WTO Director-General: "Trump's Import Tariffs Will Harm Both the US and Its Trading Partners"

The head of the World Trade Organization (WTO) expressed concerns about former President Donald Trump's pledge, a leading Republican presidential candidate, to impose a universal 10% tariff on imports, stating that both the United States and its trading partners would suffer damage.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO

On the 16th (local time), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General, said in an interview with foreign media, "Introducing a universal tariff does not help WTO trade rules," and added, "Other WTO members will likely impose similar types of tariffs in response to the U.S. tariff imposition." She emphasized, "This would lead to a situation where both parties to the trade fail."

Director-General Okonjo-Iweala stated, "Following that, disorder that overturns the stability and predictability of trade will ensue," and added, "I hope such a thing does not happen."

This is the first time she has publicly expressed her position on the impact on trade if former President Trump is re-elected.

In 2020, the Trump administration opposed the nomination of Okonjo-Iweala as the new head of the WTO. As a result, the WTO Director-General position remained vacant for five months until the following year when the Joe Biden administration took office and supported Okonjo-Iweala's election, ending the vacancy.