WTO Director Ngozi Okonjo gave strong messages regarding global trade, said – change cannot be reversed

New Delhi. At the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala addressed the gathering with a strong message about the changing global trade landscape. He emphasized that there has been a change in the multilateral trading system which cannot be reversed. Now countries should focus on how to adapt and improve this system for the future. During his speech to the delegates, Okonjo-Iweala said that the world order and multilateral system as we knew it before has completely changed. We can’t get that back and we have to look to the future. The remarks underlined the major challenges the global trading system faces in the current geopolitical environment. Despite this, Okonjo-Iweala pointed out that 72 percent of global trade still takes place under WTO rules.

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Director General Ngozi also acknowledged the growth in business related to Artificial Intelligence, calling it a promising development in an uncertain environment. However, the WTO chief expressed concern over the risks posed by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the impact of US tariffs on countries around the world, which has created considerable uncertainty in global trade. The main issues he highlighted included the breakdown of the WTO’s dispute settlement body and the lack of transparency in subsidy information. According to Okonjo-Iweala, only 64 members had submitted subsidy information for 2025, while 102 members had not. He argued that this lack of transparency breeds mistrust and unfair practices, making it more difficult for WTO members to agree on new rules and reforms. He explained that a lack of transparency creates a lack of trust and raises suspicions about anti-competitive practices, including unfairness. This increases distrust and makes members reluctant to agree to new rules and reforms. In a positive development, Okonjo-Iweala also invited Turkish Trade Minister Omar Bolat to address the conference. Bolat announced that Turkey has withdrawn its objection to a proposal aimed at promoting investment in developing countries, which will now be included in the WTO framework. The disclosure signals a step towards greater cooperation within the global trading system. Even though WTO and its members still face many challenges.