Tackle trade tensions diplomatically, Okonjo-Iweala urges WTO members

• Published On: 20 February 2025 at 19:45

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, has urged member countries to use the organization as a forum for dialogue and engagement to address rising global trade tensions.

She emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing challenges such as protectionism, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical conflicts in order to maintain global economic stability.

Okonjo-Iweala addressed the World Trade Organization's General Council at its first meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2025.

Her comments came as China's Ambassador to the WTO, Li Chenggang, criticized the United States' unilateral tariffs, emphasizing their negative impact.

He urged Dr. Okonjo-Iweala to work toward their removal and urged all parties to support the rules-based multilateral trading system, a message that struck a chord with the audience.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala addressed the Council, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the multilateral trading system and its role in providing stability and opportunities to all members.

"The WTO was established precisely to manage times like these — to provide a forum for dialogue, prevent conflicts from spiraling out of control, and promote an open, predictable trading environment.

"Let us make full use of this platform to engage with one another in good faith, address concerns constructively and calmly, and explore cooperative solutions that uphold and enhance the balance of global trade relations," said the World Trade Organization's Director-General.

Following her remarks, 32 members took to the floor.

Overall, members emphasized the WTO's role in promoting global economic growth and development, particularly among developing and least-developed countries.

Many speakers emphasized the importance of adhering to WTO principles and rules and refraining from actions that could undermine the system.

Okonjo-Iweala stated that she has been meeting with WTO members to discuss the broader geopolitical landscape and how the organization can address current challenges.

"The key message I have shared is that amid the current uncertainties, we must maintain cool heads and remain open to dialogue," she told the audience.

She informed members that the WTO Secretariat is updating the Tariff Analysis Online database in response to their feedback.

The new database, named WTO Tariff and Trade Data, will be launched on March 4 by the WTO's Committee on Market Access.

"This will be a much more user-friendly system that will facilitate tariff and trade analysis," she informed the crowd. As you consider today's emerging tariff issues, the Secretariat is available to help any member who needs assistance in analyzing the tariff situation."

In her remarks, Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the importance of using the current situation to advance WTO reforms.

"I encourage all of you to view this moment as an inflection point — an opportunity to think more strategically and purposefully about what we want from this organisation and how we can make it more results-driven," she told the audience.

She stated that leaders, ministers, and stakeholders she recently met with expect the WTO to address long-standing issues and adapt to today's global trade landscape, emphasizing that "it's time to return to the negotiating table in earnest."