WTO: towards an appointment of Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the head of the organization
Nigerian candidate for WHO presidency, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on July 15, 2020 in Geneva.
Fabrice COFFRINI AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The World Trade Organization is expected to be headed by a woman for the first time.
Indeed, nothing is opposed to seeing the Nigerian Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala appointed to the general management of the organization.
Its competitor, South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee withdrew at the weekend and Washington gave the green light on Friday.
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The way is clear for
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
.
Nigeria is now alone in contention for the general management of the WTO.
Her competitor, South Korean Minister of Commerce, Yoo Myung-hee withdrew her candidacy on Friday.
And in the process, it is the White House which gave its blessing.
The arrival of Joe Biden changed everything.
The former President of the United States Donald Trump, hostile to the WTO, blocked
the designation of the Nigerian
.
A nomination that requires the consensus of the 164 member countries.
The Biden administration has now provided “
strong support
”.
The road is therefore clear for Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In addition to being the first woman to head the WTO, she would be the first Director General from Africa.
She does not claim victory, however, and stresses that "
the WTO must focus on the Covid-19 pandemic and the global economic recovery
".
Last October, she indicated one of her priorities: rebuilding the dispute settlement body - the WTO tribunal - torpedoed by the Trump administration.
His official appointment could take place before the next WTO General Council meeting scheduled for March 1.
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