EXPLORING DIVERSE VIEWS ON HOT TOPICS AND CURRENT EVENTS
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, current Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), is seeking a second term and remains the sole candidate for the position after the nomination window closed on November 8, 2024. This unopposed status indicates broad international support, particularly from African nations, who proposed her reappointment. Okonjo-Iweala initially declared her candidacy in September, aiming to address “unfinished business” from her first term, which has focused on reforms within the WTO to make it more effective amid global trade challenges.
However, her bid faces potential opposition from the United States, particularly with the re-election of Donald Trump. Trump’s administration previously blocked her initial appointment in 2020, which was later confirmed under President Biden. Although no formal opposition has been declared by the U.S. yet, political factors may play a role when her reappointment comes to a vote in December. Should the U.S. object, the WTO may need to take the unusual step of conducting a vote rather than reaching a consensus, which is its traditional decision-making process.
Okonjo-Iweala’s first term is set to conclude in August 2025, with her reappointment decision potentially shaping the future direction of the WTO’s trade policies and global economic impact.
