The office of U.S. Trade Representative has disclosed why the Trump administration is opposed to the selection of former Nigerian finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
A statement issued by the office said the “The WTO is badly in need of a major reform,” adding that it must be led by someone with real, hands-on experience in the field.”
It went on to describe the United States preferred candidate Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea as “a bona fide trade expert who has distinguished herself during a 25-year career as a successful trade negotiator and trade policy maker.”
The United States opposition to Ngozi’s selection is seen as another blow at the WTO by the Trump administration.
Donald Trump who faces a re-election battle on 3 November, had described the WTO as “horrible” and biased in favour of China.
The position of Trump administration is threatening to render the WTO leaderless for months or weeks to come, after it has already paralysed the organization’s role as global arbiter on trade by blocking appointments to its appeals panel.
Meanwhile, the WTO plans to meet a week after the U.S. election, specifically on the 9th of November during which the organization hopes to have secured full backing for Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The Heritage Times had earlier reported that Ngozi Okonjo Iweala emerged as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organization by amassing 104 votes from 164 member countries to defeat South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee.
With the development, Ngozi is meant to become the first African and first woman to occupy the position; succeeding Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo and former director-general of the 25-year-old trade organisation.
However, Dr Ngozi has not been appointed as the Director-General of the WTO because of the United States’ decision not to recognise her as the consensus candidate.
Thus, the Organization has forced a postponement of the appointment pending when it secures a full backing for the Nigerian.
