The World Trade Organization’s director‑general, Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala, says the global trading system is in the most severe crisis it has seen since the end of World War II.
“We are currently experiencing the worst disruptions of the last eight decades” she told the world. Yet she noted that nearly three‑quarters of worldwide trade still takes place in accordance with WTO rules. “The vast majority of members apply our rulebook” Okonjo‑Iweala added. “Not everything is broken”.
In recent months U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on many countries, apparently disregarding WTO regulations. Okonjo‑Iweala defended the United States and even described it as an engine for needed change. “We value the U.S. as a member and are pleased that it remains involved” she said. “It’s encouraging that WTO members are now, unlike perhaps before, ready to tackle tough reforms”.
She plans to make the WTO, which is currently partially blocked by the United States, more effective. “Individual members could, for example, form coalitions of willing parties more often than before” she suggested. “These groups within the WTO could then jointly develop rules and make decisions”.
