Biography

María Aránzazu (Arancha) González Laya is a lawyer who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation in the Spanish government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez from 2020 to 2021.

From 2013 to 2019, Professor González was assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the International Trade Center (ITC). From 2005 to 2013, she was Chief of Staff to World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director-General Pascal Lamy, where she took an active part in launching the WTO's Aid for Trade initiative and served as the Director-General representative to the G20.

Prior to her work at the WTO, Professor González held several positions at the European Commission, where she negotiated trade agreements and assisted developing countries in their trade development efforts. Between 2002 and 2004, she was the European Union Spokesperson on Trade and Advisor to the European Union Trade Commissioner.

Professor González has a vast knowledge of international trade and economics, as well as experience in trade and development issues in the public and private sectors and in the management of multilateral organisations. She has lectured widely on trade and development, including at the College of Europe (Bruges), IELPO (Barcelona), the World Trade Institute (WTI) and the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade.

González is an advocate of women’s empowerment and a founder of the SheTrades initiative.