Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is poised for a second term after emerging as the sole candidate for the role.
Okonjo-Iweala, who made history in 2021 as the first woman and first African to lead the WTO, announced her bid for reappointment in September. Her current term concludes in August 2025.
WTO Chair, Norwegian Ambassador Petter Olberg, confirmed Friday that no other nominations were submitted, leaving Okonjo-Iweala unopposed.
Her initial appointment faced delays in 2020 when then-U.S. President Donald Trump backed a South Korean candidate. However, that opposition was lifted by President Joe Biden, clearing the way for her groundbreaking selection.
During her tenure, Okonjo-Iweala has focused on reviving stalled trade negotiations, notably on fishery subsidies, and restoring the WTO’s Appellate Body, a crucial part of global trade dispute resolution.
