Re-elected as General Director for a second term, striving to complete "unfinished work" in the face of many challenges

On November 29, the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously reappointed Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General for a second term (2025-2029). Her next four-year term will begin on September 1, 2025.

Ms. Okonjo-Iweala continues to hold the position of WTO Director-General for a second term. (Source: AFP)

Ms Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister, made history by becoming the first female Director-General of the WTO.

During her first term, she achieved important breakthroughs, including agreements to cut subsidies for destructive fishing practices, address food insecurity and temporarily waive intellectual property rights for Covid-19 vaccines.

In September, Ms Okonjo-Iweala, 70, announced her candidacy for re-election as WTO Director-General with the aim of completing “unfinished business”. She was the only candidate for the position.

With this reappointment, Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala continues her mission of promoting reforms at the WTO to improve the effectiveness of the organization's operations, contributing to the sustainable development of global trade.

Her second term is expected to face many major challenges in the context of the WTO needing to improve its operational efficiency, especially under the US administration of Donald Trump, which will begin on January 20, 2025.

During his first term as US president (2017-2021), Mr. Trump paralyzed the WTO dispute settlement mechanism by blocking the appointment of judges (a situation that continues to this day), and enacted tariffs on steel and aluminum products imported into the US.

Okonjo-Iweala is known for her decisive, straightforward leadership style and ability to break deadlocks in negotiations. UK Trade Secretary Douglas Alexander said Okonjo-Iweala has strong leadership skills for the challenging role at the WTO.

She has 25 years of experience working at the World Bank (WB) and has held many important positions in her home country, including Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs . She has also participated in leading major organizations such as Standard Chartered Bank, Rockefeller Foundation and Gavi Vaccine Alliance.

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