Finance
WTO Chief: World Order Has Irrevocably Changed
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 26, 2026
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WTO Director‑General Ngozi Okonjo‑Iweala warned at the Yaoundé ministerial that the traditional multilateral world order has “irrevocably changed,” citing disruption from U.S. tariffs and Middle East conflicts, stalled dispute settlement and poor subsidy transparency.
WTO Chief Says Global Multilateral System Has Changed Irrevocably
WTO Director-General Addresses Challenges and Future of Global Trade
By Olivia Le Poidevin
Opening Remarks at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference
GENEVA, March 26 (Reuters) - The head of the World Trade Organization said on Thursday the multilateral system has fundamentally changed and that countries must look to the future to consider how to reform the global trade system.
"The world order and multilateral system we used to know has irrevocably changed. We will not get it back...We must look to the future," WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala told delegates at the opening of the 14th WTO ministerial conference in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Current State of Global Trade Under WTO Rules
While 72% of global trade still takes place under WTO rules, with growth in AI-related trade providing a bright spot, Okonjo-Iweala said the world trading system faces significant uncertainty due to the Middle East conflict and impact of U.S. tariffs on countries around the world.
Key Issues Facing the WTO
Dispute Settlement Paralysis and Transparency Concerns
Okonjo-Iweala set out a list of problems facing the WTO, including the paralysis of the WTO's dispute settlement body and transparency in notifying the use of subsidies.
Only 64 members had filed subsidy notifications at the WTO for 2025, meaning 102 had not, Okonjo-Iweala said.
Impact of Lack of Transparency and Trust
"Lack of transparency leads to lack of trust, and that breeds suspicions of unfairness and anti-competitive behaviours," she told delegates. This contributed to a "vicious cycle" of mistrust which is holding back members from agreeing new rules and reforms, Okonjo-Iweala added.
(Reporting by Olivia Le PoidevinEditing by Madeline Chambers)
Key Takeaways
- •The WTO’s system is fundamentally altered and unlikely to revert—members must forge forward toward reform.
- •AI‑related trade is a relative bright spot: WTO projects AI‑powered trade could boost global merchandise by over one‑third by 2040.
- •Transparency remains weak: as of June 2025, over 100 WTO members failed to submit subsidy notifications, undermining trust and blocking rule‑making.
Frequently Asked Questions about WTO chief: world order has irrevocably changed
1What did the WTO director-general say about the world order?
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stated that the world order and multilateral system have irrevocably changed and will not return to their prior state.
2What uncertainties are affecting the global trade system according to the WTO chief?
The WTO chief cited the Middle East conflict and the impact of U.S. tariffs as significant uncertainties influencing the global trade system.
3What issues did Okonjo-Iweala highlight regarding the WTO?
Okonjo-Iweala highlighted issues such as the paralysis of the WTO's dispute settlement body and the lack of transparency in subsidy notifications.
4How does lack of transparency impact trust within the WTO?
The lack of transparency breeds mistrust and suspicions of unfairness, hindering agreement on new rules and reforms among members.
5How much global trade still takes place under WTO rules?
According to the WTO chief, 72% of global trade still takes place under WTO rules.
