US ‘Opposes’ Okonjo-Iweala’s Emergence As WTO DG

The United States has expressed its opposition and
dissatisfaction to the emergence of Nigeria’s candidate, Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala as the director-general of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) despite wide support she received.

TheNigerialawyer on Wednesday reported that Nigeria’s nominee
for the office of the director-general of the World Trade
Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has defeated her South Korea’s
trade minister opponent to emerge as the winner of the highly
competitive race.

Nairalaw learnt that the countries where Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala received public support include many countries in
Africa and the European Union.

According to sources, the US does not
consider Okonjo-Iweala^[1] as being
committed enough to the interests of the world power at the
flagship trade body.

Recall that Bloomberg had initially reported^[2] that
the US was leaning towards Yoo Myung-hee, the South Korean
candidate.

Bryce Baschuk, Bloomberg’s WTO
reporter, also
tweeted^[3] on
Wednesday that the US is opposed to Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence and
the road forward remains “unclear”.

The heads of delegation of the WTO are to meet by 3pm and decide
on the way forward.

Unlike the World Bank where the US has a larger voting power
than other countries, the WTO is run differently, by the consensus
of every member country.

“The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions
are made by the membership as a whole,” the WTO website reads.

“In this respect, the WTO is different from some other
international organizations such as the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund.

“Where consensus is not possible, the WTO agreement allows for
voting — a vote being won with a majority of the votes cast and on
the basis of ‘one country, one vote’.

The United States has expressed its opposition and
dissatisfaction to the emergence of Nigeria’s candidate, Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala as the director-general of the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) despite wide support she received.

TheNigerialawyer on Wednesday reported that Nigeria’s nominee
for the office of the director-general of the World Trade
Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has defeated her South Korea’s
trade minister opponent to emerge as the winner of the highly
competitive race.

Nairalaw learnt that the countries where Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala received public support include many countries in
Africa and the European Union.

According to sources, the US does not
consider Okonjo-Iweala^[1] as being
committed enough to the interests of the world power at the
flagship trade body.

Recall that Bloomberg had initially reported^[2] that
the US was leaning towards Yoo Myung-hee, the South Korean
candidate.

Bryce Baschuk, Bloomberg’s WTO
reporter, also
tweeted^[3] on
Wednesday that the US is opposed to Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence and
the road forward remains “unclear”.

The heads of delegation of the WTO are to meet by 3pm and decide
on the way forward.

Unlike the World Bank where the US has a larger voting power
than other countries, the WTO is run differently, by the consensus
of every member country.

“The WTO is run by its member governments. All major decisions
are made by the membership as a whole,” the WTO website reads.

“In this respect, the WTO is different from some other
international organizations such as the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund.

“Where consensus is not possible, the WTO agreement allows for
voting — a vote being won with a majority of the votes cast and on
the basis of ‘one country, one vote’.