With strong support from the United States, WTO is expected to usher in the first African-American Director-General

　　China News Service, February 6th, a comprehensive report, on February 5 local time, the administration of US President Biden expressed "strong support" for Nigerian candidate Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the new World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General, this allows her to successfully become the first female Director-General in WTO history and the first African-American Director-General.

Data map: World Trade Organization (WTO) candidate Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

　　According to the "Central News Agency", the 66-year-old Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and worked at the World Bank for 25 years.

Earlier, Okonjo-Iweala had won the support of the European Union and Japan, but the Trump administration opposed it and supported another candidate from South Korea, Yu Myung Hee.

　　However, according to Korean media reports, Yu Myung Hee, the Minister of Trade Negotiations of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced on February 5 that he would withdraw from the election of WTO Director-General and said that he would inform the WTO.

　　Yu Mingxi said that she has been waiting for member states to reach consensus, but it has been several months since the final result of the competition was announced, and still failed to reach an agreement, leading to a long-term gap in WTO leadership.

In order to urge member states to reach an agreement, they decided to withdraw from the election after close coordination with the United States and others.

The US respects her decision.

　　On the same day, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) stated in a statement that Ngozi Okonjo-Ibea “has accumulated a wealth of knowledge on economic and international diplomacy issues” and that she “has proven to manage large international Organizational experience".

　　The Office of the United States Trade Representative said: "The United States is ready to enter the next stage of the WTO process and reach a consensus decision on the candidate for the WTO Secretary-General."

　　Ngozi Okonjo-Iweara also posted on social media: "Thank you for the United States for today's support."

　　Keith Rockwell, a spokesman for the WTO, said that the next regular meeting of the General Council will not be held until March 1, 2021 at the earliest, but it may also "may temporarily call another meeting." .