World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has confirmed her intention to seek a second four-year term as head of the global trade body. In an interview with Reuters on Monday, Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and African to lead the WTO, said she aims to complete the critical initiatives she began during her first mandate, which expires in August 2025.

“I would like to be part of this chapter of the WTO story, and I stand ready to compete for the position,” she said. Okonjo-Iweala also shared her plans to submit a letter to the WTO’s General Council, the organisation’s main decision-making body, outlining her candidacy.

Reflecting on her first term, she expressed her commitment to delivering on “unfinished business.” This includes finalising an agreement on fisheries subsidies, advancing global agricultural negotiations, reforming the WTO’s dispute settlement system, and promoting trade decarbonisation. “For my second term, I intend to focus on delivering,” she emphasised.

Although Okonjo-Iweala has until the end of November to formally declare her candidacy, the early support for her second term, especially from African leaders, suggests she could secure the role without significant opposition if no other candidates emerge.

In 2020, Okonjo-Iweala’s initial appointment was blocked by former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, she gained support from President Joe Biden’s administration in 2021, allowing her to take office. Asked about the possibility of working under Trump should he return to power, she responded, “I don’t focus on that because I have no control.”

Her potential second term is seen as pivotal for the WTO as it navigates complex global trade challenges and seeks reforms to restore its credibility and effectiveness.