The Report opens with a message from WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who looks back at the unprecedented outcomes of MC12, the role of the WTO in addressing COVID-19 and the challenges facing world trade.

In her opening message, DG Okonjo-Iweala says:

“I came to the WTO because I was firmly convinced that trade was part of the solution to the global commons problems, from pandemic disease to climate change, that represent some of the biggest threats to our future prosperity.

“Speaking to members on my first day in office in March of last year, I recalled the fundamental goals of the WTO, as set out in the preamble to our founding Marrakesh Agreement: using trade as a means to improve living standards, create better jobs and promote sustainable development. These goals are fundamentally about people.

“But one more reason I came here was that I felt the WTO had the potential to do much more to improve the lives of people around the world. MC12 is proof that the WTO can deliver results.”

Special features of the Report include “Highlights of DG Okonjo-Iweala's first year in office”, “2021: a snapshot”, “Our year” and “12th Ministerial Conference — a snapshot”. These are followed by a more detailed account of the WTO's various areas of activities.

Report by the World Trade Organization