JOHANNESBURG – Despite the global trade upheaval, 72% of world trade still runs on World Trade Organisation rules. That’s according to Director-General Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
She says this ensures stability, predictability, and certainty in global trade.
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Speaking to eNCA on the sidelines of the G20 Summit on Sunday, she said the current crisis presents an opportunity to reform the global trading system.
“This is the time to seize the opportunity in this crisis, to really try to reform the system, to ask ourselves, what is it that works, what doesn’t work? And how do we solve it?” she said.
On the absence of the United States from the summit, Okonjo-Iweala said South Africa was “managing it well”, adding that the US remains a G20 and a WTO member.
“With respect to trade, the G20 leaders made very clear that they’re very supportive of the multilateral trading system. They do want reform. And that is the key message for us at the WTO here,” she said.
Original Article: eNCA, 23 November 2025
https://www.enca.com/news/wto-chief-urges-urgent-trade-reform-g20-summit-wraps
