WTO DG Okonjo-Iweala Urges Members to Engage Fully with the Organization
Geneva, 18 February 2025 – Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on WTO members to use the organization as a platform to engage and find solutions to global trade challenges.
“The WTO is a unique forum where all our members can come together to discuss, negotiate, and find solutions to the challenges facing the global trading system,” DG Okonjo-Iweala said in her remarks to the General Council. “We should use it to its full potential.”
The DG highlighted several areas where the WTO could play a vital role in addressing current trade concerns. These included:
- Boosting global economic recovery: The WTO could support members’ efforts to promote trade and investment as a key driver of economic growth in the post-pandemic era.
- Addressing food security: The organization could facilitate cooperation on trade-related measures to ensure access to affordable food for all.
- Promoting sustainable trade: The WTO could help members develop and implement policies that support environmentally friendly and socially responsible trade practices.
DG Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged that the WTO was facing challenges, but emphasized that it remained the best platform for multilateral trade cooperation.
“We should not underestimate the challenges, but we must also not give up on the WTO. It is the only global forum where we can negotiate and enforce trade rules,” she said.
The DG called on members to engage constructively in the organization’s work. She urged them to:
- Participate actively in negotiations: Members should engage in ongoing negotiations on a range of issues, including fisheries subsidies, e-commerce, and domestic regulation.
- Support capacity building: The WTO should provide technical assistance to developing and least-developed countries to help them participate effectively in the global trading system.
- Foster transparency and stakeholder involvement: The organization should enhance its communication and outreach efforts to ensure that all stakeholders have a voice in trade policymaking.
DG Okonjo-Iweala concluded by expressing her optimism for the future of the WTO.
“I believe that by working together, we can overcome the challenges facing the global trading system and make the WTO an even more effective and responsive organization. Let us use the WTO as a platform to engage, find solutions, and build a fairer and more sustainable trading system for all,” she said.
DG Okonjo-Iweala to members: Use the WTO as a platform to engage
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