With a Trump administration objection out of the way, the WTO members selected Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a Nigerian, as its director general effective March 1. She will take office at a time of challenge for the organization; the world has lost confidence in mulilateral trade agreements as a path to prosperity, nations such as China and Brazil are accused of wrongly clinging to the rank of developing nations, and the WTO is unable to resolve appeals of its decisions on trade complaints.
Okonjo-Iweala is the first woman and first African to lead the WTO. Her four-year term will expire on Aug. 21, 2025. She can seek another if she wishes. “This is a very significant moment for the WTO,” said David Walker of New Zealand, who chairs the WTO General Council. As usual at the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala was chosen by consensus, meaning all countries agreed on her.
An economist and international trade expert, Okonjo-Iweala was the early favorite to lead the WTO. But the Trump administration announced its preference last fall for South Korean trade minister Yoo Myung-hee, blocking action. Yoo withdrew as a candidate on Feb. 5 and the Biden administration announced strong support of Okonjo-Iweala. Her predecessor, Roberto Azevedo, resigned last summer in an attempt to clear the way for reforms at WTO.
“The WTO appears paralyzed at a time when its rule book would greatly benefit from an update to 21st century issues such as e-commerce and the digital economy, the green and circular economies,” Okonjo-Iweala said, according to CNBC. She was the first woman to serve as finance minister and trade minister for Nigeria.