The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said the global order and multilateral system have “irrevocably changed,” warning that the world cannot return to its previous framework.
Speaking at a ministerial meeting, she told delegates that “the world order and multilateral system we used to know has irrevocably changed. We will not get it back,” urging countries to focus on future reforms rather than past structures.
Okonjo-Iweala highlighted mounting challenges facing global trade, including geopolitical tensions, conflicts and the impact of tariffs, which have contributed to growing uncertainty within the system.
She also pointed to internal weaknesses within the WTO, such as the stalled dispute settlement mechanism and limited transparency in subsidy reporting, warning that these issues are fuelling mistrust among member states.
Despite the challenges, she noted that a significant share of global trade still operates under WTO rules, but stressed the need for urgent reforms to ensure the system remains relevant in a rapidly changing global landscape.
