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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization

Tariffs cause 'unprecedented' disruption to trade rules

The share of global traded on WTO terms has fallen to 72% and could fall further, amid the biggest disruption to the international trading system in the past 80 years, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization said today.

Business • 02 Sep

The WTO said it expected trade in goods to fall by 0.2% this year, down from its expectation in October of 3% expansion.

WTO cuts 2025 trade growth forecast, warns of deeper drop

The World Trade Organization has sharply cut its forecast for global merchandise trade from solid growth to a decline, saying further US tariffs and spillover effects could lead to the heaviest slump since the height of the Covid pandemic.

Business • 16 Apr

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization, at Davos 2025

Trade wars sparked by tariffs would be catastrophic:WTO

The World Trade Organization chief said today that any tit-for-tat trade wars prompted by US President Donald Trump's tariff threats would have catastrophic consequences for global growth, urging states to refrain from retaliation.

Business • 23 Jan

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been reappointed as WTO chief for a second term

WTO chief reappointed for 2nd term as Trump threat looms

WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been reappointed for a second term at a special meeting today, the trade watchdog said in a statement, meaning she will stay at the helm until mid-2029.

Business • 29 Nov 24

The WTO said today that world trade volumes unexpectedly declined by 1.2% in 2023

WTO eyes global trade rebound but warns of risks

The World Trade Organization said today that global trade should rebound this year from an unexpected slump in 2023, but warned that regional conflicts, geopolitical tensions and economic policy uncertainty risked darkening the picture.

Business • 10 Apr 24

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney is at the WTO meeting of trade ministers in Abu Dhabi this week

Ireland seeks out Middle East sovereign wealth funds

Ireland hopes to tap sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East to invest in infrastructure projects as the government seeks to keep pace with its fast growing population.

Business • 27 Feb 24

The WTO's 13th ministerial conference (MC13) is scheduled to run until Thursday in Abu Dhabi

WTO meets with calls for consensus amid world tensions

The World Trade Organization today opened a high-level ministerial meeting in Abu Dhabi with calls for consensus as geopolitical tensions and the looming US election undermine chances of a major breakthrough.

Business • 26 Feb 24

The United States said it strongly rejected the "flawed" interpretation and conclusions of the panel

WTO says Trump's steel tariffs broke trade rules

The World Trade Organization ruled that US tariffs imposed on steel and aluminium imports by then President Donald Trump contravened global trading rules in a judgment immediately criticised by Washington.

Business • 09 Dec 22

The talks focused on five major themes: pandemic response, fisheries, food security, e-commerce and WTO reform

WTO conference - the decisions made

The World Trade Organization's 12th ministerial conference wrapped up today after five days of round-the-clock negotiations, securing a range of landmark deals.

Business • 17 Jun 22

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

WTO strikes global trade deals deep into overtime

The World Trade Organization's 164 members approved a series of trade agreements early today that included commitments on fish and pledges on health and food security after more than five gruelling days of negotiations.

Business • 17 Jun 22

Ministers from more than 100 countries are meeting at the WTO's headquarters in Geneva this week for the first time in more than four years to thrash out new trade rules

Glimmers of hope as world trade talks reach final day

Negotiations at the World Trade Organization aimed at clinching deals on food security, fishing and vaccines entered their final hours today after all-night talks.

Business • 16 Jun 22

The director-general from Nigeria said the world had changed since the WTO's last ministerial conference nearly five years ago

WTO chief 'cautiously optimistic' ahead of meeting

World Trade Organization chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has expressed cautious optimism that more than 100 trade ministers meeting in Geneva would achieve one or two global deals this week, but warned the path there would be bumpy and rocky.

Business • 12 Jun 22

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has warned of a potential food crisis caused by surging prices

WTO lowers 2022 global trade growth forecast

The World Trade Organization has revised down its forecast for global trade growth this year to 3% from 4.7% due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war and warned of a potential food crisis caused by surging prices.

Business • 12 Apr 22

EU trade chief urges US to reform not ruin the WTO

The United States needs to work with the European Union to reform the World Trade Organization rather than let it decline through neglect, the EU trade chief has said.

Business • 27 Sep 21

The Office of the US Trade Representative is to add tariffs on some non-sparkling wines as well as cognacs and brandies from France and Germany

US puts tariffs on French, German wines, aircraft parts

The US government said it would raise tariffs on certain European Union products, including aircraft components and wines from France and Germany.

Business • 31 Dec 20

The WTO said it now expected global trade to shrink by just 9.2% this year instead of its earlier prediction for a 12.9% slump

WTO sees softer-than-expected global trade drop

Global trade, devastated by the coronavirus crisis, will shrink by less than expected this year but the rebound will also be much weaker than previously forecast, the WTO said today.

Business • 06 Oct 20

The WTO said the US duties broke trading rules because they applied only to China and were above maximum rates agreed to by the US

US broke trade rules by putting tariffs on China - WTO

The World Trade Organization has found that the US breached global trading rules by imposing multibillion-dollar tariffs in President Donald Trump's trade war with China, a ruling that drew anger from Washington.

Business • 16 Sep 20

Britain's Liam Fox is one of eight candidates looking for the job top at the WTO

Who's in the running for WTO leadership?

As Roberto Azevedo steps down today as head of the World Trade Organization, here are penpics of the eight candidates running to become the next WTO director-general.

Business • 31 Aug 20

Roberto Azevedo, the head of the WTO, steps down from the post today

Damaged WTO now leaderless as chief Azevedo steps down

As Roberto Azevedo leaves the World Trade Organization today, the institution faces multiple crises without a captain - a situation experts warn could drag on for months.

Business • 31 Aug 20

Roberto Azevedo on August 31 will step down as WTO Director-General after seven years at the helm

Departing WTO chief gets top job at PepsiCo

The World Trade Organization's exiting chief, who is leaving the crisis-stricken institution a year ahead of schedule, will move to the private sector as a top executive at PepsiCo, the company said today.

Business • 20 Aug 20

WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo expects the impact of Covid-19 on world trade to be 'very substantial'

Global trade hit by restrictions during Covid-19 - WTO

Global trade has been hit by new and accumulated import restrictions just as economies need to rebuild in the Covid-19 crisis, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said in a mid-year report issued today.

Business • 24 Jul 20

The UK's former trade secretary Liam Fox is to be nominated for the top job at the WTO

UK nominates former minister Liam Fox for top WTO role

Britain will nominate former trade secretary Liam Fox as its candidate to be the next director general of the World Trade Organization, it said today.

Business • 08 Jul 20

The second quarter drop in world trade could have been much worse, the WTO said today

Global trade to shrink 18.5% in Q2, defying worst fears

Global trade is expected to drop around 18.5% year-on-year in the second quarter of this year in a huge coronavirus-driven plunge which nonetheless could have been much worse, the World Trade Organization said today.

Business • 23 Jun 20

Phil Hogan said last week he was "exploring the option" of seeking to become director-general of the WTO

EU executive to partly shield Hogan from public view

EU trade chief Phil Hogan will limit public appearances after he put himself forward as a possible candidate to become the next head of the World Trade Organization, the European Commission said today.

Business • 16 Jun 20

Phil Hogan was appointed to the Trade brief last year

Hogan 'exploring idea' of applying for WTO top job

It has been confirmed that the EU Commissioner for Trade, Ireland's Phil Hogan, is "exploring the idea" of applying to be the director general of the World Trade Organization.

Politics • 30 May 20