Economics

WTO Chief Begins Uphill Climb to Overhaul Global Trade’s Referee

Okonjo-Iweala delivers first speech as WTO director-general
Urges nations to pursue mix of interim fixes and work programs

'Stagnant and Paralyzed' WTO Needs Reform, Rebrand: Okonjo-Iweala

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By Bryce Baschuk

March 1, 2021 at 6:06 PM UTC

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The World Trade Organization’s new leader pledged to shake up the Geneva-based trade body, but Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s first speech as director-general stopped short of offering details into how she’d change the way the WTO has operated for years.