Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). She is newsworthy due to her recent warnings about the severe disruptions facing the global trade system. According to recent reports, Okonjo-Iweala stated that the world is experiencing the worst trade disruption in 80 years, suggesting the global trade order has 'irrevocably changed'. These warnings were issued at the opening of the WTO's 14th ministerial conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The current relevance of her statements stems from the confluence of factors impacting global trade, including geopolitical tensions like the war in Iran, which is causing energy price increases and supply chain disruptions, potentially leading to a major global industrial crisis. Her assessment highlights the urgent need for reform in global trade rules to address these unprecedented challenges.