Okonjo-Iweala to seek second term as WTO DG

The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has announced her intention to seek re-election for another four-year term leading the trade organisation.

In an interview with Reuters on Monday, she expressed her desire to fulfill “unfinished business” from her current mandate.

She said, “I would like to be part of this chapter of the WTO story, and I stand ready to compete for the position,” Okonjo-Iweala said, citing a letter she plans to send to the trade body’s main decision-making body.

“For my second term, I intend to focus on delivering,” she added, mentioning that among her priorities are addressing “unfinished business.”

These priorities include finalising a deal on ending fisheries subsidies, achieving a breakthrough in global agriculture negotiations, reforming the WTO’s struggling dispute system, and decarbonising trade.

Okonjo-Iweala, the first female and African head of the WTO, took office in March 2021 and her term is set to expire on 31 August 2025.

While she officially has until the end of November to decide on applying for re-election, an African-led initiative has already begun to secure her second term ahead of the U.S. election in November.

As per WTO rules, Okonjo-Iweala can be re-elected if no other candidates come forward and all member states support her candidacy.