Angela Merkel, the former German Chancellor, delivered a lecture titled "Empowering women through multilateral cooperation" on March 7, 2025. In her address, she emphasized the need for rules and standards to ensure women's equal access to economic opportunities. Merkel highlighted supply chain diversification as an opportunity for women in emerging and developing economies and urged countries to engage more women in these markets.
Merkel acknowledged the role of global institutions like the World Trade Organization (WTO) in initiatives such as the Informal Working Group on Women and Trade. She noted that these efforts produce evidence of multilateralism's benefits for women. The WTO collaborates with organizations like the World Bank, International Development Fund (IDF), and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to promote policies enhancing women's participation in the global economy.
Beyond women's rights, Merkel stressed multilateralism's broader significance in achieving economic stability. She called on her audience to maintain strong convictions about international cooperation's achievements in economic growth and poverty reduction. "For all the progress we have made, we still have a long way to go," said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during her welcoming remarks.
Merkel also discussed the importance of restoring the WTO Appellate Body, which plays a crucial role in enforcing trade agreements. She argued that having an operational Appellate Body is central to future global trade governance.
Okonjo-Iweala referred to Merkel as a "stalwart supporter" of multilateral trading systems during her 16-year tenure marked by economic and health crises. She highlighted persistent gender gaps within political and business leadership and noted that despite progress, significant challenges remain.
In recent discussions with U.S. officials, Okonjo-Iweala mentioned America's intent to remain engaged with the WTO despite criticisms outlined in a recent report. This engagement suggests an opportunity to address concerns through existing WTO mechanisms.
Merkel's lecture was part of a fireside chat moderated by Richard Quest from CNN, coinciding with International Women's Day. The event aimed to highlight female leadership and empowerment in international economic governance.
The Presidential Lecture Series at the WTO provides a platform for distinguished speakers from various fields to discuss multilateral cooperation and global governance issues.