The Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed for a second term as head of the World Trade Organization (WTO), at a special meeting of the organization that took place today, as he states in his announcement, which means that her second term will coincide with that of US President-elect Donald Trump.

In 2020, the Trump administration threw its support behind a rival candidate and sought to block her first term. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala secured US support only when outgoing President Joe Biden succeeded Trump in the White House.

“Members of the WTO have today decided to entrust Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala with a second term as Director-General of the WTO. Her second four-year term, which was approved during a special meeting of the organization’s general council, will begin on September 1, 2025,” the WTO said in its statement.

Trade sources expect the road ahead for the agency to be fraught with challenges and likely to be marked by trade wars as Trump threatens steep tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China.

Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s former finance minister, who made history in 2021 when she became the first woman and first African director-general of the WTO, enjoys wide support among the organization’s membership. In September he announced he would run again, aiming to finish “unfinished business”.

There were no other nominations.

Trade sources noted that the meeting somewhat speeded up her nomination process to avoid any risk of being blocked by Trump, whose groups and allies have criticized both Okonjo-Iweala and the WTO in the past.