Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, have jointly called for stronger multilateral cooperation and urgent reforms at the WTO.
The call was made on Monday during a high-level meeting in Tokyo where both leaders discussed growing global trade tensions and the risk of market fragmentation.
A joint statement issued after the meeting read: "They shared the view that, in a time of uncertainty and disruption, the value of the multilateral trading system is unquestionable.
"They reiterated their shared commitment to working closely together, along with other WTO members, to manage current and future tensions in global trade, to strengthen the multilateral trading system, and to advance meaningful reform of the WTO."
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Discussions also centred on the importance of keeping trade free, open and predictable — a central pillar of global economic growth. Both parties reaffirmed support for a rules-based trading system with the WTO at its core.
While in Tokyo, Okonjo-Iweala also met with key Japanese cabinet members, including foreign affairs minister Takeshi Iwaya, finance minister Katsunobu Kato, and minister of economy, trade and industry Yoji Muto.
She has since left Japan for the Republic of Korea, where she will attend the APEC trade ministers' meeting scheduled for May 15–16 in Jeju.
The WTO chief is expected to continue her advocacy for inclusive and sustainable trade policies during the forum, as part of ongoing efforts to reposition global trade in a time of economic uncertainty.
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