance of avoiding trade disputes that could disrupt international commerce.
Striving to ‘Save What Can Be Saved’
During his first term (2017-2021), Trump had already incited trade conflicts with China and Europe.
“The tariff measures he is currently proposing reveal a disregard for established rules. The United States does not need to exit the WTO; they are already ignoring its rules while aggressively distancing themselves from China,” remarked Elvire Fabry, a researcher at the Jacques Delors European Institute.
The challenge will be to “save what can be saved and demonstrate that there is no viable alternative to WTO regulations,” although “this will be a daunting task with uncertain outcomes,” according to another insider.
Upon taking office at the WTO, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala encountered an already weakened organization. She aimed to revitalize discussions around climate and health issues, achieving success in establishing a significant agreement to prohibit harmful fishing subsidies.
However, the call for WTO reform has grown louder, particularly since the appellate body of its dispute resolution system remains stalled due to the first Trump administration’s block on judicial appointments.
On Friday, Ms. Okonjo-Iweala urged member countries to finalize outstanding negotiations so that ministers at the upcoming Cameroon meeting can concentrate on two pivotal topics: agriculture and reform of the dispute resolution framework.