Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is Not WTO’s New Director-General Yet
The final selection process of the search for the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was supposed to come to a conclusive end on the 28th of October 2020 with the winner finally announced.
Things took an unexpected turn when the United States representative opposed the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s ex-finance minister, for the coveted position.
Before this unexpected turn of events, the Nigerian media had gone on to congratulate her ex-finance minister for the victory. This was after a WTO nominations committee recommended the group’s 164 members appoint Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Wednesday. She would have gone on to be the first woman and first African to lead the WTO.
But the four-month selection process to find the next WTO director-general hit a roadblock when Washington said it would continue to back South Korea’s trade minister.
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On the 8th of October, 2020, an all-female shortlist was announced – Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria and Yoo Myung Hee of South Korea.
In all of WTO’s 25-year history, it was going to be led by a woman. And there was also a 50% chance that it was going to be led by not just any woman, but an African woman.
Of the 164 members and 24 observer governments that comprise the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala had already managed to gain the support of all but one.
In a statement released by the Office of the US Trade Representative (an office which advises the United States president on trade policy), the US’ support for Yoo Myung Hee was explicitly revealed.
According to the statement, the World Trade Organisation “must be led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field.”
They believe that South Korea’s first female finance minister, Yoo Myung Hee, was better suited to bring reform to the organization. This is because they believe Myung Hee “has all the skills necessary to be an effective leader of the organization.”
In further criticism of the organization, the statement added, “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. The WTO is badly in need of major reform.”
It is also important to note that Okonjo-Iweala is a Nigerian by birth but obtained dual citizenship from the United States in 2019, hoping it would better her chances in the race for DG of WTO. This is after a long history of schooling in the US and 25 years in the World Bank, Washington.
In response to the nomination by WTO’s committee, Okonjo-Iweala said she was “immensely humbled.”
Deliberations will continue on the 9th of November, 2020 after the presidential election in the United States.
The United States is just one member country against the other members. Although their opposition does not automatically mean that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will be removed from the race, it does hold great influence over the organization’s final decision.
Okonjo-Iweala continues to have the full backing of the European Union and plans are already underway to secure a consensus for her appointment.
Until then, fingers crossed.
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