July 15, 2020 Nigerian former Foreign and Finance Minister Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala smiles during a press conference in Geneva, following
her hearing before World Trade Organization 164 member states’
representatives, as part of the application process to head the WTO
as Director-General. PHOTO: FABRICE COFFRINI /
AFP
Key World Trade Organisation (WTO) ambassadors on
Wednesday tapped Nigeria’s nominee, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the
best pick to lead the organization, but she was opposed by the
United State of America (USA), which said it supported South Korean
Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee instead.
The ‘troika’ of ambassadors heading the WTO’s three main
branches determined after four months of consultations with member
states that Okonjo-Iweala was the most likely to obtain the
consensus needed to take the top job, WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell
told reporters.
The initial pool of eight candidates for the WTO’s top post had
been whittled down to just two over two previous rounds of
consultations, with only Okonjo-Iweala and South Korean Trade
Minister Yoo Myung-hee still in the race.
The global trade body is thus set to be led by a woman for the
first time whichever of the two final candidates succeeds in their
bid to follow Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down as WTO
director-general in August, a year ahead of schedule.
The troika, led by New Zealand’s Ambassador David Walker,
concluded the third round of consultations on Tuesday.
Its decision marks an important step paving the way for
Okonjo-Iweala to become both the first woman and the first African
to head the organisation.
But the WTO’s 164 member states still need to determine whether
they will support her before their next General Council meeting on
November 9.
Washington already said it was opposed to her candidacy, casting
doubt on whether she can obtain the necessary full backing from
member states.
In a statement late Wednesday, the US Trade Representative’s
office expressed support for Yoo, calling her “a bona fide trade
expert who has distinguished herself during a 25-year career as a
successful trade negotiator and trade policymaker.
“She has all the skills necessary to be an effective leader of
the organization,” the statement said. “The WTO is badly in need of
major reform. It must be led by someone with real, hands-on
experience in the field.”
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– ‘Immensely humbled’ –
Rockwell said that 27 delegations had taken the floor during
Wednesday’s meeting and only the United States “could not support
the candidacy of Dr. Ngozi.”
Rockwell meanwhile stressed that Wednesday’s meeting “was never
intended to make a final decision” on the next director-general
since that is up to the General Council.
Okonjo-Iweala, 66, who served as Nigeria’s first female finance
and foreign minister and has a 25-year career behind her as a
development economist at the World Bank, welcomed the troika’s
support.
“Dr. Ngozi is immensely humbled to receive the backing of the
WTO’s selection committee today,” a spokesperson told AFP in an
email. “She is honoured by the faith members have placed in
her.”
Okonjo-Iweala voiced confidence earlier this month that she
would be the successful candidate.
“I feel the wind behind my back,” she told a virtual press
briefing after the 55-member African Union officially supported
her.
‘Reform candidate’
Okonjo-Iweala, who also serves on Twitter’s board of directors,
as chair of the GAVI vaccine alliance and as a special envoy for
the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 fight, saw her candidacy
get another boost this week when the EU threw its weight behind
her.
She would certainly have her hands full in the new position.
Even before the Covid-19 crisis hit, the WTO was already
grappling with stalled trade talks and struggling to curb tensions
between the United States and China.
The global trade body has also faced relentless attacks from
Washington, which has crippled the WTO dispute settlement appeal
system and threatened to leave the organisation altogether.
Okonjo-Iweala said earlier this month that she had broad
experience in championing reform and was the right person to help
put the WTO back on track.
“I am a reform candidate and I think the WTO needs the reform
credentials and skills now.”
AFP
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/10/29/us-objection-delays-okonjo-iwealas-emergence-as-wto-dg/