The United States of America, USA, Government, led by President Donald Trump, has explained why it is opposed to the selection of Nigeria’s Candidate, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the Director-General, DG, of the World Trade Organisation, WTO,
The US made its position known on Wednesday night, in a statement by the Office of the US Trade Representative on the WTO Director-General selection process.
The United States said that it supports the selection of the Korean Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee, as the next WTO Director-General, because she is “a bona fide Trade Expert, who has distinguished herself during a 25-year career, as a successful Trade Negotiator and Trade Policy Maker”.
The statement said that the Korean Minister has all the skills necessary to be an effective Leader of the WTO.
The statement read: “This is a very difficult time for the WTO and international trade.
“There have been no multilateral tariff negotiations in 25 years; the dispute settlement system has gotten out of control, and too few members fulfill basic transparency obligations.”
Although, the US did not mention Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, it however, said that: “The WTO is badly in need of major reform. It must be led by someone with real hands-on experience in the field.”
Okonjo-Iweala had moved a step closer to becoming the first woman and first African to become the DG of the WTO, as she secured the support of a key group of Trade Ambassadors in Geneva.
A Spokesperson for the WTO on Wednesday, said that her candidacy would be put to a meeting of the body’s Governing General Council on November 9.
More news later…
