WTO Announces Postponement of Meeting for Election of New Secretary-General Top Absence Prolonged? November 7, 3:56
The WTO (World Trade Organization), which handles trade disputes, has announced that it will postpone a meeting to select a new secretary-general from two candidates, South Korea and Nigeria, on the 9th of this month.
It seems that the United States continues to oppose the selection of the popular Nigerian candidate, raising the risk of a prolonged absence from the top.
The candidates for the new secretary-general of the WTO, which is headquartered in Switzerland, have been narrowed down to two, the head of trade negotiations, Yoo Myung-hee, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea, and the former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjoywarea, of Nigeria. It is.
The WTO's secretariat recommended to the secretary-general on the 28th of last month that Mr. Okonjoywarera had gained the support of many member states, but the United States should choose South Korea's Yu, who has a lot of experience in trade. The opinions of the member states were disagreed.
The WTO was aiming to elect a new Secretary-General by holding a general board meeting with all member states on the 9th of this month, but announced on the 6th just before that it would postpone the meeting.
The specific reason has not been clarified, but according to the people concerned, it seems that the United States has not changed its position, and even if the meeting is held as it is, unanimity of the member countries, which is the principle of the WTO, cannot be expected.
The former secretary-general of the WTO retired at the end of August, which is in the middle of his term, and there is a growing risk that the absence of the top management will be prolonged.