The head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) said she is “eager” to work with the US President-elect and his trade team, while taking a wait-and-see stance about Donald Trump’s plans to impose new tariffs on goods from other countries including China, Mexico and Canada.
WTO director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made the comments to reporters after member countries handed her a second four-year term, in a vote with no opposition.
The Geneva-based trade body’s future is clouded by Mr Trump’s looming return to power in January in the US, home to the world’s single biggest economy, because his pledges to put unilateral tariffs on foreign goods entering the country could face challenges at the WTO.
While Mr Trump before his first term threatened to pull the US out of the WTO, Ms Okonjo-Iweala said there is a “general recognition that the organisation needs to be supported” and pointed to US interests in intellectual property protections and product safety fostered by the trade body.
“The WTO and its rules underpin 75-80% of global goods trade,” she said.
Ms Okonjo-Iweala expressed hopes to help strike a deal in the WTO that would phase out 22 billion dollars in “harmful subsidies” in the fisheries industry that raise worries about damage to ocean fish stocks.
During his first term, the Trump administration largely bypassed WTO rules by imposing tariffs on steel and other goods from countries including China and even US allies.
On Monday, Mr Trump vowed sweeping new tariffs on Mexico and Canada, as well as China, as soon as he takes office as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.
Such tariffs, if imposed, could face a challenge through the WTO’s dispute resolution process, though its body that hears appeals is not operating – largely because of US unwillingness to let new members be appointed to it.
Ms Okonjo-Iweala, a former Nigerian finance minister who also has US citizenship, took office in 2021 as the first woman and first African to hold the job of WTO chief.
Her second term will officially begin next September.
“Until we get specifics in terms of what is planned, I think it would be a bit premature to try to pronounce on these issues,” she said, referring to Mr Trump’s plans.
“I think we should wait… for actual policies,” Ms Okonjo-Iweala said. “And we’re very much looking forward to working in a productive fashion.”
The WTO’s 166 members take decisions by consensus, meaning that any one country can block them.
