Written by Emediong George
The World Trade Organization has postponed a meeting were members are expected to pick a new Director-General after the United States blocked the favored candidate, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
According to a notice released on Friday, the Chairman of the Council, David Walker told members that the meeting that was to be held on Monday, 9thNovember 2020 scheduled to consider the appointment of the next WTO Director-General has been postponed.
The notice read: “The General Council meeting scheduled for November 9th to consider the appointment to the next WTO Director-General has been postponed.”
Ambassador David Walker, the Chairman of the General Council informed members of the decision on November 6th.
Walker said the meeting would be postponed until further notice during which time he would continue undertaking consultation with delegations.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s candidate in the WTO Director-General process had been set to be named the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
However, reports had it that the United States opposed her as the consensus candidate to lead the WTO.
The United State said it is supporting South-Korean Trade Minister, Yoo Myung-hee to become the Director General of the world Trade Organization because she is a “Trade Expert”.
Okonjo –Iweala had got the support of 110 out of 164 member countries including the European Union, and WTO’s Ambassadors.
United State Trade Representative, Robert Lightzer, while giving reasons for opposing Okonjo-Iweala, who gained American Citizenship in 2019, said WTO needs “someone with real, hands-on experience in the field.”
