Small countries must defend multilateral trade system, says WTO chief
Summary
WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has urged smaller countries, including Nepal, to defend the multilateral trading system and push for reforms that better serve developing economies. She said Nepal should strengthen trade ties, encourage value-chain decentralization, and use WTO tools to help exporters navigate foreign-market rules.
Key Points
- WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said smaller and developing countries must actively defend the multilateral trading system.
- She said Nepal’s reliance on rules-based trade is especially important because its commerce is concentrated with India and other neighbours.
- Okonjo-Iweala urged Nepal to attract parts of regional value chains and expand domestic manufacturing.
- WTO officials highlighted tools such as ePing to help small businesses understand export regulations and participate in global trade.
