A Conversation with WTO Director General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala | The Futures Summit

The multilateral trading system is at an inflection point where institutional legitimacy contends with unprecedented geopolitical volatility. In recent decades, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been a pillar of a predictable global economy, yet the current landscape is increasingly defined by fragmentation. The recent impasse in the Strait of Hormuz highlights the vulnerability of global supply chains to conflict, underscoring a pivot toward strategic bilateralism at the expense of a rules-based trading system.

Following the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Yaoundé, the WTO finds itself at a crossroads. The organization and its rules-based system are under pressure, with members and outside voices competing to reshape the WTO’s future in their own image. This moment, in conjunction with the reevaluation of the global development landscape, offers a unique opportunity for structural reform.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, will sit down with Enoh T. Ebong, President of the CSIS Global Development Department, to discuss how the WTO can navigate geopolitical shocks and spearhead mindset shifts to ensure inclusivity. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala will shed light on her vision for a reformed, modern, and inclusive WTO that integrates trade with global health, climate action, and gender equity.

The CSIS Futures Summit is made possible through generous support from Chevron Inc. (Founding sponsor), ADM, Cisco, and the Embassy of Denmark in Washington D.C.