Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In recent months, the World Trade Organization (WTO) under Director‑General Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala has stepped up diplomatic engagements with member countries, including Bangladesh and Peru, as part of broader efforts to sustain and strengthen the global trading system.
Although specific joint statements from Okonjo‑Iweala’s meetings this month with Bangladeshi officials could not be independently verified, longstanding diplomatic exchanges between the WTO and Bangladesh highlight shared priorities in global trade negotiations. Bangladeshi business and government representatives have frequently engaged with WTO leadership to advocate for extended transition periods and support for developing‑country interests in areas such as market access and trade facilitation, reflecting Dhaka’s proactive stance in multilateral forums. Historical engagements have also included Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association delegations pressing for enhanced WTO support on competitiveness and export growth.
In Lima, Peru’s Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Elizabeth Galdo met with Okonjo‑Iweala earlier in the year, reaffirming Peru’s active commitment to the multilateral trading system and cooperative dialogue within the WTO framework. Galdo emphasised Lima’s support for ongoing negotiations on key issues such as fishery subsidies and e‑commerce rules, and the country’s willingness to work toward enhanced predictability and transparency in the global trading environment.
These bilateral engagements sit against the backdrop of broader efforts by WTO leadership to foster consensus on unresolved issues emanating from past ministerial conferences. Okonjo‑Iweala has consistently urged members to persist with collective negotiations, particularly on outstanding agreements from previous WTO ministerial gatherings and on reforming the institution’s negotiation mechanisms to meet 21st‑century challenges.
Under Okonjo‑Iweala’s stewardship, the WTO has also been focusing on pivotal global trade trends, including the need to maintain open markets amid rising protectionist pressures in some economies and to integrate smaller and developing nations into global value chains. Discussions on reform and resilience have featured prominently in her engagements with member delegates and trade officials from across continents, reflecting an inclusive agenda aimed at balancing the needs of both advanced and emerging economies.
Trade policy experts note that interactions between the WTO Director‑General and individual countries’ trade authorities—like those of Bangladesh and Peru—play a vital role in building momentum toward larger multilateral agreements. These conversations often address specific national concerns while contributing to the broader WTO agenda, including negotiations on agricultural trade, digital commerce, and environmental sustainability measures such as fisheries subsidies.
The backdrop to these heightened talks also includes preparations for the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, scheduled to take place in March 2026 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Members have been urged to lay groundwork on pending negotiations and reform proposals ahead of the conference, reinforcing Okonjo‑Iweala’s calls for cooperative diplomacy and practical solutions to longstanding trade barriers.
As global trade dynamics continue to evolve in the face of geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and shifting economic priorities, Okonjo‑Iweala’s engagements with both developed and developing country officials underscore the WTO’s central diplomatic role in addressing these complex challenges. Member states’ willingness to engage bilaterally and multilaterally through the WTO signals a reaffirmation of the rules‑based trading system at a time when collective action is increasingly viewed as indispensable for sustainable economic growth.
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