Okonjo-Iweala: I’m Too Busy Now to Think about Second Term

Ndubuisi Francis in Abuja

The Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has stated that she has too much on her hands for now, to consider a possible second term in charge of the global body.

In an interview with a US-based news channel, Politico, she said she first wanted to focus on how the Geneva-based trade body could deliver on things “that matter” before thinking of running again.

 “I still have so much to deliver in the short term. This thought hasn’t even crossed my mind.

“There is so much before us. We need to get through a successful MC13,” she said, referring to the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO — an international gathering of trade ministers next week in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the two-time Nigerian finance minister, she first wanted to focus on how the Geneva-based trade body could deliver on things that matter before thinking of running again.

 “Maybe when we finish all of that, that will cross my mind,” she said.

Okonjo-Iweala took charge of the WTO in 2021 for a four-year mandate.

The process of appointing a new director general is due to start at the end of this year, according to the WTO’s internal rules.

A second term would offer Okonjo-Iweala a realistic chance to complete some unfinished business at the beleaguered institution, whose highest appeals court has been out of action since the United States vetoed the appointment of judges back in 2019.

Lingering disputes between members would make it hard for the 164-member trade club to deliver concrete outcomes in Abu Dhabi, with no clear path either to restoring its Appellate Body or to extending a 26-year-old freeze on taxing cross-border e-commerce.

India in particular has escalated its confrontational rhetoric in recent weeks, threatening to block progress on files as it demands concessions on agriculture.

“Every country is trying to negotiate their corner at the WTO. That’s why it’s a very challenging organisation and challenging environment,” the WTO chief said in response to whether she was worried that New Delhi would stand in the way of compromises with decisions made by consensus.

She said “members are willing to negotiate on the agricultural file for the first time in a long time. We tried at MC12 and we didn’t succeed,” adding that there was a text this time around that would serve as the basis of negotiations between ministers.

Despite a formal deadline to reform the appeal body by the end of this year, it is looking unlikely that there will be a deal in Abu Dhabi — with attention in the United States increasingly turning to the presidential election in November.

However, Okonjo-Iweala struck a hopeful note on the dispute settlement reform, saying Washington was engaging in the negotiations.

“What we need is for the U.S. to engage. For two to three years, the U.S. did not engage. They’re fully engaging now in the system, in the reform as all the other members,” the WTO boss said.