Geert Bourgeois on the appointment of Okonjo-Iweala: “The first step towards the restoration of the World Trade Organization”

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was introduced on Monday as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Geert Bourgeois, a Member of the European Parliament and a member of the International Trade Committee, is enthusiastic about her appointment.

Geert Bourgeois sees the appointment of Okonjo-Iweala as a major step towards saving and restoring the World Trade Organization. “The WTO has been inactive for a long time. Fortunately, now Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been appointed. This is the first step towards strengthening multilateralism. The WTO must create prosperity and stability with fair rules.”

Level playing field with clear trading rules

Geert Bourgeois sees an important role for the WTO in the conflict between China and the US: “China has become the EU’s largest trading partner and will become the world’s largest economy. The WTO must get China, as a systemic rival to the EU and the US, to join in a level playing field with clear trade rules.”