WTO chief Okonjo-Iweala reinstated for second term as trade wars loom

GENEVA: World Trade Organisation main Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was reappointed for a 2nd word astatine a peculiar gathering connected Friday, the commercialized watchdog said successful a statement, meaning her 2nd word volition coincide with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's.

Trade sources expect the roadworthy up for the 30-year-old organisation to beryllium challenging and astir apt characterised by commercialized wars, with Trump threatening hefty tariffs connected goods from Mexico, Canada and China.

Okonjo-Iweala, a erstwhile Nigerian concern curate who made past successful 2021 by becoming the body's archetypal pistillate and archetypal African director-general, has wide backing among WTO members.

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She announced successful September that she would tally again, aiming to implicit “unfinished business”.

No different candidates ran against her.

Trade sources said the gathering created a means of fast-tracking her assignment process to debar immoderate hazard of it being blocked by Trump, whose teams and allies person criticised some Okonjo-Iweala and the WTO successful the past.

In 2020, his medication gave its enactment to a rival campaigner and sought to artifact her archetypal term. She secured U.S. backing lone erstwhile President Joe Biden succeeded Trump successful the White House.