WTO: USA Dumps Nigeria’s Ngozi OKonjo-Iweala

USA has dumped Nigeria’s Ngozi OKonjo-Iweala in WTO race.

Newsone Nigeria reports that the United States has dumped Okonjo-Iweala and backed South Korea’s trade chief, Yoo Myung-hee, her only contender in the final phase of the race for the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

All 27 EU governments, according to Bloomberg, agreed on Monday, October 26 in Brussels to support Okonjo-Iweala over her South Korean rival.

Okonjo-Iweala and Yoo Myung-hee had on October 7, 2020, advanced to the final round of selection to become the next director-general of the WTO.

In September, the initial pool of eight candidates to replace Brazilian Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down as WTO director-general in August – a year ahead of schedule, was narrowed down to five.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Breaks Silence On Emerging WTO DG

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The field was reduced from five to two in October, confirming that the 25-year-old Geneva-based trade body would be led by a woman for the first time.

Meanwhile, the WTO is still consulting its member countries about the leadership bids by Okonjo-Iweala and Myung-hee. The organisation plans to announce a winner by November 7.

The European Parliament also endorsed the Okonjo-Iweala’s bid last week, saying it was convinced by Okonjo-Iweala’s vision for the future of multilateralism and advised WTO members to support her bid.