WTO DG: South Korea Clears Coast For Okonjo-Iweala, Withdraws Nominee
South Korea has cleared the coast for Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to become the first female Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The Asian country is set to announce the withdrawal of its candidate and Minister of Trade, Yoo Myung-Hee, from the WTO D-G race in the coming weeks.
Okonjo-Iweala, a former Managing Director of the World Bank, had on October 23 received the endorsement of 163 countries out of the 164-member-nations of the global trade body.
The endorsement of the Nigerian candidate was however rejected by President Donald Trump led United States Government which cited her lack of necessary trade experience required for the WTO job.
South Korea has already conveyed its decision to the United States; which had been insisting on the selection of Myung-Hee.
With South Korea’s withdrawal of Myung-Hee, Okonjo-Iweala now has a clear path to be named the first female and first African head of the global trade body.
The WTO General Council was billed to affirm its position on the Director General’s job status on November 9th, but was postponed owing to COVID-19 concerns.
The trade bloc has been meeting virtually since the outbreak of COVID-19 and has scheduled December 17, 2020 for its General Council to meet.
82 member nations out of its 164 member-association must meet in order to form a quorum.
Comments are closed.