WTO Delays Okonjo-Iweala’s Appointment, Postpones Meeting To Select New DG

NOVEMBER 6, 2020

• The United States had opposed Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala and instead declared it support for South Korean Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee to lead the WTO

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has postponed a meeting where members are expected to pick a new Director-General after the United States blocked the candidature of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

The WTO earlier announced that the meeting would hold next week.

AFP however reports that the meeting has been postponed indefinitely.

Read also: US Give Reasons For Opposing Okonjo-Iweala’s Emergence as DG

“It has come to my attention that for reasons including the health situation and current events, delegations will not be in a position to take a formal decision on 9 November,” the head of the selection committee told member states.

“I am therefore postponing this meeting until further notice during which period I will continue to undertake consultations with delegations,” he added.

The US said it is supporting South Korean trade minister, Yoo Myung-hee, to become the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation because she is a “trade expert”.

However, the European Union and WTO’s ambassadors backed Okonjo-Iweala for the position.

If she eventually gets a majority backing, she would be the first woman and the first African to lead the global trade body in its 25-year history.

Source: AFP

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