Okonjo-Iweala, Swiss Leaders Discuss Trade at WTO

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has held a high-level meeting with top officials of the Swiss Parliament to discuss ongoing tariff and trade challenges facing Switzerland and the broader global trading system.

In a post shared on her official X account on Friday, Okonjo-Iweala described the meeting as a “great exchange” with Maja Riniker, President of the National Council; Andrea Caroni, President of the Council of States; and Ambassador Bollinger, Switzerland’s permanent representative to the WTO.

The meeting underscores the need for ongoing efforts to maintain strong partnerships with WTO members and push forward meaningful trade reforms, especially as geopolitical tensions and protectionist tendencies threaten the stability of the global trading system.

The post read, “Great exchange with Maja Riniker, President of the National Council, and with Andrea Caroni, President of the Council of States of the Swiss Parliament and their delegation, including Bollinger, Ambassador to the WTO, on the present tariff and trade challenges and impact on Switzerland, repositioning of the WTO and reform of the multilateral trading system.

“It was also good to dwell on the welcome news of the imminent entry into force of the WTO‘s Fisheries Subsidies Agreement on Monday, 15.

“Many thanks to Switzerland as the first member to ratify this agreement, setting such a good example.”

Punch Online on April 4 reports that the Director-General of the World Trade Organization warned that recent tariffs imposed by the United States could significantly affect global trade and economic growth.

On April 2, US President Donald Trump announced global tariffs on all imports, including a 14 per cent tariff on goods from Nigeria.

In a statement issued, Okonjo-Iweala emphasised that the WTO is closely monitoring the situation and engaging with member countries about the potential economic impacts.