Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has announced her intention to seek a second term as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Reuters has reported that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), will seek a second four-year term at the helm of the organization. This move comes as part of a significant push led by African nations to start the reappointment process early, with the aim of addressing "unfinished business" from her initial term.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is 70 years old and a former Nigerian finance minister, made history in 2021 by becoming the first female and first African leader of the WTO, a role she has held for the past three years.

In a statement to Reuters, which was later confirmed by the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala expressed her readiness to compete for a second term. "I would like to be part of this chapter of the WTO story and I stand ready to compete for the position," she said. She also outlined her priorities for the next term, which include tackling issues such as ending fisheries subsidies, advancing global agriculture negotiations, reforming the WTO’s dispute resolution system, and promoting trade decarbonization.

Officially, she has until the end of November to decide whether to reapply. However, the early push led by African nations, which began in July and has received backing from numerous countries, appears to be aimed at securing her reappointment before the US presidential election in November.

According to WTO consensus rules, Okonjo-Iweala could be reappointed if no other candidates come forward and all member states agree to her continued leadership.

During Donald Trump's presidency in 2020, her appointment was blocked, which some interpreted as an attack on an organization he had criticized. However, she received support from the US when Joe Biden took office in 2021.

In response to a question about the potential impact of a possible Trump reelection on her and the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala noted, "I don't focus on that because I have no control."

Throughout her tenure, Okonjo-Iweala has been one of the few WTO leaders to achieve significant global trade agreements, including the first part of a global treaty on fishing subsidies, finalized in 2022. However, progress has been slower in other areas. A recent high-level meeting resulted in modest outcomes, including the accession of two new members and an extension of an agreement to avoid imposing digital tariffs. Some agreements, such as a follow-up fishing deal, have faced obstacles from individual members, most notably India.

Acknowledging the difficulties of the job, Okonjo-Iweala admitted, "It is tough, you know, very tough. There's no getting away from that. But it's also a job that makes me want to get out of bed in the morning."

Since the Trump administration blocked the appointment of judges to the WTO’s top adjudication court in December 2019, the organization has struggled to enforce its rules. This issue has persisted under Biden, although there are ongoing discussions about potential reforms that could eventually restore some form of dispute resolution system.